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Latest Launchers

It is possible that I have tried every launcher out there from ADW to Zeam .. I always end up back with the simplest one there is I think the Launcher 7 .. BUT IT IS SOOOOO VERRRRY UGGGLLY !!! When I want the EXACT OPPOSITE I tried SPB Shell 3D .. I have spent too much money buying and not using too many of them. Go Launcher is free and I like it --- SORT OF .. Most recently I got Regina and I thought it was going to be "the one" but you can't change or add any programs to the bottom task bar. Just curious what others are using and why before I spend any more money .. to tell the truth I don't know if there are any others that I haven't tried.

Have you tried SPB Shell 3D or TSF the later being super super smooth!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Somehow I missed an earlier post about the "top 3 launchers." I looked at about 45 seconds of the TSF launcher and promised myself not to jump in there and buy it but couldn't stop myself .. I just installed it and can't wait to start playing .. Good thing it is a VERY SLOW day here at work else I would have to just excuse myself and go home and play with my new launcher. I was wondering if a time would finally come where I stopped being a gadget-a-holic .. the answer is NO. I am old enough to collect Social Security but lucky that I don't have to yet because Social Security $$ are not enough to pay for my addiction to gadgets.

According to me these are the top 5 launchers based on smoothness, utility and simplicity:
1) S 3 Launcher (simple and fast)http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1684026
2) Apex Launcher (simple and fast)(download from playstore)
3) SSlauncher( u might like this one as u like 7 launcher)(download from playstore)
4) Dx Home Launcher ( again a nice one)(download from playstore)
5) Xperia Launcher( nice ui with small icons for galaxy note) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25942989
and one more thing don't waste your money buying stuff for android..its Android baby!! Enjoy

Apex Launcher is smooth but has weird issues on redraw (black screen) sometimes on the Note. Nova Launcher works smoother and doesn't have that problem.
There's also the oldie but goldie... LauncherPro. Yes it hasn't been updated for a long time but a) it works and b) it's fast, even without gpu acceleration. Pity it's missing a few "modern" features like nice-looking folders and newer transitions...

Apex works for me.
I can hide the docks to make the screen simple - - minimalist at most.

SS Launcher definitely, its fresh air compared to other launchers... drawback is one's learning curve and creativity limitations lol

Nova Launcher
Installed Nova launcher on Rooted stock ICS ROM, it works perfect with all of the features in free version on rooted device with widgets and all. it also consume less memory & battery.

I am a fan of Apex but the Black redraw and freezing became a big headache. I just installed Nova and i only get a small redraw here or there. No more waiting 10 seconds for the black screen to disappear and have the homescreen visible again.
Will wait for Apex to fix it, till then sticking with Nova Prime.

Try "360 Laucher" really great and ergonomic with options who he is alone to have that

Nova, Apex, ga launcher all are good but if you need a breath of fresh air try SS Launcher preferably with oriental theme i am sure you will love it......

Found one that is simple with a lot of bells and whistles also. I like it, I think ... It is called "Hi Launcher."

TSF Shell all the way, it really is the dogs bollocks, nothing is as smooth on my Note.

I like it too ... in the youtube video. I haven't figured out how to do anything with it.

MiHome launcher of MIUI is just out, give it a try! its nice and everything seems working fine esp. the theme manager, but dont forget its only for ics though.

upvote for sslauncher too. lovely what you can do with it, i themed it to be magazine-styled
......then i upgraded to ics, and i forgot to back up my sslauncher settings

Nova ! The best for me and my gf ^^
(+ prime)

Watch out for the "coming soon" tsf v1.5.0!!! Can't wait any longer, c'mon guys!!!!

When I bought my Note, I installed Go Launcher EX like 6 hours after, and used it until recently when I updated to ICS. Now I use Nova Launcher PRIME. (it's the Pro version) It's totally smooth for me, on stock ROM and RocketROM (those are the only two I've tried), the battery doesn't seem to be suffering anything.
Besides the nice homescreen, what I like best about it is actually the app drawer customization. Folders and tabs, and none of that quasi-advertisement extras on Go Launcher (I'm referring to the links to the Go Store on the menus and on the app drawer itself) But that folder and tab thing (+ some effects and blah blah blah) are only on the Prime version.
Depending on the level of customization you like to work with, you can pick between the free or prime versions. But for me, I super-super-customize it so Prime is a good deal for me.

dhruvmalik said:
I am a fan of Apex but the Black redraw and freezing became a big headache. I just installed Nova and i only get a small redraw here or there. No more waiting 10 seconds for the black screen to disappear and have the homescreen visible again.
Will wait for Apex to fix it, till then sticking with Nova Prime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been using Apex in all ICS roms and never had those issues until I flashed a LQ3 based ROM. Now I get that often. I might be going to Nova to see if it works best but I miss all the transitions..so I guess I better get the Pro version.

Android 10: three button navbar with alternate launcher, no recent apps

Hi there,
I use an alternate launcher (Nova Launcher). After the Upgrade to Windows 10, the recent navbar button (the one on the right) is not working any more. The running apps are not shown and I only see the background image. The same is true when using the Microsoft Launcher.
When I switch back to Xperia Home, the button is working well.
This looks like a bug to me. Is it working for anyone?
Best regards

grisu59964 said:
Hi there,
I use an alternate launcher (Nova Launcher). After the Upgrade to Windows 10, the recent navbar button (the one on the right) is not working any more. The running apps are not shown and I only see the background image. The same is true when using the Microsoft Launcher.
When I switch back to Xperia Home, the button is working well.
This looks like a bug to me. Is it working for anyone?
Best regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just use the stock home launcher because after android 10 update all previous launchers won't work, or at least will have bugs... wait until this launcher have support for android 10. that's it!

Microsoft Launcher
Yeah I tried Nova but it was too much like everything else. Yes I'll admit I was sceptical but I find this MS launcher fits my requirements and is really responsive and doesn't kill the battery. Give it a go.

I read from a few news sites stating that this "not compatible with third party launcher" problem is Google's fault. Even many Pixel phones still suffer from it. Basically you'll need to wait for December security patch and other launcher developers starting to update their launcher to support android 10 to be able to use third party launchers with 10's navigation gesture and recent app.

What I ended up doing is rooting and installing the Magisk QuickSwitch module. Then install OnePlus Launcher (apk is posted here on XDA) and set that as the recents provider in QuickSwitch.
At that point you can use any launcher (Lawnchair in my case) and disable Xperia Home via a debloater app (also available via Magisk).

Best Launcher for 4a?

I love the pixel Launcher but i want to try something different ,always use Nova but ITS unestable .
Any recomendation?
I use evie Launcher,only 2 bugs already spotted.

feralt said:
I love the pixel Launcher but i want to try something different ,always use Nova but ITS unestable .
Any recomendation?
I use evie Launcher,only 2 bugs already spotted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unstable? Hardly. Been using Nova Prime since day 1 (late Aug) on this device with both A10 and A11. As have many others. Look closer to home for a fix to the (your device config) stability issue.

Nova here too, no issues other than maybe one in 10 days the Google Feed background changes to white. Restarting Nova fixes it for another week or two.
Sent from my Pixel 4a using XDA Labs

Nova here, too. I have never experienced instability.

Nova is king. I've had Nova on all of my phones going back to the Note 2 quite some time ago. I'm actually holding off on installing it this time around on my P4a and trying to get used to stock.

I used Nova for years but going back to the Pixel I been trying the native launcher.
I like it, but I can not resize or skin icons and for this reason may go back to Nova Launcher.

Lawnchair 2 is my recommendation. Very similar to Pixel Launcher, but customisable and free.
Although no update for nearly a year could be an issue for some.

Square Home if you like the look of windows mobile.

I have been using Microsoft Launcher. Love that the apps are grouped alphabetic by letter. If Nova could do that I'll switch to Nova though.

nobody for lawnchair ?

switcher said:
nobody for lawnchair ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not well suited to Android 10+ navigation metaphor; increasing number of unresolved issues; not updated since late 2019. Launcher (like underlying device/os/rom) should not be a focal point.

I use the beta version of lawnchair2. No issues.
In the past was NOVA Prime. Not sure why I switched, but these are my top 2 go to's.

hello,
i use nova launcher and have an issue:
when i do the upswipe to leave an app and want to open another one after that then sometimes i have a stutter, as if the launcher did a little restart.
do you have this too?
kind regards

switcher said:
nobody for lawnchair ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I enjoy Lawnchair, but currently using Smart Launcher 5

Minicuxn said:
hello,
i use nova launcher and have an issue:
when i do the upswipe to leave an app and want to open another one after that then sometimes i have a stutter, as if the launcher did a little restart.
do you have this too?
kind regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haven't see that (yet). Might be app and/or device config specific.

I got Smart Launcher 5.5 on my Pixel 4a
No Problems so far.

Can someone do this setup and give steps here please...

Question Is there any way to get gesture controls working on custom launchers?

Hello XDA,
I recently bought this nice phone (POCO X3 Pro) and I immediately installed Nova Launcher PRO, because I don't like the default POCO launcher. Later, I found out gesture controls only really work with the POCO launcher. Is there any way to fix this?
I'd prefer not to use any third party apps that implement their own system (like edge gestures), I'd rather see a real fix.
Thanks in advance!

Naamloser said:
Hello XDA,
I recently bought this nice phone (POCO X3 Pro) and I immediately installed Nova Launcher PRO, because I don't like the default POCO launcher. Later, I found out gesture controls only really work with the POCO launcher. Is there any way to fix this?
I'd prefer not to use any third party apps that implement their own system (like edge gestures), I'd rather see a real fix.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm exactly in the same situation. really sad :-(

Seems like for now the only solution is third party apps.. I don't want those lol

I'm using Microsoft Launcher. All the gestures work perfectly on this launcher. It's been just 3-4 days since I'm using this launcher and I really love it. You can really test it and give me Feedback.
By the way, I am using Poco M2 (shiva).

Two issues here are that
1. You're using a different phone than we do
2. I bought Nova Prime before I got the phone. I'd prefer using that instead.

Naamloser said:
Hello XDA,
I recently bought this nice phone (POCO X3 Pro) and I immediately installed Nova Launcher PRO, because I don't like the default POCO launcher. Later, I found out gesture controls only really work with the POCO launcher. Is there any way to fix this?
I'd prefer not to use any third party apps that implement their own system (like edge gestures), I'd rather see a real fix.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I try and search a lot right now there is no way u can use Fullscreen Gestures with nova without third party apps
but you can install the Fluid Navigation Gestures app and try to hide default Navbar
Hiding The Big Stupid Navbar Android 11
Long story short, Q gestures is absolutely terrible. I use a third party app for navigation. however, EVERY single app I've ever tried seems to be unable to hide the nav bar due Google's screwery. in fact, even Fullscreen Qgestures magisk module...
forum.xda-developers.com
I use magisk mod and work perfectly
just to remember you have to turn on autostart and set battery saver to no restrictions

General [Q] Which Home do you use?

Hi Guys
just for try some home/launcher, which Launcher do you use it, alternatively to samsung Home?
now i try PocoLauncher, its fast and light, but don't have, on the left of display, the google page!
thanks

I use Nova Launcher have done so on every phone I have had since I can remember!

I've used the stock one that comes with the phone for a few weeks and now on Nova. Tbh Samsungs one UI is actually ntb. I would recommend trying theirs before you get Nova and dedicate a bunch of time to customizing.

I use Niagara launcher because it's simple and for a tall phone it makes it easier to navigate through my apps

Smart Launcher 5. I used TSF Shell until it cost too much battery to justify the aesthetics. Nova and friends always felt clunky and sloppy.

TSF launcher even though development stopped 4 years ago, everything still works fine for me and love the smoothest of swiping screens.

Nova 7. Simply great.

Nova since S2 as far as I remember

Nova.
I use it on all Android phones since a few years ago.

now i try Lawnchair2, its very good, but yes Nova its the best for me too.

I use Ruthless Launcher it´s free, works well with gestures, has a google feed plugin and double tap to lock works well oh and Icon pack support as well

Microsoft Launcher for about five years now.

lowrider_05 said:
I use Ruthless Launcher it´s free, works well with gestures, has a google feed plugin and double tap to lock works well oh and Icon pack support as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am also using Ruthless but with navigation buttons. How do you get it to work properly with gestures? Both Nova and Ruthless give me redraws of the homescreen when I come home via gesture and try to interact fast with another app.

One UI as the others don't work well with gestures...as above Nova gives me redraws.

I am using Blackberry launcher in the meantime to allow myself some buffer to move on to a Samsung from Blackberry Key2 (and lots of BB devices previously)

kennix127 said:
I am using Blackberry launcher in the meantime to allow myself some buffer to move on to a Samsung from Blackberry Key2 (and lots of BB devices previously)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welcome to 2021. I'm glad you could join us.

I use "Square Launcher" on every Android Device i had the last few years. Best!

Also been using Nova Launcher Prime since it was released. Never had a problem with it.

I use Nova or Lawnchair 2 .... are similar and very good... I prefer Lawnchair for the dock bar with 2 rows that i like much. Both can use Google Feed on left page.

I'm also a nova user for so long now.