Apps & services

Helped him plan his Japan trip with relatable user experiences, photos and notes.

An icon pack built for tall phone displays, letting you fit lots of icons in a tight grid.

A lame-sounding app he ended up using more than expected for daily historical facts.

The best version of the Smart Launcher series, easy to use with adaptive theming and automatic app grouping.

A niche, simplified launcher for people who want Android connectivity without the complexity, with an SOS button.

Stock Android 8.0 based launcher whose gesture support he particularly likes.

Customisable launcher from a Hong Kong phone maker with handy features like wallpaper shuffle and auto folders.

A desktop-style launcher that opens social media in mini browser windows and works best with a mouse and keyboard.

An unusual command-based launcher that he finds quite practical once you get used to it.

Turns printed photos into digital versions that look good.

Lets you remap the Assistant button to an app launcher; interface isn't the cleanest but it is very handy.

Its new conversation mode is a revolutionary feature that works offline.

Turns an old phone into a genuinely useful surveillance camera.

The best air-gesture implementation he has seen on a phone, working over 95% of the time.

Circular icon pack used in setup two to get a consistent round icon look.

A surprisingly polished mobile version of PUBG that looks great, runs well on most phones and keeps in-app purchases fair.

Gameplay is nothing special, but he likes the distinctive cel-shaded art style.

Good-looking game with satisfying combat, held back by a steep price and weak aspect ratio support.

Visually distinctive game with simple shapes, pastel colours, slick animation and good camerawork.

Remastered Xbox title with very detailed high-res visuals, but the lighting makes the world look a little flat.

Gorgeous paper-built 3D world with great sound design, though the characters are slightly forgettable.

The best-looking 3D shooter on Android, and free.

A therapeutic, story-driven game that is charming and heartwarming, best played with headphones.

Cel-shaded flying game with lovely skies and responsive gameplay, though loot boxes slow progression.