Top 5 launchers for android

1. Nova launcher

Nova Launcher replaces your home screen with one you control and can customize. Change icon themes, colors, layouts, animations and more.

• Ok, Google - Use Google Search's hotword right from the home screen, just say the words Ok, Google. Note: Google does not support all devices or locales yet. This limitaiton applies to Nova Launcher as well.

• Color Theme - Set the highlight accent color for the launcher

Also individual Color controls for labels, folders, unread count badges, drawer tabs and background

• Icon Themes - Find thousands of icon themes for Nova Launcher on the Play Store

• Subgrid positioning - Much greater control than standard launchers, Nova Launcher allows you to snap icons or widgets half way through the desktop grid cells

• Customize App Drawer - Custom tabs, Vertical or Horizontal scrolling, Custom effects

• Infinite scroll - Never far from your favorite page, loop through the desktop or drawer continously

• Backup/Restore - Sophisticated backup/restore system allowing you to backup your desktop layout and launcher settings

• Scrollable Dock - Create multiple docks and scroll between them

• Widgets in dock - Place any widget in your dock, such as a 4x1 music player widget

• Import Layout - No need to rebuild your desktop from scratch, Nova Launcher can import from most popular launchers. Including the one that came with your phone.

• Fast - Nova Launcher is highly optimized to do it's work quickly and quietly, keeping the animations smooth and letting you use your phone as fast as you can move your fingers.

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2. Google now launcher

Upgrade the launcher on your device to make Google Now one swipe away. From your primary home screen, swipe right to access Google Now cards that give you just the right information, at just the right time.

 Available on all devices with Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) or later.

 Key features:

• Google Now on your home screen - it's easier than ever to get just the right information at just the right time.

• Just say "Ok Google" - when you're on your home screen, just say "Ok Google" to trigger voice input. Then say your search query. Or tell your phone what to do, like send a text message, get directions, or play a song.

• Faster search - tap the search box and you can enter your query immediately.

• Easy access to your favorite Google products and services, like Gmail, YouTube, and Maps.

• Larger viewing area - the status and navigation bars are now translucent, so your wallpaper pops from every pixel, and is even visible when you expand your apps drawer (when supported by device).

• Intuitive wallpaper picker - select any image that's stored on your device, or in the cloud. Position and preview your wallpaper before you set it.

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3. Apex launcher

Apex Launcher helps you create a customized home screen experience on your Android (4.0 and up) device.

Features:

• Customizable homescreen grid size and up to 9 homescreens

• Scrollable dock with up to 7 icons per page and up to 5 pages

• Infinite & elastic scrolling (homescreen, drawer and dock)

• Fancy transition effects (tablet, cube, etc.)

• Hide elements as you want (persistent search bar, status bar, or even the dock)

• Customizable icons and labels for shortcuts and folders

• Choose different folder preview styles and background

• Multiple drawer styles (transparent/opaque, horizontal/vertical, paginated/continuous)

• Drawer apps sorting (title, install date, mostly used)

• Hide apps from the drawer

• Lock your desktop to prevent accidental changes

• Enjoy homescreen gestures (pinch, swipe up/down, double tap)

• Advanced theme engine (icon packs, skins, etc.)

• Backup/restore settings and data

• Optimized for both phones and tablets

• Lots of other customization options!

Apex Launcher Pro (Paid Version) Features:

• Powerful drawer customizations (unlimited drawer tabs, folders in drawer)

• Unread count notifications (provided by the free Apex Notifier extension)

• Dock swipe actions (swipe up and down actions)

• More gesture options (two-finger gestures)

• Additional transition effects (accordion, cross, etc.)

• Flexible theme options (ADW, LauncherPro, Go Launcher themes)

• Enhanced folder support (batch add, merge folders)

• Advanced widget options (widgets in dock, overlapping widgets)

• More features on the way!

Tips:

• Pinch the screen to access screen previews (like Exposé or HTC Sense).

• Long press an icon to drag and drop it over another one to create a folder.

• Long press icons/folders on the desktop and choose edit from the popup menu to customize icons and labels.

• Drag, hover, and drop app icons over the delete button at the top of the screen to quickly uninstall apps.

• Long press an app in the hide apps list to quickly launch that app.

• Switch to single screen wallpaper mode to fix wallpaper zooming issues.

• Enable the Root Helper in advanced settings (root required, Android 4.0 only) to add widgets from the drawer.

Permissions:

• Access widget data: Only used to create and display widgets on the homescreen. (Android 4.1+ only)

• Application information: Used to display warnings when other launchers are running.

• Control vibration/Status Bar/Wallpaper: Standard launcher functions.

• Network communication: Used for anonymous usage/error reporting (optional).

• Phone calls: Used when you create direct-dial shortcuts on the homescreen.

• Storage: Used to backup/restore settings and desktop data.

• Superuser: Required to add widgets from the drawer (Android 4.0 only).

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4. Everything me launcher

EverythingMe is a Contextual Launcher™ that delivers what you need from your phone in just one tap.

What it does:

► Organizes your phone automatically

► Makes it easy way to make calls and create contact shortcuts

► Enables fastest ever in-phone search

► Helps you discover new apps without tedious browsing

The launcher surfaces the apps, contacts and information you’d want based on your context: your location, the time of day, your individual preference, and more. All your apps and information will remain on your phone, they’ll just be neatly organized and easier to access!

MAIN LAUNCHER FEATURES

Smart Folders™

Your apps are automatically organized in folders that you choose, keeping your homes screen neat. Folders also contain convenient cards with articles, videos, and more.

 Prediction Bar™

Delivers the apps you probably need right now, according to your context. For example: news apps in the morning, a call you missed from a friend, or the train schedule when you leave work. The more you use your phone, the more accurate your Context Bar will get!

Lightning Fast Search

The quickest, most personalized search tool for Android. Enter one letter in the search bar and get contacts, apps and web results - no more swiping through multiple screens!

Contextual App Discovery

Your launcher makes sure you know about new apps that you might like. You’ll find recommendations in your folders, and a variety of personalized suggestions in the App Wall. No need to search through millions of apps in the store - your launcher will help you discover great matches for you.

Everyday Uses

Search for a contact by tapping just one letter in the search bar. Tip: you can drag and drop any item right to your home screen, anytime.

When you’re out and about, see nearby restaurants, transportation and venues in your ‘Around Me’ folder. 

When you’ve got a few minutes to play, check out the App Wall and find cool new games without having to search any app store!

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5. ADW launcher

It's compatible with android versions from 1.6 to 4.1!

-It's highly customizable, almost in every aspect you can think of.

-Thousands of skins and themes with support for most popular launcher themes!

-Mix and match your skins, icons, docks, folders, etc

-Configure your applications in unlimited groups and hide unwanted apps.

-Fast setup screen with fast access to add items or configure everything.

-Gestures for fast operation (swipe up/down, 2-fingers swipe up/down, pinch in/out, etc)

-Configurable Actionbar, similar to android 3.x+ tablet interface.

-Screens editor to add,remove, swap and resize your desktop screens.

-Configurable visual desktop indicators.

-Easy folder tweaking and management, content previews, arrangement, colors, etc.

-New AppWidget picker for devices running Android 4.1 and newer.

-Icons editor to create your own customized shortcuts or edit existing ones

-AppWidget resizing

-AppWidget backup/restore (only for android 4.1 and newer)

-Customizable applications dock with support for unlimited shortcuts with paginated scroll.

-Lots of settings to play with: texts, colours, animations, sizes... you should dig in!

Differences between ADW.Launcher and ADWLauncherEX:

ADWLauncherEX and ADW.Launcher share the same application core, but ADWLauncherEX includes a lot of extra features and improvements, like for example:

-10 different app drawer styles, including 3D waterfall, 3D Roll, 3D Ball, 3D Wall, 3D Cube etc

-Lots of new desktop transitions: new animations while navigating through your desktop screens. Try them all, they're crazy!!!

-New icons size configuration to enjoy high quality icons from your preferred themes!

-Save custom configuration presets: Quickly configure and change the whole desktop configuration by 1 click!

-Backup and restore your configuration, easy and painless. You can even share your desktop configuration with your friends!

-More, more more to come!!

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