Android smartphones can be very different from each other because the various manufacturers add their own functions and applications. Samsung, Huawei or LG smartphones, for example, have their own customized interface and differ from each other as if they had different operating systems (while it is always the same).
Other smartphones (like many of the Chinese ones) instead mount the original version of Android on the device, the one that comes directly from the factory of Google developers.
The problem, in either case, is that the default apps are far from perfect .
In fact, it is possible to find free applications on the Play Store that do the basic work of the mobile phone in a much better way and with a lower consumption of resources, making them faster, smarter and more usable.
In this article we therefore discover the 10 best apps to replace the default ones in Android smartphones, then to add functionality, improve the user interface, send SMS, write with the keyboard, take photos and much more.
READ ALSO: Top 10 free Android apps to be installed on every smartphone
1) SMS
To send and receive SMS the default app in Android is enough to receive and send text messages, but it could certainly be better, in fact in the other smartphones there can be different apps customized by the various manufacturers.
Android Messages is, for me, the best app to send SMS with Android, with an interface that follows the material design of Android.
You can choose how to see the notifications that appear on the screen in the center to read the messages quickly.
In addition to Messenger we talked in another guide of the other apps to send and receive SMS on Android that we can choose from, so as to always have the best app to manage text messages.
2) Quick buttons
A very useful thing present in Samsung and Sony smartphones are the buttons in the notification bar to quickly switch on and off the various switches (WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS etc.).
We have seen a list of the best apps to put an On Off switch bar on Android, including Notification Toggle and Quick Settings that put a series of customizable buttons on the notification bar to activate and deactivate the various functions of the mobile phone.
3) Interface
On Android you can change the main interface or the launcher; this applies to smartphones Samsung, Sony, Motorola, Nexus and all of them.
The launchers, the apps to change the basic interface of the smartphone, are very different from each other, trying them all will allow you to change the graphics on the phone with a few clicks.
One of the best is definitely Nova Launcher (free but with some paid features).
In addition to Nova we can also try: Evie Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, Apex Launcher and Flick Launcher .
These interfaces are simple and easy to use, fast, highly customizable, support the voice command "Ok Google" to start listening to the voice commands of the Google Assistant at any time and have a much better appearance than the default ones, given that they can also be customized according to needs: less flashy and more functional or with all the functionalities active, so as to benefit from a modern launcher.
If you want more choice, we can read the guide where we talked about the best launchers for Android .
5) Lock screen
Like the main interface, you can improve the Android lock screen by adding interactivity and more information.
We have already seen several possibilities in the article on how to change Android lock screen and the best lockscreens .
6) Keyboard
The default Android keyboard is excellent, but it can be significantly improved by installing the SwiftKey application for Android, the most powerful writing app ever.
With this keyboard we will be able to write very quickly also thanks to the very intuitive and rapid word prediction system and the gesture writing system.
The keyboard is easily customizable both in the theme and in the size and types of keys to be shown.
If you wanted more choice we talked in another guide of the best keyboard and writing apps for Android.
7) Camera
On smartphones, the camera can be greatly improved to take photos and videos by installing the Open Camera app.
With this camera app we will have access to numerous additional features to make the shots even more beautiful, making the most of the sensor offered on the camera.
In the case of the camera, however, the rule applies that the default app offered by the manufacturer is usually always the best solution for taking high quality photos (especially on Huawei and Sony), therefore we recommend using this app only if the photos are bad or we can't get quality shots.
8) Quickly access the most used applications
If we want to quickly access smartphone functions or apps, we can use an app like Shortcutter Quick Settings .
With this app we can create shortcuts and retractable sidebars where you can insert applications, menu items and toogle used most frequently, so as to have them at your fingertips simply by scrolling on one side or opening one of the configured quick menus.
You can then quickly open Facebook, WhatsApp or the camera at any time, without having to go to the main screen.
9) Cleaning and maintenance
As already described in another article, All-In-One Toolbox is the all-in-one tool to optimize Android, very powerful and full of functions.
Using this app we will be able to optimize every Android feature to the maximum, eliminating unnecessary files, apps that have not been used for a long time, find out what consumes the most RAM and battery and take action to make the smartphone used even faster.
10) Widget for weather and clock
Weather and clock are the basic information that must be put on the main screen of the smartphone (at least in my opinion).
In some smartphones, the weather widget is inadequate, inaccurate or not very nice to see on the phone's interface, so it takes a different app.
1Weather is, in my opinion, the best weather app on Android ever, with several widgets including the one that also includes the clock.
Transparent clock and weather is a very good alternative, to have the clock and the weather forecast on the screen.
11) Navigaweb Tech is the indispensable and wonderful application to always receive the news of technology and on Android, free, directly from this blog.
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