![]() However, few allow backup to cloud storage, which is useful when changing phones. Backup Locations: Most launchers have the ability to back up all configured options locally on the device's internal storage or SD card.Other launchers even go so far as to let you create groups and tabs in your app drawer, so look out for details on that in the individual sections below. App Drawer Folders: To help de-clutter your app drawer, some launchers let you create folders where you can place apps that fall into a similar category.Hide Apps: If this feature is available, the launcher lets you hide applications from the app drawer and make them only visible by searching for them.Long-pressing an app with a dot or badge will reveal the notification in a sub-menu along with shortcuts (if the application supports it). Instead of a number, you see a dot or a small image on the icon (badge) when you have new notifications. Notification Dots/Badges: Introduced with Android Oreo, notification dots (or badges) are an alternative to the unread counter.When a number isn't applicable, a dot will show instead to indicate a notification from the app. Unread Counters: Icons can display (numerically) the number of unread notifications from each of your apps.But if your phone won't be getting the Android Oreo update anytime soon, you'll be glad to know that some of these launchers have already brought this functionality to all devices running Lollipop or higher. Using Adaptive Icons, you can make all of your icons into circles, squares, teardrops, and more. Adaptive Icons: Android 8.0 Oreo introduced a new system that lets launchers change the shape and size of your icons without needing an icon pack.Individual Icon Theming: This feature allows users to change icons individually instead of being forced to use all icons that are part of an icon pack.The end result is a uniformed look, even if your icons have different shapes. Normalize Icons: If this feature is present, the launcher will adjust the size of icons based on the standards listed in Google's Material Design guidelines.Traffic information for your commute to work, upcoming calendar events, and personalized news are just a few examples of the kind of information Google Now provides. This is typically accessed by swiping right from the leftmost home screen, and it displays personalized information based on how you use your device. Google Now Integration: Some launchers have access to an integrated Google Now page, even without root.Import Settings: Does the launcher let you import the layout of your icons and widgets from another launcher? If so, it's easy to make the transition, plus you can quickly test different launchers without having to reconfigure your home screen.However, for our frugal viewers, we made sure to mention what features are missing from the free version. To see the full capabilities of each app, we used the paid version when available. We installed each launcher on various flagship and mid-range devices, thus enabling us to test the launchers on multiple versions of Android and see their impact on performance. Image by Jon Knight/Gadget Hacks Key Comparison Pointsīased on user feedback and Play Store downloads, we narrowed our list down to these five launchers.
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