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There are a lot of factors that affect the audio quality of the music you’re listening to, many of which simply can’t be fixed without shelling out more money on new hardware. However, there are ways to improve your listening experience without buying new hardware, such as by learning how to equalize (EQ). One of the best equalizer apps for Android is called Wavelet, and with its most recent update, it’s added a feature that fixes a problem you probably didn’t know existed.

The need for equal loudness

Back in the 1930s, a pair of scientists named Harvey Fletcher and Wilden A. Munson measured how loud a sound at one frequency needs to be in order for it to be perceived as equally loud as a sound at another frequency. These measurements were put together into graphs known as the Fletcher-Munson curves, and they showed that humans perceive certain frequencies as louder when the actual loudness of the sound decreases (and vice versa). In 2003, the Fletcher-Munson curves were revised and codified into the ISO 226 standards document, which outlines the “combinations of sound pressure levels and frequencies of pure continuous tones which are perceived as equally loud by human listeners.”

You don’t need to know what’s in the ISO 226 document to understand the implications of its equal-loudness contours. What it proves is that when you’re listening to audio at low volume levels, frequencies in the midrange sound much louder than low or high frequencies. This is especially noticeable, at least for me, with the lower frequencies; when I lower the volume of my music, a lot of the “thumpiness” of the bass disappears because it’s drowned out by the midrange. I personally didn’t even realize this was an issue until I tried out the new equal loudness feature in the latest beta release of the Wavelet app.

Wavelet is an equalizer app for Android that quickly became a favorite among audio enthusiasts after it was released in the middle of 2020. Its standout feature was its support for AutoEq, a way to easily equalize your headphones to the Harman standard using a device-specific preset. The community-made AutoEq database has presets for thousands of headphone models and is constantly updated with new additions, so it’s really easy for newbies with no knowledge of audio processing to adjust their headphone’s audio profile to the Harman standard.

How to use equal loudness in Wavelet

And with the upcoming v24.05 update to Wavelet, which is now in beta, the app will add an equal loudness mode that retains the sound signature of your music no matter what volume step you’re listening to. This means that the volume of low and high frequencies won’t dip more than midrange frequencies when you lower the volume, correcting the issue I mentioned before. Under the hood, the equal loudness mode applies loudness corrections based on the ISO 226 equal-loudness contours. The app provides a nice visualization to show how the sound changes when you change the volume on your device. To set the feature up, you just need to do the following:

1. Download, install, and go through Wavelet’s setup process.
2. Connect your preferred headphones to your phone.
3. Play some music and set the volume to the level you normally prefer to listen to.
4. Tap on equal loudness to open the page. You should see a toggle to enable equal loudness, a slider to adjust the volume threshold, and a curve showing how the loudness of the frequencies will be impacted.
5. Adjust the volume threshold slider to the lowest value before the graph starts to change. In other words, if the graph is flat at -13dB but you start to see it dip a little bit when you increase it to -12dB, then you should set it to -13dB.
6. That’s it! You won’t need to tweak these settings any further for your preferred headphones, but if you connect a different pair later on, you’ll need to redo step #5 because Wavelet saves settings on a per-device basis.

I personally noticed an immediate difference when I played some music, lowered the volume, and then toggled equal loudness on and off. I could suddenly hear the bass properly in a lot of the songs I listen to, even at really low volumes. From the brief time I’ve used this feature, it’s already made listening to music more enjoyable for me, especially when I’m working. I highly recommend just giving equal loudness a try in the Wavelet app if you’re skeptical.

Wavelet giveaway

Equal loudness joins several other nifty audio tuning features in Wavelet, including the aforementioned AutoEq, a 9-band graphic equalizer, a limiter, channel balance, reverberation, a virtualizer, and a bass tuner. To fund the app’s development, the developer has made some of its features, including the new equal loudness mode, available only to people who buy the pro version of the app. With a one-time $4.99 in-app purchase, the pro version of Wavelet unlocks the reverberation, virtualizer, bass tuner, and equal loudness features.

To celebrate the release of equal loudness in Wavelet version 24.05, which also brings a massive expansion to the AutoEq database, a Quick Setting tile, and a significant reduction in RAM usage, the developer has given us 100 promo codes to give away! To participate in the giveaway, just visit my profile on X, Threads, Mastodon, or Telegram. I’ll be sharing 35 codes on X, 35 codes on Telegram, 20 codes on Threads, and 10 codes on Mastodon half an hour after this post goes live.

To redeem a code, open the Google Play Store app on your phone, tap on your profile picture, tap on Payments & subscriptions, tap on Redeem code, and then enter the promo code in the text box that appears.

Many new Android apps are out there, but keeping track of them is tough. But we’re happy to do that hard work for you. We’ve scoured the internet to find the best new Android apps and new Android games available, focusing on titles that offer something different to the status quo. Be sure to visit our list of the best Android apps of all time, best Android games ever, and our selection of the best new Android apps released in 2023 for more.

The best new Android apps and games for August 2024

1. Claude
2. Subway Surfers City
3. Flying Calmly
4. Superliminal
5. Dragon Prince: Xadia
6. Disney Speedstorm

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Claude

Another big ChatGPT rival that emphasizes AI safety, hits Android devices.

• Price: Free
• Developer: Anthropic PBC

Claude AI has been overshadowed by more impactful chatbots, like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, largely due to its lack of a presence on Android. The company behind the platform, Anthropic, has now debuted a dedicated app.

Unlike its contemporaries, Claude cannot access the internet, but this is a good thing. Its focus is drilling down into the content that you feed it, such as a set of graphs, a PDF, or a text file. While this limits its usefulness in providing contextual answers to current events, it doesn’t affect its ability to crunch hard data.

We’ve had plenty of fun experimenting with ridiculous questions, and Claude produced some remarkably grounded (albeit hilarious) answers. If you’re interested in its “constitutional AI” learning approach or like the idea of a chatbot cut off from the internet, you should give it a go.

Subway Surfers City

A newer version of the classic endless runner.

• Price: Free trial / In-app purchase from $1.99 to $99.99 per item
• Developer: SYBO Games

Subway Surfers is one of the most successful mobile game franchises in history. The endless runner is simple in concept but the challenge ramps up the deeper you progress in the game. But now there’s a new version, a sequel, if you will, dubbed Subway Surfers City.

The new game retains much of the old title’s mechanics, just set in prettier environments and offering more responsive controls. New music also permeates the title, which established users might not enjoy too much. Nevertheless, there are refreshed missions and new maps with a lot of verticality.

Importantly, Subway Surfers City is approachable for new users while offering more challenges for long-standing gamers. It strikes the perfect balance.

Flying Calmly

Keep tabs on potential turbulence before your flight.

• Price: Free / In-app purchases from $1.99 per item
• Developer: Aviles Software

We’ve heard many reports of turbulence plaguing various flights around the world in recent years. While the phenomenon is difficult to predict, some apps can offer some insight into the likelihood of a bumpy flight. Enter Flying Calmly.

The app uses NOAA weather data and applies its smarts to better predict the likelihood of a bumpy ride. It also offers a nifty aircraft positioning tool that uses your phone’s sensors to judge the plane’s pitch, roll, bump severity, and air pressure.

It should be noted that turbulence is challenging to forecast, so this app should only be used for civilian guidance.

Superliminal

Being stuck in a dream has never been this fun.

• Price: Free trial / In-app purchases from $4.99 to $7.99 per item
• Developer: Noodlecake

Superliminal first landed on Steam back in 2019. The first-person surreal walking simulator/puzzle game was pretty dizzying on the large screen, but now it’s available on Android, too.

In short, the game is set in one’s dream and introduces various puzzle elements, illusions, and forced perspectives. The title includes various scenes that are thick with atmosphere and character. Your task is to solve these puzzles by thinking as unconventionally as the world. It’s a wild but short ride, and I recommend it for an afternoon playthrough.

The Dragon Prince: Xadia

An action RPG based on Netflix’s The Dragon Prince.

• Price: Free / Requires a Netflix subscription
• Developer: Wonderstorm / Netflix

Netflix is building up quite the game repository, and Dragon Prince: Xadia is its latest addition. This top-down action RPG takes place in the fantasy world of Xadia, which harbors various environments, each with its own atmosphere and peril. For the most part, the game is easy to grasp. You travel across the world, kill baddies, and snag loot.

It’s a game that’s easy to drop in and drop out, making it an ideal time sink. As a Netflix title, you will need a Netflix subscription to play it, though.

Disney Speedstorm

Think Mario Kart or CTR, but Disney characters and Asphalt mechanics.

• Price: Free / In-app purchases from $1.99 to $99.99 per item
• Developer: Gameloft SE

Finally, we have Disney Speedstorm, one of the more addictive titles I’ve played in a while. The title has been present on Windows and major consoles since September 2023, but only this month landed on iOS and Android.

It’s an arcade racing game with Disney characters and stars piloting the vehicles. The controls and physics feel similar to Asphalt, and each character boasts a unique set of strengths and skills. As you progress, you’ll unlock new characters with earned currency, keeping gameplay fresh.

Speedstorm will appeal to Disney and racing title fans — an interesting combo.

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As a photographer, you can find plenty of Android apps to up your editing game. But your options are limited if you want a third-party camera app to replace your phone's built-in app. There's a reason why third-party camera apps are so bad on Android. In April this year, Blackmagic known for its high-quality digital film cameras and DaVinci Resolve previewed the Blackmagic Camera for Android at NAB Las Vegas, promising to bring professional video controls to the best Android phones. Two months later, the app is now live on the Play Store.

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After debuting the Blackmagic Camera app on iOS last year, Blackmagic Design has finally brought its highly acclaimed professional video camera app to Android. The free app features complete manual controls to help you capture cinematic videos and packs a ton of useful features.

In a press release highlighting the launch, Blackmagic Design says the app is based on the same “operating system” as the company’s digital film cameras and gives Android users access to a wide range of professional tools. The app has a feature-rich HUD with quick access to important controls, along with status and record parameters, a histogram, focus peaking, levels, and frame guides.

Instagram, and social media as a whole, has an AI problem. Not only is the platform tagging real photos as created by AI, but it’s also using users’ creations to train its AI models. This, for an artist, is obviously worrying. In a world where generative AI is gathering momentum, and the lines between real and artificial are quickly blurring, it’s becoming more difficult for real artists to ply their trade. That’s where Cara steps in. The platform recently saw a surge in users, and I decided to give it a whirl, too.

What is Cara and who is it for?

Founded by photographer Jingna Zhang, Cara is a relatively new social network and app that aims to protect artistic integrity. Despite its focus on creators, Cara is available for all seeking out new and exciting artists or novel work. Like a digital art gallery, you don’t need to upload your own content to enjoy others’. You don’t even need an account if you browse online. I do love discovering new artists at markets and online, and I’ve found myself scrolling through the app much like I would Instagram or Reddit.

Its core tenet and principle draw is its stance on AI. The app currently prohibits generative AI works and implements safeguards to prevent AI models from scraping and training on data. In this sense, the platform appeals to those who want an authentic, AI-free portal to promote their work.

What Cara gets right

Cara also bills itself as a refuge from Instagram and other pro-AI social networks, but its design borrows heavily from the Meta app. This is a good thing, as the familiar UI streamlines the learning process. It took me a few minutes to familiarize myself with the app and with its home page.

The app is devoid of ads and puts the content first and foremost. It also provides plenty of options for users to browse and discover new work. I’m a huge fan of its Home Feed Settings option, which lets you choose in percentage increments what content you encounter on your home page. If you only want to see your friends’ artwork, you can do that. Want to see site-wide posts and a splash of your follower’s content? That’s possible too. All social networks could benefit from this quality-of-life toggle.

I can't recall encountering a social network with a more supportive environment.

The profile page layout is another bright spot and foregrounds the promotion of artists. Users can broadcast their stance on accepting freelance work, commissions, or full-time positions if eager eyes come looking. Links are allowed too, making it easy for potential clients to navigate directly to an artist’s storefront. I’ve bookmarked more than a handful of creators I plan to purchase work from in the future. This pocketing functionality, which is separate from likes, makes it a great way to remember specific pieces, too, be it for your own inspiration or later referral. Hashtags also work well, plugging directly into the search functionality.

I want to touch on my experience on Cara beyond the art itself, though. A core part of the platform is its community. Like every social network, it’s the people that make it what it is. Unlike Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), comments left on Cara posts are remarkably supportive. I haven’t yet encountered one toxic comment. Perhaps this is thanks to its core ethos, but Cara is largely devoid of political commentary, harassment, toxic remarks, and hateful echo chambers. I can’t recall encountering a social network with a more supportive environment.

As its a smaller, more condensed community, it encourages the discovery of art from artists you wouldn’t otherwise encounter. This makes it easier for smaller artists to garner a following, as opposed to Instagram where the sheer number of users and its algorithm may limit potential reach.

It’s not quite there, yet

As you’ve probably gathered, I love the idea of Cara. A place that fosters creativity and harbors a supportive net of users who all share the same love? Count me in. However, for all of its positives, Cara isn’t exempt from critique.

There are practical flaws. Even though Cara allows text posts up to 5,000 characters long, the platform’s current focus is visual art. Unfortunately, this makes it more inhospitable for other creative projects. Text posts aren’t as easy to search for as visual content, which makes finding poetry and short stories difficult. Users can post their poetry as an image to get around this, but it’s an extra step.

I found issues with image quality too, especially when zooming into images. Granted, there has to be some compression, but visual platforms should put visual fidelity first.

It's important to address the elephant in the room: what is Cara's trajectory?

Finally, it’s important to address the elephant in the room: what is Cara’s trajectory? It’s not a social media platform in the traditional sense. I feel the app has more in common with an art subreddit than Instagram. You won’t use it to keep up with a friends’ travel photos, see specific images from a place or event, or more general imagery from internet users. In this sense, don’t expect Cara to ever become a true Instagram alternative.

I worry about its feasibility. In its current guise, the platform appears to be unsustainable. In an interview with Wired, Zhang noted that the platform’s hosting bills are mounting. The small development outfit was considering implementing a subscription service, but this may inadvertently dissuade people from joining.

Cara may have too narrow a reach to be a truly viable social platform, but rapid growth also leaves it with unsolved issues. The platform no doubt strengthens artist-to-artist collaboration, but I doubt it’ll spawn an anti-AI social media revolution. I’m not sure if that’s what Cara or its creators want, either. The platform is designed for artists by artists, and this makes it inherently niche. But can Cara survive without casual users? Can digital art survive without casual browsers? I’m not so sure, but regardless, I enjoy drawing inspiration from the platform. I might even take up doodling again.

Many new Android apps are out there, but keeping track of them is tough. But we’re happy to do that hard work for you. We’ve scoured the internet to find the best new Android apps available, focusing on apps that offer something different to the status quo. Be sure to visit our list of the best Android apps of all time and our selection of the best new Android apps released in 2023 for more.

The best new Android apps for June 2024

1. Bitwarden Authenticator
2. Wallpaper Changer
3. Openreads
4. Aurelian
5. ReZ Launcher
6. Zoom Earth

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Bitwarden Authenticator

Bitwarden’s latest app extends beyond password management.

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Even though passkeys are the future of passwords, you likely still use a good old password on hundreds of logins that haven’t yet begun supporting passkeys. You likely still have hundreds of passwords for websites that you’ve signed in to over the years, and apps like Bitwarden are our top Android app choice for the simple reason that they help you manage all of your passwords and do it while being free and open-source. Bitwarden is back with another free and open-source app, this time to serve your 2FA needs.

Bitwarden Authenticator has just been launched by Bitwarden Inc. (h/t Artem Russakovskii). As the name suggests, it is an authenticator app for generating Time-based One-Time Password (TOTP) authentication codes for two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication is advised for all important accounts, even if you use a passkey or a complex password, as it adds an extra layer of security.

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Late last month, we first reported that Google will revamp the system volume panel interface in the upcoming Android 15 release. The new design we enabled features much thicker, pill-shaped sliders all around, is collapsible, and has some playful animations for volume adjustments. Fast-forward one month, and the new volume panel UI we showed off has still not rolled out in the Android 15 beta. Thanks to a third-party app, though, you don’t need to wait any longer to try it out.

The developer of Precise Volume, one of the best volume control apps for Android, has released a new update that adds a new “Android 15 Preview” popup style for the app’s Volume Button Override feature. Basically, the Precise Volume app is capable of overriding the system’s stock volume panel UI and replacing it with its own. Before the latest beta update, the app’s only available popup style was based on the older volume panel UI from Android 14. After seeing our article on Android 15’s revamped volume panel UI, though, the developer decided to try their hand at replicating the new interface. Having tried both the official and the replicated experience, I can say the developer did a pretty good job at mimicking the new UI.

Many new Android apps are out there, but keeping track of them is tough. But we’re happy to do that hard work for you. We’ve scoured the internet to find the best new Android apps available, including apps that you might not have heard of or that offer something different to the status quo. Be sure to visit our list of the best Android apps of all time and our selection of the best new Android apps released in 2023 for more.

The best new Android apps for May 2024

1. TikTok Notes
2. Focus Go
3. Organic Maps
4. TimeJot
5. Moye Productivity Launcher
6. StandBy Mode

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TikTok Notes

TikTok’s take on Instagram trades short-form videos for photos and text.

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Google appears to be tinkering around with the layout of its Phone app. It appears the Android app could gain a hamburger-style menu icon and lose the bottom bar.

PiunikaWeb, in collaboration with AssembleDebug, discovered a change to the Phone app in the public beta version 128.0.625763929. That change introduces a hamburger menu icon to the search bar on the top of the page.

When the icon is tapped, a panel pops out from the side and provides a list of options. However, the panel is fairly empty as it only contains two options: Contacts and Voicemail.

It’s a little strange to dedicate an entire panel to so few items. There’s a possibility that Google is simply testing out this new layout without plans to roll it out publicly. But there’s always a chance we could see it release sometime down the road.

Since the panel serves as the place were you can find all of the app’s important features, it eliminates the need for the bottom bar in the current version of the app. As such, this new layout removes the bottom bar.

This new menu wasn’t the only thing that was discovered while investigating the app. It appears AssembleDebug also found a string of code that adds permission for users to use the emergency satellite feature Android 15 will bring to Android devices. As we reported earlier, this feature is called “Emergency SOS,” which allows the user to connect with emergency services via satellite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkz5K31Eqrw

Some of you may remember the name Francisco Franco from the early mod-heavy days of Android and the famous “Franco kernel” releases. Over the years, Francisco has released several other apps, too, including a powerful photo gallery app called Focus. But development on that has stalled for a while now, and while we wait for the fully reworked Focus, we have a lighter sibling to tide us over: Focus Go. And Focus Go is exactly what I want from a gallery app on Android.

For my use case, Focus Go is the perfect replacement for many gallery apps like Simple Gallery, an excellent app that was sold off and is now filled with ads; the beautiful Memoria, which hasn’t been updated in years; or even Google’s own Gallery, a lesser-known local equivalent to Google Photos.

What I find unique about Focus Go is that it takes simplicity to a whole other level. The app lets me view photos and videos from my phone’s storage, add to favorites, share, and control video playback speed.

There are no superfluous extras, edits, multiple sorting methods, or anything else. You only get a couple of settings to change the number of columns, customize the thumbnail’s corner radius, group by folder or date, and improve the viewing experience (higher quality thumbnails, HDR, and max brightness when viewing media). Oh, and it follows my phone’s light or dark theme. That’s it.

Focus Go is a simple gallery app that's blazing fast, lightweight, free, ad-free, and doesn't require extra permissions.

For that, you get the kind of Android app we don’t see anymore: Focus Go is free and will remain so, is ad-free, weighs only a few Megabytes, and has minimal permission requirements. It obviously needs access to your storage, and it has an internet permission for those who want to make a donation to Francisco. There are no incomprehensible requests to use your location, camera, microphone, or contacts. The app is blazing fast as a result of this very lighthanded approach.

I like this a lot. When I’m looking for a photo gallery app, I just want it to be that and do that. I already use Google Photos for most of my photo/video browsing and editing needs, but it’s not as fast or efficient for accessing local files stored in my Screenshots or WhatsApp folders, for example. A secondary gallery app needs to get out of the way and give me as little headache as possible, and Focus Go does that perfectly.

This is the kind of Android app we don't see anymore.

After years of hanging on to Memoria and knowing it would be obsolete sooner or later, I’ve finally uninstalled it. Focus Go is the app I’m now using to access my screenshots and local photos. It’s also the one I’ll be recommending to anyone who asks me for a local photo gallery app. And it’s a strong contender to replace Google’s Gallery on my parents’ and family members’ phones — I keep them away from Photos because I don’t want them to delete their memories inadvertently and mess with their backups.

We often don't realize how long we are asleep or the quality of sleep we acquire every night. In fact, the CDC states between 50 and 70 million Americans live with chronic sleep disorders. When it comes to our sleeping habits, sleep-tracking apps paint a bigger picture. We can track how many hours we sleep, the quality of our sleep, and other important data.

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Google appears to be tinkering around with the layout of its Phone app. It appears the Android app could gain a hamburger-style menu icon and lose the bottom bar.

PiunikaWeb, in collaboration with AssembleDebug, discovered a change to the Phone app in the public beta version 128.0.625763929. That change introduces a hamburger menu icon to the search bar on the top of the page.

When the icon is tapped, a panel pops out from the side and provides a list of options. However, the panel is fairly empty as it only contains two options: Contacts and Voicemail.

It’s a little strange to dedicate an entire panel to so few items. There’s a possibility that Google is simply testing out this new layout without plans to roll it out publicly. But there’s always a chance we could see it release sometime down the road.

Since the panel serves as the place were you can find all of the app’s important features, it eliminates the need for the bottom bar in the current version of the app. As such, this new layout removes the bottom bar.

This new menu wasn’t the only thing that was discovered while investigating the app. It appears AssembleDebug also found a string of code that adds permission for users to use the emergency satellite feature Android 15 will bring to Android devices. As we reported earlier, this feature is called “Emergency SOS,” which allows the user to connect with emergency services via satellite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkz5K31Eqrw

Some of you may remember the name Francisco Franco from the early mod-heavy days of Android and the famous “Franco kernel” releases. Over the years, Francisco has released several other apps, too, including a powerful photo gallery app called Focus. But development on that has stalled for a while now, and while we wait for the fully reworked Focus, we have a lighter sibling to tide us over: Focus Go. And Focus Go is exactly what I want from a gallery app on Android.

For my use case, Focus Go is the perfect replacement for many gallery apps like Simple Gallery, an excellent app that was sold off and is now filled with ads; the beautiful Memoria, which hasn’t been updated in years; or even Google’s own Gallery, a lesser-known local equivalent to Google Photos.

What I find unique about Focus Go is that it takes simplicity to a whole other level. The app lets me view photos and videos from my phone’s storage, add to favorites, share, and control video playback speed.

There are no superfluous extras, edits, multiple sorting methods, or anything else. You only get a couple of settings to change the number of columns, customize the thumbnail’s corner radius, group by folder or date, and improve the viewing experience (higher quality thumbnails, HDR, and max brightness when viewing media). Oh, and it follows my phone’s light or dark theme. That’s it.

Focus Go is a simple gallery app that's blazing fast, lightweight, free, ad-free, and doesn't require extra permissions.

For that, you get the kind of Android app we don’t see anymore: Focus Go is free and will remain so, is ad-free, weighs only a few Megabytes, and has minimal permission requirements. It obviously needs access to your storage, and it has an internet permission for those who want to make a donation to Francisco. There are no incomprehensible requests to use your location, camera, microphone, or contacts. The app is blazing fast as a result of this very lighthanded approach.

I like this a lot. When I’m looking for a photo gallery app, I just want it to be that and do that. I already use Google Photos for most of my photo/video browsing and editing needs, but it’s not as fast or efficient for accessing local files stored in my Screenshots or WhatsApp folders, for example. A secondary gallery app needs to get out of the way and give me as little headache as possible, and Focus Go does that perfectly.

This is the kind of Android app we don't see anymore.

After years of hanging on to Memoria and knowing it would be obsolete sooner or later, I’ve finally uninstalled it. Focus Go is the app I’m now using to access my screenshots and local photos. It’s also the one I’ll be recommending to anyone who asks me for a local photo gallery app. And it’s a strong contender to replace Google’s Gallery on my parents’ and family members’ phones — I keep them away from Photos because I don’t want them to delete their memories inadvertently and mess with their backups.

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Google is rolling out a document scanner to the Files by Google app (h/t Mishaal Rahman). The feature seems to be part of a server-side update. That means you won’t need to install a new version of the app to get it. We can confirm that the feature is visible on version 1.2729.610141523.0 of the Files by Google app on Pixel phones.

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There are a few ways to learn a new language, such as online tutors, various apps, and old-fashioned teachers. But what if these options aren’t doing it for you? Well, a Korean company has teamed up with Samsung for a solution.

Korean firm GNW Lab has launched the so-called Sutophone (h/t: Donga). This isn’t an original phone, though, but rather several high-end Galaxy phones with custom software pre-installed. These are the Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Ultra, and Galaxy S23 FE.

Many new Android apps are out there, but keeping track of them is tough. But we’re happy to do that hard work for you. We’ve scoured the internet to find the best new Android apps available, focusing on apps that offer something different to the status quo. Be sure to visit our list of the best Android apps of all time and our selection of the best new Android apps released in 2023 for more.

The best new Android apps for March 2024

1. Google Gemini
2. Prognoza
3. Obtanium
4. Hermit
5. Superlist
6. Electrify America

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Google Gemini

Google’s latest AI app really wants to replace Assistant. Will you let it?

• Price: Free
• Developer: Google

With Google’s massive Bard rebrand comes the Gemini app. The app is a portal through which users can access the company’s next-gen assistant, but unlike the Assistant we know, Gemini gives users ChatGPT-like smarts. As we discovered during our Gemini app hands-on, users can initiate prompts to check how many liters are in a gallon or generate an uncanny image of puppies rolling around in the snow.

While Gemini can initiate some tasks that Assistant is well versed in, you’ll want to hold on to the older platform if you enjoy initiating music playback or adding calendar events through your voice.

The app is available for free, but it’s clear that it needs some polish and refinement before it replaces Assistant for good. Nevertheless, grab the app below to live on the bleeding edge of Google’s AI efforts.

Prognoza

A minimalist weather app with big, bold widgets and clean aesthetic.

• Price: Free
• Developer: davidtakac

As I mentioned last week, I’ve been shuffling through stacks of weather apps to find one that’s right for me. My latest encounter is Prognoza, and it scores a few big wins over its contemporaries.

For one, it’s extremely simple. Usually, this would be a mark against it, but Prognoza crams in plenty of info into its refined UI. The current temperature is large and easily legible on the home display, while an hour-by-hour list of conditions and ambient temperature is visible below. Scroll down further, and you’ll find forecast details for over a week ahead. The widgets follow a similar theme, with multiple options showcasing today’s weather or days in advance.

The app only has two weather providers, while the simplicity hinders someone looking for more data. The app isn’t updated regularly, either, with the latest patch coming in May 2023. However, it’s a great app for quickly peeking at detailed forecasts.

Obtanium

Discover and gather your favorite Github apps, and keep them updated.

• Price: Free
• Developer: ImranR98

I tend to mention several apps from Github, F-Droid, and sources beyond the Google Play Store. As I’ve experienced, keeping track of and installing updates for each app can get overwhelming. Thankfully, Obtanium is an app that hugely streamlines this process. Obtanium acts as a hub from which you can search for, install, and update apps from various sources online. It works great with Github and F-Droid, even though the latter has its own app.

The app is free, and users can control which apps they want to install. Obtanium does require some knowledge and awareness, but it’s a must-install for anyone who frequents this particular app series.

Hermit

No app? No problem. Turn webpages into standalone apps with ease.

• Price: Free / Premium unlocker app for $7.99
• Developer: Chimbori

Hermit is another app I’ve used for ages to turn web pages into standalone apps. Essentially, it’s a browser that allows each web page to run in its own little container. It also boasts a built-in ad blocker, an easy system to create lite apps and a preset list of apps you might want to create. In my experience, Hermit is excellent for services that have a web page but don’t have an app or services that lock app features behind paywalls but not their web pages.

Hermit’s base experience is free, but you can unlock all the app’s features. I’ve never felt the need to unlock it, but the premium version does include more powerful sandbox support, custom block lists, and saving to PDF.

Superlist

A Wunderlist-inspired noting app for absolutely everything.

• Price: Free / Requires an account
• Developer: Superlist

Superlist aims to be the be-all note-taking app for your device. It comes from the creators of Wunderlist — the service that Microsoft bought many moons ago. Aesthetically, you can see the connection. The app lets users create multiple lists, collaborate with others, and integrate with other apps. The app is still pretty raw, but it’s one to keep an eye on in the future.

Electrify America

Find vehicle charging stations, manage your charge, and pay from one app.

• Price: Free / Pass+ Membership at $7 per month / Additional payments for charging
• Developer: Electrify America

Finally, do you own an electric car? Electrify America’s app lets users find charging stations, manage their charging sessions, and pay. The app’s layout is pretty good, putting all essential information behind three tabs. Users can visualize real-time details of their vehicle’s state of charge and receive notifications when it’s nearly done.

Not everyone will need this particular app, but it might be helpful if you own an electric car.

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Formerly known as Google Bard, Google’s AI chatbot boasts a new name and a host of new capabilities. More significantly, a new Gemini app can now replace Google Assistant on your Android phone, assuming your phone is set to US English. I won’t spend too much time diving into the confusing nuances of Google’s AI strategy (or seemingly lack thereof). Instead, I’ve left that scrambled chaos to more eloquent voices, and simply go hands-on with the Gemini app.

According to Google