First Ever Android Phone, Need Guidance

[cold drew]

Hey y'all, my first ever Android phone (Pixel 4 XL) arrives tomorrow morning. What are the essential apps, settings, tips, etc that you would recommend a freshie like me?

[Daniel Z.]

Apps are all the same mostly as iOS. I guess just use it for a bit and see what you like.

[Pharr Carnell]

you'll soon figure it out...likely by installing the Android equivalent to whichever Apple apps you used...but stick it out; the Android platform is far better in my opinion...and easy enough to master!

[Commodus]

26 minutes ago, subdistinction said:

Hey y'all, my first ever Android phone (Pixel 4 XL) arrives tomorrow morning. What are the essential apps, settings, tips, etc that you would recommend a freshie like me?

It probably won't be too much of a shock if you're coming from iOS, since many of the apps are the same (you should expect to wait longer for some apps or new app features, though).

 

I'd mainly look for Google apps that might not come preloaded on your phone, like Google Opinion Rewards.  Also remember that the stock keyboard might not necessarily be your favourite keyboard; consider options like SwiftKey.

 

After that, it's little things.  Remember that battery life isn't stunning on the 4 XL, so don't crank the brightness too high and even consider turning off Smooth Display (the 90Hz feature) if you find yourself running low on power.

[Daniel Z.]

6 hours ago, Pharr Carnell said:

you'll soon figure it out...likely by installing the Android equivalent to whichever Apple apps you used...but stick it out; the Android platform is far better in my opinion...and easy enough to master!

It really isn’t better than iOS

[Roswell]

2 hours ago, Daniel Z. said:

It really isn’t better than iOS

Objectively, neither are better than one another. Everything else is opinion, what may be better to you is worse to someone else.

[rickymohk]

Get some nice looking clock/calendar/weather widgets and put them on your home screen.

[SkilledRebuilds]

I recommend CX File Explorer. If you use Network shares and transfer between PC folders on a network and your phone or back and forth...

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cxinventor.file.explorer&hl=en_AU

Tubemate for Downloading Videos (Not on Playstore) sources via websearch and its official webpage to download the application installer.

http://tubemate.net/

 

XPlayer 3D (is Free, dont download the more recent 7.1 application its not free at all (trialware) for Spatial Audio and Good Features as a Music player.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tamalbasak.musicplayer&hl=en_AU

 

Data Monitor (Showing Throughput of KB/s or MB/s Network Usage in the Top Pulldown Tray)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=info.kfsoft.datamonitor&hl=en

 

MX Player for Watching Videos (H265 and such codecs too supported in the options)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mxtech.videoplayer.ad&hl=en

 

Onedrive/GoogleCloud services if you store your data in Clouds

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=cloud&c=apps&hl=en

 

Sound Assistant (Volume Up and Down steps are TOO big, you can finetune it to lower steps to have finer control over volumes)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.android.soundassistant&hl=en
^Don't know if its Samsung Only or if you need to find alternatives..
 

Youcut Video Editor for quick funzy little videos (adding pics/video/music/effects) FREE, and exports to 4K HQ without any watermark image on your video.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.camerasideas.trimmer&hl=en