15 apps you need to immediately install on a new phone

When setting up a new smartphone, it is extremely difficult to immediately remember absolutely all the necessary applications that must be installed on the device. Each of us first of all installs instant messengers and social networks, and then it comes to our favorite toy that brightens up long trips in public transport – there is no point in reminding of such applications. But there are the necessary utilities that are not used too often, but when they are needed, then you cannot do without them – this article is just about those.

File manager

There is a file manager in any Android device out of the box, but manufacturers pre-install utilities that are too simple and by no means convenient – these can only be used comfortably to open already downloaded files, but if you need to work with them, then it is better to get a full-fledged analogue. Good file managers also have a built-in archiver.

• X-plore is a real harvester with a tree structure of displaying folders, which is almost the most functional explorer for Android.
• Solid Explorer is a popular utility with a user-friendly customizable interface that supports plugins and dual-pane mode.
• “Cx Explorer” – gained popularity for its simple and intuitive design, lack of ads and support for additional functions such as internal memory analysis and automatic / manual garbage cleaning.

Office suite or PDF reader

If your work or study is in any way connected with computers, be sure that one day you will be sent to a conditional Viber some document that you urgently need to read. The likelihood of encountering PDF files is even higher: in this format, online stores often send checks, in which medical laboratories send results. In order not to try to download at least some program at the right time (which will surely come across paid or with a trillion advertising banners) or not to send the file to yourself on your computer, it is enough to download the necessary utility once and for all.

• Microsoft Office is a universal application from Microsoft, and that says it all. But you can download Word, Excel or PowerPoint separately.
• WPS Office is the most popular alternative to Microsoft’s office suite and also supports PDF.
• OfficeSuite is an office suite with support for all major file types and PDFs, the developers of which also pay due attention to the tablet version.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader is a separate application for reading and working with PDF files from Adobe, the most functional, but additional options are available only on a paid basis.

Video player

Each smartphone has a system “Player” by default, but if you are going to watch videos longer than 30 seconds on your phone, it is better to get a third-party video player. It is not only most often more convenient and functional (from adjusting brightness to adjusting subtitles), but also corny supports more formats.

• VLC is the most popular, multifunctional and omnivorous player, distributed completely free of charge and without ads.
• MX Player is one of the best applications with support for a floating mini-window of the player and an interface editor (only the necessary buttons can be displayed on the screen).
• FX Player is a popular player featuring extensive playback customization and advanced subtitle handling.

Map service or navigator

You can also find out the way from point A to point B through a search engine that will open a web version of Google Maps, but the application is always better and more convenient. In addition, modern cartographic services can work without the Internet (albeit with limited functionality) – for this, you need to download a map of the desired city in advance.

• Google Maps is perhaps the largest database in the world with one of the most accurate route times.
• Yandex.Maps is the best cartographic service for Russia, according to many users.
• 2GIS is a very popular navigator that until recently did not belong to any of the IT giants. Its only drawback is that not all countries and cities are included in the catalog.
• Maps.me is one of the oldest mapping services with informative maps that can be saved to the device’s memory.

VPN service

VPNs have many uses – for example, they can keep you safe from suspicious open Wi-Fi networks in public places. Most VPN services are distributed either on a paid basis, or with very annoying restrictions in the free version – if you need a VPN urgently, you will hardly be able to quickly find a suitable application. Better to think about it and test the programs in advance.

• ProtonVPN is one of the most popular services with an average price and the ability to use it for free (but with speed and server limits).
• Speedify is almost the cheapest, but fast VPN. The free version has a limit on the amount of traffic (2 GB).
• 1.1.1.1 – a simple service with no traffic restrictions, but there is a speed limit for free use.

Translator or dictionary

Even without a sudden meeting with guests from Nigeria, you may still need to translate something – for example, some kind of inscription (surely everyone has come across a notification in English about an incomprehensible error). Of course, any search engine has its own translator, but the Internet is not always available (the main thing – do not forget to download the language pack). In addition, you may need the function of translating text through a smartphone camera – it is available only in mobile clients.

• Google Translate is the world’s most popular translator with all features including microphone voice recognition and camera captions.
• Yandex.Translate is a domestic alternative, which, according to many assurances, works better in conjunction with the Russian language.
• ABBYY Lingvo is one of the largest offline language dictionaries with free packages for all major language pairs.

Caller ID

It’s not exactly a must-have utility – it just improves the user experience. Caller ID uses the huge catalogs of records of the service that provides it, and signs the caller’s number if it finds a match in its database. Such applications are needed not only to protect against telephone scammers and advertising bots – it is convenient just to know that you are calling, for example, a doctor from a clinic or a consultant from an online store.

• Yandex – one of the largest caller IDs in Russia is built into the main Yandex application, you just need to enable it.
• “2GIS” is a cartographic service, which also has a built-in identifier of numbers (but only the establishments that are on its maps are recognized).
• Truecaller is the most popular caller ID, which was created just for this.

Companion for smart devices

Marketers tirelessly say how cool it is to remotely change the color of a light bulb or control the power of an air freshener, but often smart devices are configured only once, and then they work all the time according to the set parameters (they turn on at the same time, change the power according to the same set triggers and the like). When switching to a new smartphone, you can completely forget that the lights in the living room, the heater in the bedroom or the water leak sensor under the tap have a companion application. If you are reading this article while setting up a new device, then download the accompanying program for your smart devices right now.

Photo or video editor

We must pay tribute, some manufacturers equip their smartphones with really good galleries with functional photo and video editors – if you need to tweak the brightness, change the contrast or paint over some area, it can be done in a few seconds. But not everyone is so lucky – if your smartphone has nothing like this, it is better to download at least a simple photo or video editor in advance. They do not take up much space, but they will definitely be needed someday.

• Snapseed is a completely free but feature-rich graphics app that Google has taken over.
• Photoshop Express is a simplified and smartphone-optimized version of Photoshop from Adobe with all the essential features.
• Videoleap is one of the easiest-to-use yet functional video editors for smartphones.
• Adobe Premiere Rush is an almost complete utility for editing video recordings with overlaying multiple tracks and processing video content.

Taxi service

Discount service

mail

Food delivery

Online store companion

Mobile operator client

All these are applications that are rarely needed, but when they are still needed, they have to be downloaded. Sometimes with a terrible Internet, sometimes right at the checkout, sometimes in a wild rush, but you have to. You will greatly facilitate your task if you download them right away when setting up your smartphone – just do not forget to log into your accounts, because sometimes you need to not just press one button, but also link a bank card.