If you ’re the golden owner of a new Android smartphone this Christmas , you ’ll belike be scouring Google maneuver to find oneself unexampled apps to download and utilise – but with around 2.3 million apps available , that ’s a pretty daunting task .

With that in nous , here ’s my handwriting - foot selection of the apps any unexampled Android user should install .

Google Gemini

Now depending on the smartphone you habituate and when you first bought it , theGoogle Gemini appmay do pre - install – but if it does n’t , I ’d commend downloading it immediately .

It ’s essentially Google Assistant cranked up to the goop , handling the same queries – controlling wise light , indite text messages , that kind of thing – alongside gallop smarts .

This allows Gemini to answer general knowledge enquiry without touch on you to a webpage , and you could even have a conversation with Gemini using Gemini Live . Though the scope of features in Live mode is more limited , it ’s a great way to chat and brainstorm ideas .

you’re able to also get the virtual help to analyse effigy , video and other file and extract the information you ask .

It ’s a fantastic rise to Google Assistant and should be the very first thing you install on your Modern Android if it is n’t there already .

Pocket Casts

If you ’re a regular hearer of podcasts , look no further than thePocket Casts app – it ’s well the unspoiled podcast player you ’ll find on the Android platform .

It ’s a good - look app that takes inspiration from Google ’s Material You UI , changing the colour of the app reckon on the nontextual matter of the podcast you ’re listening to , as well as offering both light and colored modality .

But it ’s the playback features that fans appreciate the most ; you’re able to increase speakers ’ book while decreasing background noise on the fly , trim quiet from episodes , easily on-off switch between TV and audio and even stick out between chapters if the podcast in interrogative hold them .

There are also handy features like the ability to sync your subscriptions , up next , listening history and more , with robotic download of new sequence for offline playback . The good part ? While it was once a paid app , the app is now loose with an optional Pocket Casts Plus subscription for extra , but not crucial , feature .

You ’ll almost for certain have access to a retinue of paradigm redaction tools baked directly into your smartphone , either via the Google Photos app or your phone ’s aboriginal Gallery app depending on the manufacturing business – but the tools are a small limited .

It ’s free to download with free access to several key features including advanced light , color and item control , though more ripe feature like the economic consumption of the healing brush and AI object remotion are engage behind a monthly subscription .

Still , even with the liberal tools , you ’re provided with mealy control over constituent like colour and tones using curvature , helping give your exposure a unique look , and you ’re destitute to preserve your image presets for easy access later on on .

Google Messages

This one might sound a little odd , but it ’s worth installing the officialGoogle Messages appif it ’s not already the default on your Android smartphone .

The main ground to opt for Google Messages over most OEM - developed alternatives is support for RCS messaging , set aside you to send off gamy - res images , vocalisation notation and more to other RCS exploiter , be it on Android or , following the release of iOS 18 , iPhone .

It ’s also just a really nicely polished message app with built - in support for Google Gemini , real - time junk e-mail protective covering and end - to - closing encoding as standard .

WallpaperZ

Your Android will doubtless come with a reach of pre - installed wallpaper , but you ’ll likely get bored of these fairly apace . If you want to find oneself other gorgeous wallpaper , look no further than theWallpaperZ app .

Not only is the app itself an absolute treat to use with handcrafted animation and a famous lack of vexing advertizing , but there ’s a full range of high - res wallpapers available to download in a sort of themed packs . The approximation is simple ; you get one free wallpaper per large number , with access to nine additional options if you pay for a monthly subscription .

Still , even without the subscription , there are some grotesque choice uncommitted to download , with newfangled packs added every Tuesday and Friday to help keep your telephone set ’s Home and Lock CRT screen looking fresh .

If you ’re in the first place a Windows user , theLink to Windows appis a no - brainer if it is n’t pre - installed on your smartphone .

It essentially allow your smartphone and Windows laptop or desktop to make for nicely with one another , allowing you to make and find shout from your microcomputer , see your smartphone notifications as they appear , reply to text edition messages and even get at your smartphone ’s home plate screen on the bad sieve .

There are additional features alone useable for Samsung and Honor users , include the power to get at smartphone apps on your screen background , drag and drop file between your personal computer and smartphone and even copy and paste content between the two . It really is a fantastic instrument for the more productive among us .

Overdrop

The default Weather app install on your Android will in all probability vary in quality depending on the manufacturer that produce it ; that ’s why it ’s a undecomposed mind to skip it altogether and download theOverdrop app .

It ’s one of the comfortably - take care weather condition apps I ’ve used on Android with purpose cues not only from Material You , adjusting the colours of the app depending on your headphone ’s theme , but iOS too . bemuse in a hugely customisable app layout with elements including bouncy weather and storm tracking , hourly forecasts and air quality and ultraviolet index monitoring and you ’ve induce a up to weather app .

There are also over 70 widgets to select from , though most of these , and sealed advanced feature like shift atmospheric condition provider , are lock behind a monthly subscription – but all the key feature article are promptly usable to free drug user .