Congratulations on your shiny new Android phone! As you eagerly unwrap it and boot it up for the first time, you’re probably wondering what apps you should download first to start personalizing your mobile experience.
With over 3 million apps on Google Play alone competing for your attention, it can get overwhelming sorting through meaningless noise in search of apps that perfectly match your needs for productivity, creativity and fun.
Not to worry! I’ve done the digging to identify the 10 must-have app categories every Android user should focus on when getting started. I’ll name the 1 or 2 best apps in each category too while exploring the standout features that make these apps great.
I’ll also provide some pro tips to safely install apps from trustworthy sources, watch out for suspicious behaviors, and configure permissions that protect your privacy.
Let’s dive in to unpacking the first 10 apps your Android has been waiting for!
The Android App Landscape At a Glance
I know, I know – you’re excited to start downloading hot new apps right away! But first, let me quickly break down some key statistics giving you a lay of the land across the sprawling Android app ecosystem so you can better navigate it:
| Total Android apps | Over 3 million |
| App category with most downloads | Games at over 35% |
| Countries downloading the most apps | India, USA, Brazil |
| % of apps abandoned after single use | Over 20% |
With millions of apps spanning everything imaginable in existence, filtering through irrelevant options poses the biggest problem for most new Android owners. It‘s easy to waste hours testing useless apps only to abandon them shortly after downloading.
To compound issues, Google Play Security teams purged over 100,000 risky apps with malware in 2020 alone. Downloading the wrong apps can expose you to thieves or snoops.
That‘s why having the right guidance upfront identifying apps actually worth your time is so valuable, steering you towards secure downloads enhancing how you work and play every day.
And that’s exactly what this guide aims to provide…
The 10 Essential App Categories for Your New Android Phone
Here are the top 10 categories I recommend focusing your Android app downloads on first and foremost:
- Weather
- Security
- Messaging
- News & RSS
- Video Streaming
- Music Streaming
- Design
- Photo Editing
- Personal Finance
- File Management
Apps spanning these critical lifestyle areas will ensure your Android covers all the bases both for productivity needs like organization and creativity as well as leisure entertainment when you want to relax.
For each category below, I’ll name my top 1 or 2 recommended Android apps to download based on app quality research from sites like PC Mag, CNET, Wired, and more crossed with real user reviews from Google Play and the App Store identifying the apps everyone loves most in their category…
#1 Weather: Carrot Weather
I won’t bury the lede here – when it comes to weather apps for Android, Carrot Weather is as good as it gets.
What makes Carrot so widely loved? Its perfect mashup of dead-accurate hyperlocal weather data combined with hilariously snarky (and even sometimes scary!) weather alerts from a faux AI robot personality.
Believe it or not, this quirky weather app actually sources forecast data from the leading meteorology service Foreca giving you complete confidence its predictions are legit.
Beyond nailing weather accuracy, Carrot goes several steps further in serving up next level modern features like:
- Hourly weather breakdowns
- 7-day previews
- Precipitation tracking
- Local climate history comparisons
- Weather map visualizations
- Walkability conditions
- Fitness recommendations
- And so much more…
Carrot Weather has earned glowing 5-star app reviews across the board for being top notch. And even better news – all these features come free on Android! Premium upgrades add perks like wearable device integration and widgets, but the core app packs tremendous punch already.
When it comes time to check the daily forecast, entertaining yet accurate Carrot Weather is the first Android weather app to grab. Let’s move on to the next essential category – security.
#2 Security: Bitdefender Mobile Security
In an era of digital data vulnerabilities…
