11 important apps to put in on a brand new Pixel cellphone

Key Takeaways

• Google Pixel homeowners should consider apps like Backdrops for unique wallpapers.
• Google Authenticator offers an enhanced level of security far surpassing vulnerable SMS codes.
• Pulsar stands out as a top-notch music player that enables users to effortlessly enjoy local music files without the need for streaming services.

One of the many niceties of proudly owning an Android device is its easy and bloat-free software experience. Beyond the confines of your typical experience, you may stumble upon a meticulously curated selection of onboard applications and tools, boasting no redundant offerings or dubious provider inclusions. Ultimately, it’s up to you to explore and find software programs that genuinely prove helpful in your workflow. Fortunately, the market is totally brimming with a plethora of high-quality apps waiting to be discovered, obtained, and experimented with.

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My daily essentials on my Pixel phone include these 11 indispensable apps, presented in no particular order:

Elevate your digital decor: Top-rated wallpaper apps for a seamless visual experience.

Wallpaper apps have consistently remained popular across both Android and iPhone devices, with Pixel phones being no exception to this trend. The Backdrops app offers a wide range of accessible wallpaper designs available for download from the Google Play Store. While some features are freely available, others are classified as premium and necessitate a purchase within the app to access them.

Backdrops features an elegantly designed user interface that is both visually appealing and intuitively easy to navigate.

Saving numerous wallpapers to the ‘Favorites’ tab is effortlessly straightforward, while valuable information such as resolution and file size can also be easily accessed. Like many applications in this category, Backdrops presents itself with a visually appealing design, boasting a user-friendly interface that exudes simplicity and ease of use.

Google has recently enhanced the built-in wallpaper features on its Pixel phones, offering options such as AI-generated wallpapers and a “Personalized” feature. Despite this, it’s safe to claim that little rivals the selection offered by Backdrops.

If you’re not already using an app, you should consider downloading one. For nearly all online accounts, there’s typically an option to enable. Implementing an additional security measure, this login process demands that you input a verification code to access the system. Even if your password is compromised due to a data breach or successfully guessed by an unauthorized individual, this safeguard ensures they will not gain access to the authentication code linked to your account.

Since I’m familiar with the look and feel of my Android device, I tend to stick with the resolution chosen by Google, as it’s a natural extension of the operating system’s aesthetic.

Certain apps deliver codes via plain text messages, posing security risks due to lack of encryption and inferior protection compared to dedicated apps. sets you up with automatically-expiring codes for all of your suitable accounts, and is as easy to set up as scanning a QR code.

Among the numerous Android-based authentication applications available, ones akin to Microsoft’s Authenticator app can be found. As I’m familiar with the intuitive interface crafted by Google, I opt for their recommended display settings since they’re aligned with Android’s design principles.

It’s no Photoshop, but it will definitely do the trick in a bind.

As one of Google’s other properties, Snapseed functions as a lightweight yet highly effective photo editing tool within the Android ecosystem. It’s perplexing that Google wouldn’t include this feature as a standard offering on their Pixel phones, given its intuitive integration with Google Photos and overall user convenience.

While Snapseed eschews experimental AI features, this lack of innovation isn’t inherently detrimental. The app effectively meets all essential requirements, boasting a proven track record of competent performance over several years. The app offers a range of Instagram-inspired filters for users to experiment with, accompanied by a convenient rotation feature that allows for swift image adjustments in any direction. On the ‘Instruments’ tab, the majority of the creative process unfolds, featuring a plethora of sub-settings that enable users to fine-tune their visual content, adjust its dimensions, and incorporate a diverse array of effects.

Snapseed is one of the most powerful and effective photo editing suites available. This intuitive tool effortlessly achieves its goal of providing an effortless experience, even on compact smartphone screens?

When you own a Windows PC and an Android smartphone,

When linking a Windows PC to your Google Pixel phone, you’ll need to download the Link to Windows app from the Play Store. The app delivers precisely as promised, with no room for misinterpretation. The software creates a persistent link between your devices, enabling swift access to your phone’s multimedia content and additional features via your computer.

On your PC, you’ll access your cellphone’s photo library, send and receive basic text messages, respond to phone calls, view notifications, enable Do Not Disturb mode, and manage multimedia output settings.

Android devices, particularly smartphones from prominent manufacturers like Samsung, OnePlus, and Oppo, often come with Link to Windows pre-installed straight from the factory. Google strongly recommends purchasing a ChromeOS laptop to ensure seamless ecosystem continuity and take full advantage of its capabilities. Fortunately, acquiring the app on any Pixel phone is straightforward, providing a similar experience across devices.

All essential statistics for monitoring your battery’s overall health reside within its tab.

Google is set to unveil additional battery-related insights with its forthcoming Android 15 release; meanwhile, Battery Guru remains the premier app for mastering power management.

Smartphones’ batteries are consumable commodities, gradually deteriorating due to chemical degradation over time.

With just one glance at the screen, users gain instant access to an extensive range of battery statistics, effortlessly presented in a clear and intuitive format. The integration of charging and discharging statistics, complex calculations, real-time temperature monitoring, and customizable alerts for various battery stages, along with seamless access to comprehensive graphical representations, constitutes a robust suite of informative tools and metrics.

Smartphones’ batteries, being consumable goods, naturally chemically deteriorate with the passage of time. Regularly checking in on your phone’s wellbeing is always a wise idea, taking just a moment to glance over its status every now and then. The app is available for free use, with an optional paid subscription that removes advertisements.

What if a digital storefront could transport you back to your childhood days of browsing through bookshelves in the local library?

The Google Play Store offers a diverse range of eBook platforms to choose from. Several services operate on a subscription model, utilizing proprietary systems to track and manage digital book collections within their integrated networks. While a straightforward connection exists between book collections and comfort, varying alternatives are available in the market.

The notion of lending books in a library setting holds a peculiar allure.

One popular digital library app is Libby, which allows users to borrow e-books for a set period, much like a physical library loan. The app authentically utilizes your actual library card to verify your e-book lending transactions. Libraries often allow patrons to sign up for an e-card online, eliminating the need for in-person visits. Organize your collection by card count, then efficiently assign the relevant library department and facility to your allocated space.

As the debate surrounding digital ownership intensifies, and controversy swirls around the removal of purchased media from certain digital platforms, the concept of lending books in a library-like setting takes on an unexpected allure.

Reviving the iPod’s Cool Factor in the Digital Age?

For those who, like many users, are disenchanted with Google’s decision to integrate native music file playback into its YouTube Music app, there exist alternative options available on the Play Store for exploration. Pulsar remains my go-to musician, consistently delivering high-quality performances that leave me in awe.

The Pulsar music participant boasts a comprehensive feature set, effortlessly organizing your media library into intuitive categories, including ‘Albums,’ ‘Artists,’ ‘Songs,’ ‘Genres,’ ‘Playlists,’ and ‘Folders.’

Without trying to force any specific streaming services upon you, our app liberates users from the constraints of algorithms, presenting a visually appealing platform for exploration.

The app also includes a play queue, playlist editor, search functionality, and support. An optional one-time purchase grants access to an equalizer, additional theme options, and a ‘bass booster’ mode; still, the free version provides more than sufficient functionality for most users.

The enduring appeal I have in returning to Pulsar lies in its grandeur. Without trying to force-feed you any streaming services, you’re free from algorithmic manipulation; the app’s visual appeal makes for a delightful experience.

A simple yet effective way to focus on your podcasts: silence your phone.

Google has decided to relocate podcasts from Google Podcasts to YouTube Music as their primary destination. As Google Podcasts’ sunset approached, I embarked on a quest to discover the most suitable podcasting companion for my trusty Pixel phone, prioritizing ease of use and seamless integration.

Pocket Casts finally answers my pleas. Much like Pulsar, it zeroes in on a specific area of specialization and excels at it. It accomplishes this by harnessing innovative software development, intuitive user navigation, and eliminating the inherent distractions often associated with YouTube Music.

All necessary features are on board, with the option to create an account for seamless syncing of settings and listening history across multiple devices. The Discovery Feed subtly highlights popular podcasts without overwhelming you, while the Stats section provides valuable insight into your overall listening time.

A cutting-edge mobile application boasting an unparalleled repository of invaluable information.

Yuka is a self-serviced mobile application allowing users to barcode scan everyday food products within their personal space. Upon conducting a swift review, the text reveals an abundance of valuable information about the product, specifically detailing key aspects such as component makeup, energy levels, sugar content, and vitamin profiles. The application excels at presenting complex information in an intuitive format, allowing users to effortlessly customize their experience by accessing supplementary details as needed.

The app also seamlessly integrates with a wide range of beauty products, offering functionality that extends far beyond the kitchen itself. The sheer quantity of unwanted additives in many everyday foods can leave you astonished?

What makes Yuka truly stand out is the pleasingly familiar sound of the scanner’s beep as you level your phone’s digital camera to scan a barcode, a small but satisfying reward for successfully capturing the data. Does it really make you crave the thrill of scanning additional devices?

Is your go-to app for house enthusiasts?

It’s unlikely that someone wouldn’t be at least somewhat intrigued by the prospect of finding their dream home? Human nature instinctively prompts us to gaze up at the heavens in awe, mesmerized by the vast expanse of the universe’s monumental proportions. If you’re intrigued, let me formally introduce you to Star Stroll 2.

Among the plethora of space-themed apps available, one stands out: Star Walk 2. This innovative star-tracking app offers an enchanting viewfinder of the diverse celestial bodies above, seamlessly synchronizing with your smartphone’s compass for unparalleled precision.

The atmospheric soundscapes and striking red-and-black color scheme of Area Stroll 2 greatly impress me. It appears that this application has been designed with a visually appealing interface, reflective of its creator’s technical proficiency. While the app is free from financial costs, it relies on advertisements for support. Users, though, have the option to enhance their experience through in-app transactions that not only remove ads but also provide additional functionality.

What’s a more powerful way to boost your Android experience?

Although it’s unexpected that Android wouldn’t come with a built-in compass app by default. Magnetometers are ubiquitous in modern smartphones, with even Apple’s iPhone featuring a compass interface since its inception.

Luckily, alternative solutions exist that enable you to harness the potential of sensors embedded in your Pixel. The Compass app stands out as my top choice, thanks to its refreshingly straightforward user interface and captivating visual aesthetic. While fitting the Pixel vibe without adopting its style,

The compass delivers on its promises without any unnecessary complications. The app relies on advertisements for support, offering users the option to eliminate these interruptions through a one-time in-app purchase.