Just got a new work phone: Galaxy S22. Wanted a pixel but it was out of stock in our internal allocation. Already tired of samsung’s UI and interested in something new.
So what do you like? Bonus points if it works with android enterprise’s profile mode dual app drawers.
NOVA. Every single time I’ve tried an alternate launcher, I always return to NOVA within 24 hours.
I have been using Niagara for a couple of years now, and I have absolutely fallen in love with it since.
I went to check it out and was so happy with the idea and the first impression that it gave me that I went ahead and bought the lifetime premium for it hoping to customize it to my tastes, only to quickly learn they are very anti-customization.
Damn I really hate opinionated software.
Exactly what I did and went back to Nova after a couple months
If you want to try something alternative check out “niagara launcher”. You need some time to get used to it, but the UX is really clever IMO
Currently using and have used the Niagra launcher for years. To me, ease of use and getting to the apps I need quickly and efficiently is the most important thing about a launcher. I’ve tried many of the “minimalistic” launchers over time, and this is the only one that truly felt useful. I’d highly recommend it to people who just use their phone as an app launcher, as opposed to having a bunch of widgets on the homescreen or something.
T-UI. Probably not everyones cup of tea, but its hard to go back.
I’ve been using Nova for years and I have no complaints.
Use Lawn Chair
Smart Launcher for me. I’ve been using it since the Smart Launcher 3 days, and it’s really still a launcher with no-nonsense UI that doesn’t change a lot, for example you can still modify it to feel just like SL3 with the left side app menu and gestures. Plus the design language used in SL6 is just beautiful to me.
Liked it so much I bought the pro version of SL3 and later on, get the full license for SL5 (and onwards).**
I also use Niagara Launcher. Went pro about two years ago.
I like the minimalistic look and the alphabetical drawer. Also the widget for calendar and clock is neat. And the media widget only shows up when needed, as well as the chosen media apps.
MLauncher, sadly no option to sort alphabetically once you add the apps to the homescreen, or at least I haven’t found it
Nova Launcher Prime. The only one I stuck too, and never managed to leave.
I’ve been using nova launcher prime since forever. Make a backup on my old phone when getting a new one, and import it on the new phone.
How do you feel about nova launcher being bought out by that data collection company?
:( I used Nova Prime for many years, and I don’t like this one bit. I hope that the devs got a good payout, and best wishes to them, but it makes me uncomfortable. Luckily, while it’s definitely no Nova, Samsung’s launcher has finally on the most recent version gotten to a point of usability. Everything is more awkward to do, and you have to install extra Samsung apps (Good Lock with applets) for a lot of the customization, but most of my favorite features from Nova are finally there. So, for the first time in many years, I’m running the Samsung default OneUI 5.1.
Wait you don’t think Samsung is collecting your data?
Yes, I do think they are, but by choosing a Samsung smartphone, I’ve already decided to be OK with that on some level. I turn off features that connect to outside companies for the most part, and I’ve chosen to believe that Samsung does what it claims with the settings that users have available to them on the phone. It doesn’t mean that I’m just fine with handing everything over to any other random company. Samsung states that they use Branch for searches inside their Galaxy Store. Some claims have been made that Branch powers the Finder (search) function on Samsung phones (althugh I can’t find confirmation), but this Finder Customization Service is a feature you can disable on a Samsung Galaxy phone. You can also turn off search suggestions for Finder and disable it’s ability to open links. You can disable Google and Samsung’s browsers and Internet searches as well.I am the sort of user who checks permissions of apps before downloading them (and disables everything I don’t use), and I don’t want my launcher (which I paid for) on a device I paid a not small sum of money for, to send every single tap back to a marketing firm directly.
Ok, but with even a little bit of research and looking around in Nova launcher itself, you would’ve found that you can opt out of usage analytics and all permissions. Branch even says this themselves on their discord.
I like Kavaesito a lot. Found Here
Sadly 3rd party launchers don’t work well with widgets, at least on One UI. I found Nova Launcher to do well with gestures and animations, but it’s not there yet for me. The One UI launcher works as expected but lacks the ability to change stuff like the icon shape which I don’t like very much (Theme Park doesn’t do it well).
I use the Windows launcher, it’s really smooth.