Andy Walker / Android Authority
There are many new Android apps, but it’s hard to keep track of them. But we’ll be happy to do the hard work for you. We’ve scoured the web to find the best new Android apps available, focusing on apps that offer something different from the status quo. For more information, be sure to visit our list of the best Android apps of all time and our pick of the best new Android apps released in 2023.
Google Photomath
Google’s latest AI app helps kids (and adults) with complex math problems.
- Price: Free / Photomath Plus subscription $9.99/month, $69.99/year
- Programmer: Google
I admit that Google Photomath is not necessarily a new app. It has been in the Play Store for almost 10 years under a different publisher. However, this month Google’s app was finally branded as one of the company’s many AI products.
The app allows users to draw mathematical equations. It then analyzes the numbers and provides the answer, including the steps needed to find it. Photomath works for more complex problems, such as calculus and quadratic equations, or for more mundane tasks. It also provides definitions and explanations of related terms, teaching users on the fly.
In my experience, the trickiest part of the application is getting the whole equation into the box. Often the application does not recognize the problem. Resizing the frame itself is also finicky.
Photomath is free to use, but premium options are available that add animated instructions and more detailed explanations.
Adobe Express
Embedded in Adobe’s creative ecosystem? Add this app to your kit.
- Price: Free
- Programmer: Adobe
In order not to be left behind in the generative AI battle, Adobe has released its new beta version of the Express application. The app gives users access to Adobe’s Firefly AI and its excellent features.
In short, the app is essentially Canva’s rival, allowing users to create content, such as posters and social media posts, using a host of tools and templates. As an Adobe app, those embedded in its ecosystem can access content from the Creative Cloud.
Notably, the app is still in beta, so many features are free. However, it is not clear which items will be locked behind the paywall once the stable version arrives. Nevertheless, it’s a good time to try this app, provided you have a compatible phone.
YouTube Create
YouTube’s mobile editing app is now widely available in the US.
- Price: Free
- Programmer: Google
I covered YouTube Create last year, but the app wasn’t quite ready for the big time. This month, the app is now widely available in the US for those who want a quick mobile editing solution for their YouTube Shorts.
The app offers all the tools you could need, including cropping controls, video interlacing features, title creation, background removal, and tons of music, filters, and effects. Essentially, the app is not a complete video editing solution, but is designed to help you upload your video as quickly as possible. As a result, it will be quite lacking for those who want more detailed controls or higher export quality.
The weather today
A stylish weather app with Dark Sky appeal and useful radar.
- Price: Free with ads / Premium Light $3.99 per year / Premium $6.99 per year
- Programmer: Michael Kokoschka
My quest for a weather app continues this week with Weather Today, a surprisingly comprehensive tool for the avid sky watcher. It doesn’t focus as much on aesthetics as the other apps I’ve talked about before, but it provides a dizzying amount of information in a concise and easy-to-read manner.
You can see detailed forecasts for specific days, including solar and lunar details, minute-by-minute precipitation forecasts, excellent radar and hourly forecast views. It also has some neat widgets (albeit locked behind a premium subscription), whether you want live air quality readings or a look at the day ahead.
The app is free, but is supported by ads. You can pay a small annual fee if you want to eliminate them and unlock a few extra options.
Hello habit
A surprisingly good habit forming, tracking and planning app.
- Price: Free, limited functionality / HelloHabit Premium from $1.99 per month, $9.99 per year
- Programmer: RightLife
HelloHabit is the latest app on my list this week and perhaps the most frustrating. It’s a habit-forming app, and it’s especially useful for reminding yourself to do often mundane but necessary tasks.
There are many habits to choose from, including fitness and health, mindfulness and chores, and you can even create your own. There is also an option to track bad habits for those who want to break them.
The user interface is perhaps the most intuitive and enjoyable I’ve ever used in a habit tracking app. There are also multiple views, making it easy to visualize how much you’ve achieved each week.
Unfortunately, HelloHabit’s free tier is limited to tracking just three habits, with limited journal entries and scheduled events. You will need to pay a subscription fee for unlimited access to them. Granted, it’s not an extremely large amount, but the app doesn’t point out that limit until you try to create your fourth habit. However, there is a seven-day trial period and it’s worth trying out this app.
Unexpected keyboard
An aesthetically simple yet profoundly powerful keyboard app.
- Price: Free
- Programmer: July
Finally, I close this week’s review with a keyboard. I’ve been using Gboard for as long as I can remember, but it can often be a difficult, clunky experience on older devices. Enter an unexpected keyboard.
The app weighs less than 500KB and is incredibly fast on the devices I’ve tried it on so far. In addition to its simplicity, it also offers more advanced features. Most of the keys have multiple options and special characters that are accessed by touching and dragging your finger in a certain direction.
The unexpected keyboard won’t be for everyone. It lacks Gboard and Swiftkey smarts, including auto-completion, clipboard and extensive theme support. However, it only requires two permissions and neither connects to the Internet — great for privacy-loving users.