Got a new smartphone? Know someone who swapped their old phone for the latest Google Pixel 2? Then here’s something to help you get your brand new phone all geared up with the best apps on the Google PlayStore.
Every time we get a new phone, we have the choice of continuing from where we left off, thanks to Google’s restore options. Even then, a lot of us have that one question which makes us pause for a second, and think:
“Do I restore all my apps, or start brand-new?”
Today, I’ll help you make that decision.
Well, a lot of factors can affect your choice. Did you have enough space in your old phone? Too many unnecessary apps doing the same thing? Unplayed games that have been forgotten?
Believe it or not, you’re not alone. Even if I gave you 128GB of a phone, you’ll still run out of space eventually – thanks to the growing app sizes, and the wider usages of the device itself. Only then, you are bound to ask yourself the question of how you’ll be better dealing with this issue. Do you go and waste another 50 MB by downloading the Clean Master? Or would you follow your gut and download only the apps you require the most?
Here’s a firestarter – invest in a tablet, if you haven’t already. Download the heavy games, office tools, and other space-eating apps on it. Trust me, it’s the only way you can save space. And to think about it, wouldn’t your Modern Combat 5 look better on a bigger screen? Even more, your clients won’t have to play Chinese and scare you away while you’re busy trying to give a nice presentation! Isn’t that an amazing side effect of another device?
When it comes to apps, there are tons of them out on the Play Store! How in the world are you going to decide which ones to get, and which ones to ditch? This is where my article comes in.
I have made a custom list of apps that will be sufficient for you to get your job done in a particular domain. Now, you should note that these are based on my personal experiences and my list could differ from your preferences. But be rest assured, you wouldn’t have any trouble if you had just these apps on your phone.
If you’re gonna complain about how many apps are on this list, well buddy, if you’re gonna be using your mobile to create a virtual reality skydiving experience as well as impressing your bosses, you’re bound to have so many apps. I’ve listed out the best ones in each field. All you have to do is find the field you’re looking for, and get the apps under that.
Alright, ready? Here we go.
Browse badass
Google Chrome for Android.
Just one browser should be more than enough. The best part of Google Chrome is that it’s Google’s very own, which means that you don’t have to worry about your bookmarks, content history, and saved passwords. Get Chrome on the Windows Desktop and Android mobiles, and your life is pretty much sorted.
Don’t get bored
These apps are curated for Indians, and the digital revolution going on thanks to Jio.
Saavn Music & Radio
Why I choose Saavn over Gaana or any other music streaming service in India is because of the exclusive shows on it (#NoFilterNeha, anyone?), a beautiful app design, large catalog and the social service that allows me to be updated with my friend’s playlists.
Google Play Music
Google is relatively new to this field, and the only thing that it gives more is the ability to store and sync up to 50,000 songs. Yes, that’s right. Put all your downloaded music into a folder on your computer, and sync it. You can now listen to it from any device. It also auto updates if you add new music to the folder. Apart from this, Google Play Music makes for a nice music player to play your offline songs. Clean and simple. Get Google Play Music for Android
TVFPlay
Who hasn’t heard about TVF? This online Entertainment Company rose from the stirs created by Permanent Roommates, TVF Pitchers, and so many exciting short videos posted on Youtube. The only reason I prefer this over YouTube is that all their new contents come on the app first. It’s worth downloading, and oh – it offered offline content way before Youtube. Get TVFPlay for Android
Hotstar
Hotstar is just my quench for the sports action I keep missing thanks to my long distance traveling. It provides live streams of all sporting action on the Star Network, along with many movies, and exclusive content. And oh, Saas-Bahu fans, Hotstar covers your spinning cameras, too! Comes with both a free version and a premium subscription. Get Hotstar for Android
JioTV Live Sports Movies Shows
***Exclusively for Jio SIM users*** JioTV offers instant access to the widest range of TV channels (500+ channels including 60+ HD channels spread across 10 genres and 15 languages) on your smartphones and tablets. Though I haven’t used this much, I’ve heard from my fellow pals that it’s done the job pretty well. Worth a try if you hate to decide between Tata Sky and Dish TV. Get JioTV for Android
YouTube
YouTube. Really? Is this even debatable? Assuming you’ve just finished writing your entrance exams and have finally learned that something called Internet exists, my dear friends, YouTube is the place to be. From news, comedy, entertainment, education, celebrities, everything is here. Everyone is here. Get YouTube for Android
9GAG
9GAG is that one friend who’s laugh is funnier than the joke – and you’re bound to have a nice time. Quick infinite scroll feed of unlimited jokes, gifs, and vines – whatever tickles your funny bones!
Reddit: The Official App
Along the same line comes Reddit. Funny cat photos, trending news stories, and the best discussions on the internet— these are just a few of the awesome things the official Reddit app does best. Reddit has amazing things to learn, from solving some of the trickiest technology problems, to discussing why we haven’t found a new home yet. Get Reddit for Android
Take stuff down
Google Keep – notes and lists
Quickly capture what’s on your mind and get a reminder later at the right place or time. Record a voice memo on the go and have it automatically transcribed. Snap a photo of a poster, receipt or document and easily organize or find it later in the search. Google Keep makes it easy to capture a thought or list for yourself, and share it with friends and family. This app is my life saver. It could save yours, too! Get Google Keep for Android
Evernote – stay organized.
Evernote gives you the tools you need to keep your work effortlessly organized. Though Google Keep is simple and self-sufficiently all that you will ever need to make everyday notes, Evernote goes one step ahead for the professional note makers giving many more features.
Watch better videos
MX Player
MX Player is simply the best and the go-to app for watching videos. It is powerful video player with advanced hardware acceleration and subtitle support. Get MX Player for Android
Pay better and fast
I haven’t included Google’s latest entry Tez yet, because I haven’t used it anytime, and more of all have no idea where it’s accepted. More information about that, later.
PayTM
Thanks to the demonetisation, digital payments in India are the top market right now. PayTM has a huge lead over FreeCharge, and other online payment wallets thanks to the widest audience that accepts the money from them. Take a sabjiwala, or a jewellery shop – everyone has an alternative payment method called PayTM. Forget bulky wallets, and just pay whenever, how much ever. Get PayTM for Android
PhonePe – Money Transfer, Recharge & Bill Payment
PhonePe is a revolutionary way to make mobile payments in India. From UPI payments to recharges, money transfers to online bill payments, you can do it all on PhonePe. PhonePe is way better than Internet Banking and offers you the safest and fastest online payment experience in India.
Wait, how much did I spend?
Walnut All Banks Money Manager
Walnut is the best money manager app to automatically and securely track your monthly spends & pay bills on time. Find out your spends on categories such as food, travel, shopping, etc. and how your expense patterns have changed over time.
Too lazy, bruh!
Zomato
Zomato is the best restaurant finder app to search for and discover restaurants to eat out at or order in from. Browse through restaurant menus, photos, user reviews and ratings to decide where you want to eat, and use the map feature to guide you there. Get Zomato for Android
BookMyShow
With BookMyShow, you can now book tickets for movies, plays, concerts, sports and many other events happening in your city. You can book and buy movie tickets online. The app also lets you check movie show timings, theatre lists, read reviews & news. Get BookMyShow for Android
Swiggy
Ordering food online is easy on the Swiggy app. Not only can you choose from a range of top local & global restaurants near you like Dominos, KFC & Pizza Hut among others but you can also track your order’s status from the restaurant to your doorstep! What’s more – you can order as much (or little) as you like because there’s no minimum order value. Get Swiggy for Android
Flipkart Online Shopping App
Online shopping with Flipkart is very easy as you get to shop from the comfort of your home and get products delivered at your doorstep. By downloading the Flipkart free online shopping app on your Android phone or tablet, you can effortlessly browse our massive collection of more than 80 crore products. Get Flipkart for Android
Amazon India Online Shopping
The free online shopping app from Amazon assures you of a great shopping experience with a lighter app, faster load time & wide selection across categories. You can browse and search for your desired products by product name, category or brands. Get Amazon for Android
Chat like a chatterbox
Hike Messenger
I would prefer Hike over Whatsapp on any day. Why? Because it has so much more to it than just chatting. It’s best known for the widest range of stickers, having it’s own AI chatbot, providing you with the latest sports score, news, daily quotes, and even LOL images – all of which you can share with your friends while you’re chatting. So cool, right? Get Hike for Android
WhatsApp Messenger
Why Whatsapp if not Hike? Simple. Everyone has WhatsApp. I seriously wish that would change, because I find WhatsApp plain and boring. I also hate Green. Fine. That’s just me. Anyway, the easiest way to cut on the SMS charges is by using WhatsApp – connect with everyone, literally. Get WhatsApp Messenger for Android
Google Hangouts
Hangouts is a lifesaver when I need to chat from various devices. Hangouts is available on the computer, allows multiple installs, and has an amazing share-screen feature on the video calls. Their stickers are different. It’s very simple to use and is reliable just like its parent company, Google. Get Google Hangouts for Android
Google Duo
Everyone knows that Google is focusing on Duo for the video calling feature that Hangouts already has. It had to be different. Calling with Duo (which now also supports audio-only) helps you to have a better calling experience thanks to Google’s auto-switching between WiFi and Mobile Data based on the network quality. A must-have app. Get Google Duo for Android
Never miss an important email
Gmail
Gmail is an easy-to-use email app that saves you time and keeps your messages safe. Instantly receive your messages via push notifications, read and respond online and offline and find any message quickly.
Microsoft Outlook
Meet Outlook for Android, the app that helps millions of users connect all their email accounts, calendars, and files in one convenient spot. Newly redesigned, Outlook for Android lets you do more from one powerful inbox. Although Gmail is your one-stop-shop, Outlook will save your life if Google’s security policy is too high for your webmail accounts.
Keep those naughty virus’ away
Avast Antivirus & Security
Protect yourself against viruses and malware that cause popups and unwanted ads with Avast Mobile Security, the world’s most trusted free antivirus app for Android. Get alerted when you install spyware and adware apps that violate your privacy. Secure your devices against phishing attacks from email, phone calls, infected websites or SMS messages. Get Avast Antivirus & Security for Android
Travel better, be smarter
Google Maps – Navigation & Transport
Going somewhere? Go with Maps, the official app that you can rely on for real-time GPS navigation, traffic, public transport and details about millions of businesses, such as reviews and popular times. If you don’t have this, I suggest you to buy a local map of your city and start mugging up the data. (You still can’t predict when you’ll reach, ha)
Google Trips
Google Trips makes exploring the world easier by organizing your essential info in one place and making it available even offline. Get activity suggestions based on what’s nearby, customizable day plans, and your travel reservations from Gmail. Get Google Trips for Android
Ola cabs – Book taxi in India
The Ola cabs app is the easiest and fastest way to book a cab or a taxi in your city. With more than 300,000 cabs in 100+ cities that include Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and more, Ola is the most popular cab booking service in India. What makes it better than Uber? The pricing, and of course, support for auto-rickshaws! HAIL THE CHEAP MINDSET! Get Ola cabs for Android
MakeMyTrip
The leading player in online flight bookings in India, MakeMyTrip offers great offers, some of the lowest airfares, exclusive discounts and a seamless online booking experience. Flight, hotel, and holiday bookings through the desktop or mobile site is a delightfully customer-friendly experience, and with just a few clicks you can complete your booking. Get MakeMyTrip for Android
redBus – Bus and Hotel Booking
Use redBus android app to book bus & Volvo tickets in the easiest & fastest way. The app allows you to search and book bus tickets for over 70,000 routes worldwide and also choose from over 2,300 operators. Choose from seater, sleeper, semi-sleeper, A/C, non-A/C buses. You can now transact on the redBus app using Netbanking, credit cards, debit cards & phone booking options. Get redBus for Android
Bangalore Only
BMTC Official App
BMTC’s mobile app is an initiative towards enhancing the passengers’ experience in availing BMTC’s bus services by providing real-time information on Buses. I use this app to find out where the next bus exactly is thanks to the live-tracking option, helping me to adjust the pace of my walk to the bus stand. If you’re ever lost or stepping inside the wrong bus, this app is a lifesaver. Get BMTC App for Android
“Health is wealth”? Ohh yea!
Fabulous
Use Fabulous to coach yourself to reach your goals, lift yourself to Get Active, Eat Better, Sleep Better, Lose Weight and Stay Motivated by installing 5 healthy living habits that will make you forget about fatigue and low-energy. A unique app design, with effective (that actually work) strategies to improve the overall quality of life makes this app a must-have. Get Fabulous for Android
Water Drink Reminder
This water tracker app reminds you to drink water every day and develop good water drinking habits. Just enter your current weight, and the app will help you to determine how much water your fit body needs every day. Beware of the reminder sound (running water) and make sure you don’t get embarrassed in the public because it often sounds like someone just peed. Get Water Drink Reminder for Android
Google Fit – Fitness Tracking
Effortlessly track any activity. As you walk, run or cycle throughout the day, your phone (or your smartwatch/fit band) automatically logs them with Google Fit. Check in from anywhere. Track your progress from your phone, tablet, the web (fit.google.com) and even your Android Wear watch. Also, most health apps have an option to sync with Google Fit, making it easier to find all data easily. Get Google Fit for Android
Are kaam ki baat kar na! (Office Office)
Google Drive
Google Drive is a safe place for all of your files that puts them within reach from any smartphone, tablet or computer. Files in Drive – such as your videos, photos, and documents – are backed up safely so you can’t lose them. Once there, you can easily invite others to view, edit or leave comments on any of your files or folders. Get Google Drive for Android
Google Docs
I suggest this – despite the fact that even WPS Office is on the list – because it’s simple, light, and does the job of document editing. I found Microsoft Word to be little glitchy once it came to large documents, unlike WPS Office, and Google Docs. Sometimes, I don’t want to wait long enough for WPS Office to load (merely a few seconds), hence I picked Google Docs over it. Get Google Docs for Android
WPS Office + PDF
WPS Office is the smallest size (less than 35MB) and all-in-one complete free office suite on Android mobile and tablets. It integrates all office word processor functions: Word, PDF, Presentation, Spreadsheet, Memo and Docs Scanner in one application, and is fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Doc and Adobe PDF format. Get WPS Office for Android
Google Calendar
Get the official Google Calendar app for your Android phone and tablet to save time and make the most of every day. Add personal goals, such as “run 3 times a week”, and Calendar will schedule time for them automatically. Smart suggestions for event titles, places, and people save you time when creating events. Google Calendar works with all calendars on your phone, including Exchange. Get Google Calendar for Android
Chal Beta Selfie Le Le Re (Pictures)
Google Photos
Google Photos allows you to backup your photos and videos to the cloud (unlimited space, I swear to God that’s true yo), gives you smart movies and animations from your photos, helps you look back on the memories, creates nice collages for you and also comes packed with a video stabilizer. Just get this app, already! Get Google Photos for Android
PicsArt Photo Studio: Collage Maker & Pic Editor
PicArt is my answer for what Photoshop should’ve been on mobile. It has powerful editing features, provides a huge range of clip arts, effects, and comes with a social circle to show off your DSLR skills. It’s most used feature is the square-fit which makes it easier to convert all your images to squares and upload them easily to Instagram. You also have a very active community here. Get PicsArt for Android
Google Snapseed
Snapseed is a complete and professional photo editor developed by Google. 29 tools and filters, including Healing, Brush, Structure, HDR, Perspective. Save your personal looks and apply them to new photos later.
Don’t live under the rock
Google Play Newsstand
Google Play Newsstand is a personalized news reader that provides a single destination for browsing the topics, news sources, and magazines that you care about. Enjoy access to thousands of free and premium news sources, leading magazines and specialized publications.
Google better (duh!)
Google App
The Google app keeps you in the know about the things that you care about. Find quick answers, explore your interests and get a feed of updates on what matters to you. The more you use the Google app, the better it gets.
Mom, I’m studying on the phone! (not chatting)
Curiosity
From the creators of curiosity.com, the Curiosity app is the best way to get smarter about your world. Enjoy short-form, easy-to-read articles that will inspire you. Watch smart videos from the best hand-picked, educational content creators. Get Curiosity for Android
Elevate – Brain Training Games
Elevate is a brain training program designed to improve attention, speaking skills, processing speed, memory, math skills, and more. Each person is provided with his or her own personalized training program that adjusts over time to maximize results. Get Elevate for Android
Duolingo: Learn Languages Free
Practice speaking, reading, listening and writing. Play a game, answer questions and complete lessons to improve your vocabulary and grammar. Start with basic verbs, phrases, and sentences, and learn new words daily.
Quora
Quora is a Q&A platform that empowers people to share and grow the world’s knowledge. People come to Quora to ask questions about any subject, read high-quality knowledge that’s personalized and relevant to them, and share their own knowledge with others. Quora is a place to share knowledge and better understand the world. Get Quora for Android
Khan Academy
Khan Academy allows you to learn almost anything for free. Learn using videos, interactive exercises, and in-depth articles in math, science, economics, and even the humanities with playlists on art history, civics, finance, and more. Get Khan Academy for Android
I have a lot of pull, bro! (Social Networking)
I am not going to mention any of the social networks here because everyone has their own preferences. Some of the noteworthy apps would be Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest etc. It’s up to you, really.
#AurDikhao (nahi hai bhai!)
Technically, that’s it. A pretty long list, I know. But those were the top players of their respective domains. Here are some other apps that you should consider having, just so that your life becomes better:
CamScanner -Phone PDF Creator
CamScanner helps you scan, store, sync and collaborate on various contents across smartphones, tablets, and computers. It can convert any image into a professional document with the magic filter. I personally loved this app, and recommend everyone to try it out, too.
ES File Explorer File Manager
ES File Explorer is a full-featured file (Images, Music, Movies, Documents, app) manager for both local and networked use! With over 500 million users worldwide, ES File Explorer helps manage your android phone and files efficiently and effectively and share files without data cost. Get ES File Explorer for Android
Truecaller: Caller ID & Dialer
Truecaller helps to identify unknown calls, block spam calls and spam SMS. It filters out the unwanted, and lets you connect with people who matter. Truecaller is the only app you need to make your communication safe and efficient.
Google Translate
A must have translator app to help you communicate in different languages. Google Translate is the best app here, no doubt.
MalMath: Step by step solver
MalMath is a math problem solver with step by step description and graph view. It’s free and works offline. It helps students to understand the solving process and makes your homework easy. It is helpful for high school and college students, teachers and parents.
AZ Screen Recorder – No Root
AZ Screen Recorder is the best app to record the screen of your phone. It does NOT require root access, has no time limit, no watermark, is ad-free and very easy to use with one action to start and stop recording. This screen recording app will let you make beautiful screencast videos by providing every feature that you need in a simple and elegant user experience design.
Speedtest by Ookla
Use Speedtest by Ookla for easy, one-tap connection testing in under 30 seconds—accurate anywhere thanks to our global network. Millions of users have made Speedtest the #1 app for testing Internet speeds, and it’s trusted daily by professionals throughout the industry! Get Speedtest for Android
TubeMate
TubeMate lets you download videos from browsers! That’s not fair, I know. But it’s okay. Somewhere. This app isn’t available on Playstore, so you should download this on your own risk. I am not responsible for theft, or any damage.
That’s it, I’m done! (no, seriously)
This was my list. If I have still missed out on something, please let me know in the comments below. I will try and keep this list updated in the coming years. I hope this helped you filter out the apps you need, and the ones that you don’t. Have a happy Android time!
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