11 great apps for your new Android device 2020

The first thing to do when you get a new phone is to log back into all your accounts (email, Facebook, Signal, etc.) to make sure you receive all the important notifications you need and messages from your friends. But after that, you’ll want to install apps that replace the default tools (like the web browser or the weather app) with something better, along with apps that will make your everyday use of the phone that much more. helpful.

Here are our suggestions on where to start when setting up an Android phone.

We’ve rounded up our favorite and most used games, apps, and entertainment. Check out our app picks for iPhones, Android phones, Windows PCand M1-equipped macs; our favorite mobile games from Apple arcade and Google Play Pass; and our best options for Gaming pc, the PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo switchand VR. We’ve also included our favorite streaming shows on Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plusand Netflix; Some great science fiction books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: prices were accurate at time of publication, but may change.)

Microsoft Edge

There was something I wanted from a mobile browser this year, and Microsoft Edge had it: access to the tab selector at the bottom of the screen. Both Google Chrome and Samsung Internet require you to move your hand to the top corner of the screen when you want to switch to another tab. Edge location of the tab switcher at the bottom is much more convenient to reach. It’s just a solid browser complete too, with built-in tracking prevention options and quick access to features like reading the page out loud and finding text within a given page. (Since I last tested browsers, Firefox has also moved its tab switcher to the bottom and offers tab syncing from mobile to desktop, so it could also be a great alternative to your unwieldy, built-in browser. telephone. .)

Just look

JustWatch is not a great app – has a lot of bugs and is often very slow but a must – the app is basically a TV guide for streaming services. Do you want to know where you can look? A christmas story? Write it down and JustWatch will let you know it’s available to stream if you’re a DirecTV subscriber, to rent for $ 3.99 on just about any platform you want, and to buy for as low as $ 8.99. The app can also recommend shows and movies currently available on the services you subscribe to. It won’t stop you from spending an hour looking at all the options, but it will prevent you from bouncing between half a dozen apps.

RainViewer

I tried at least ten different weather apps this year looking for a replacement for Dark Sky, the best weather app out there, because it was pulled from Android in August after Apple bought it. After so much searching, I only found one app that could competently replicate Dark Sky’s game-changing feature: providing accurate minute-by-minute weather forecasts. That app is RainViewer and while it’s not great as a daily weather app, it’s a must to install it as a replacement for Dark Sky. I haven’t found it to be as reliable as Dark Sky, but it reliably informs me when the rain is about to start and shows a graph that predicts how hard the rain will be for the next hour.

1Password / LastPass

I must have written this a dozen times in The edge by now, and I’ll happily write it again: you should be using a password manager. Actually, it’s not so much about remembering your passwords as it is about security; I couldn’t tell you what my password is for Facebook, Gmail, my bank account, etc. because my password manager created strong and random passwords for each of and automatically connects them when I visit those sites. All I have to remember is my own strong password to unlock the password manager. LastPass is a great free alternative, but my personal favorite service is 1Password. I started using the company’s family subscription plan this year and it offers a really simple way for my wife and I to share passwords for joint accounts. Just a warning: setting up a password manager for the first time can be a bit onerous, but once you’re done, it’s easy to go from there.

Track

Clue offers an easy way to keep track of your menstrual cycle and predict when your next period will be. The app also allows you to track your energy level, sexual activity, and other details that may be associated with your cycle. More importantly, the app has one of the clearest privacy policies out there for a service that is going to collect that personal data. The company says it does not sell user data and that “only a few people” within the company can access their information. However, some data can be shared anonymously with researchers.

Pocket

Admittedly, in 2020, I found myself doing a lot less waiting in line, sitting on the train, and generally killing time looking for something to read on my phone. But whenever I need something to read, there is no better option than Pocket. The service allows you to archive stories you find online so you can read those long reads later (because, you know, totally get to all of them later). I come across a ton of stories that I want to read at work every day, and Pocket is the only thing that helps me remember to review them later.

VSCO

Every year, I write that I have a love / hate relationship with VSCO (enough that I was apparently upset enough not to include VSCO in last year’s version of this list). But I’m back on board with VSCO, so here we are. VSCO is the best photo filter app out there if you want to create vivid, filmic images. The app’s interface is even more confusing than it should be, but VSCO is your best bet if you want to quickly snap a smooth photo and make it stand out. The app has a ton of built-in filters (and a ton of premium paid filters) and enough basic editing controls to make an image look like the photo you wanted to take, not the more boring version that appeared on your phone.

Google files

Google files should be integrated directly into Android. If you need to see what’s taking up space on your phone, or find a recent PDF that got lost in your downloads somewhere, Files is the way to go. It offers a simplified file explorer for your phone that is organized into categories like pictures, videos, and documents, making it easy to find what you need and get rid of what you don’t.

Tick

TickTick is the only thing that keeps me organized these days. It’s a free to-do app that lets you create a simple list of what’s to come on your schedule. The app supports natural language event input, so you can type “Coffee meeting on Monday at 8AM” And it will automatically schedule a reminder for the day and time; If you pay for the premium service, it can also sync with a calendar. Companion apps are available in Windows, macOS, iPadOS, and almost every other place you want to sync your to-do list, so it’s set up when you want to check your schedule.

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Images: Microsoft

If you receive too many email notifications, Outlook can save you. The app has a “focused” inbox that tries to determine which emails will really interest you, and it can be configured to only send you notifications for emails that are important to you. It tends to err on the side of caution, so you may get notifications for some emails that you are not interested in, but I have found it to be an overall winner. They alert me when important emails come in from work, but my phone screen isn’t constantly filled with alerts about all the spam I receive.

Pocket molds

Pocket Casts is still one of the best (and most engaging) apps for listening to podcasts. Its focus on the art of podcasting makes navigating the app easy and fun, and the app’s discovery screen offers a place to find new shows you may want to watch. It also supports adding RSS feeds directly, so you can listen to exclusive subscriber shows that you could pay for.