this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023

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Which non-standard / unpopular launcher do you use? (lemmy.nz)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/android

36 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Hey c/Android,

We always keep hearing about Nova Launcher, Smart Launcher, Niagara etc, and I wondered how many of us here are using unpopular or underrated launchers.

In my case, I've been using AIO Launcher ever since I got my Fold 4, as it's one of the few launchers that have proper foldable support.

AIO bucks the minimalist trend and instead focuses on an all-in-one approach. It's USP is it's plethora of built-in widgets, including music controls, integrated notifications, emails, RSS feeds, timers, dialer, and more. For advanced users, it allows you to control the launcher via Tasker, and you even create your own widgets using LUA scripts!

So, do you use a non-standard/unpopular launcher, if so, which one and what's your setup like?

all 39 comments

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Kvaesitso en fdroid [Kvaesitso](Kvaesitso (A search-focused, free and open source launcher for Android) https://f-droid.org/packages/de.mm20.launcher2.release/)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Just installed, and now I'm wondering why I've never found this before. Its great - open source, well-designed, and pretty full-featured

[–] automator404 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Niagara launcher has the best workflow for me. Aesthetically is the most pleasing launcher if you love minimalism.

[–] WorldWideLem 3 points 1 year ago

I'm also using Niagara, it's a really fun but simple design.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Does using the MS launcher count? I'm using it on my work phone, and it's actually a decent launcher.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I've tried a couple of others and apart from incredibly slow scrolling in the app drawer it really is decent. I like the tasks and calendar integration a lot.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yea, the productivity side is pretty neat, that's what impressed me too.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

oLauncher Clutter Free from F-Droid. It's super simple and fast on my aging low end phone. I save every bits of cpu/ram i can.

[–] metaphortune 1 points 1 year ago

Hard agree here, it's fantastic.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

KISS from f-droid.

[–] subspaceinterferents 6 points 1 year ago

SquareHome launcher. Emulates the experience of a Windows phone user interface. I've never had a Windows phone, but the functionality was quite appealing, and I've made it my own.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I've been using Lawnchair for a while, but development is so slow, and they are so consistently behind Android updates, that I think I've given up on custom launchers and will just use the stock AOSP launcher.

It is disappointing, but Google has made it so you don't get the fancy recents carousel unless you use the stock launcher. Lawnchair does support that by pretending to be the stock launcher, but Lawnchair only supports up to Android 12, and Android 14 is about to come out. There hasn't been a hint of Lawnchair even starting development of Android 13 compatibility, so I'm not confident they'll be able to keep up with 14 and beyond.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

It's sad cause I really like lawnchair

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I use Microsoft's because it is as close to the launcher included with the custom ROM I used on my previous phone, that I can not install on this one.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

"mLauncher" from Fdroid, it is a fork of OlauncherCF

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Lawnchair2

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

This. Trusty old lawnchair2. I can group all my apps in folders and have a separate menu for island/shelter apps.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Pie Launcher

It's a very simple launcher which makes accessing your favorite applications easy and quick, no matter whether your finger is in the top right or bottom left of your screen.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

This is somewhat unpopular in this crowd, but ever since Nova got bought by an ad company, I use pixel launcher. I don't actually need customization like more apps per row. The default is good enough.

[–] sma3in 3 points 1 year ago

Niagara launcher is the best and the first launcher I ever bought. Very simple and minimalistic and somehow I love the list app design. no clutter

[–] theRealBassist 3 points 1 year ago

Been using ASAP Launcher since like 2015-16. Never had a good reason to change tbh.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Pear launcher. Its the closest I could get to my Nova style setup without trackers in the launcher.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Discreet Launcher on F-droid.

[–] Osiris 3 points 1 year ago

Niagara Launcher. It just perfectly fits for me. I don't like clutter on my homescreen

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I install Bald phone on my elderly mother's phone and tablet and she loves it.

[–] PainInTheAES 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Action launcher

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Srsly.. Anything else takes too many gestures to get anything done. I don't want to swipe up from the bottom of my screen to get recently used. I want to swipe in the middle where it's easy to reach.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Launcher 10. Using it for past few years. Every time I change my launcher for some other, I get bored and keep getting back to launcher 10.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I've been using OLauncher for years now, it is extremely simple and lightweight but it works for me.

[–] MeanEYE 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I use to use to use Evie but then got Samsung Fold and it's not really handling two screens well. But overall it's a great no nonsense launcher.

Edit: Removed fraudulent link!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

So apparently the one you linked is indeed fake, it's made by someone called "ManDeep". The real Evie launcher died three years ago and was taken off the Play Store, and there have been a few fakes since then.

I would advice removing your link ASAP and uninstall it from your device, who knows what permissions you've granted it and what nefarious activities it's been upto...

[–] MeanEYE 2 points 1 year ago

Right, I remember something being with it, I thought Google Play store was just being weird for me. Thanks. Removed the link. I never had this version installed.

[–] trashgirlfriend 2 points 1 year ago

Damn, this almost gave me a heart attack as I am currently using Evie.

It seems that I got it when the app was still up in the Play store and seems legitimate, though.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I forgot about Evie. Nice to see that it's still being updated.

Edit: 2.2 rating on the Play Store, people are saying it's filled with adverts and not the real Evie launcher, wtf?!

[–] MeanEYE 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, I found out the same thing. Granted I haven't used Evie in about a year or so, since I got Fold4. Too bad. It was a great launcher.

[–] SurvivingMu 1 points 1 year ago

I use a couple of launchers and there are so many that are unpopular in the lot... Hell even Nova became unpopular in some "circles". So I'm just going to name 3 launchers that I enjoy and that were not mentioned in the comments until now: Indistravtablelauncher , A decluttered launcher and Hyperion launcher

Hyperion just got updated. I started using it because it seemed more customizable than Nova... But then dev got stucked behind and Nova beta at some time was almost adding a new thing every month...