Top 10 Awesome And Trending Android Utility Apps 2016 

If you’re looking for a list of bare minimum applications you should have on your mobile device, you’ve come to the right place. To make life simpler for you, we’ve put together a list of some of the best utility apps for your smartphones. What are utility apps? Utility apps are the kind of applications that enhance your user experience; they make your device more functional.

1.) Solid Explorer File Manager:

One of the most important add-ons you need on your smartphone is a file manager with root explorer. If you would have asked us a couple of years ago, putting down the ES File Explorer would have been a no-brainer. However, the Solid Explorer really has been a breakout star in the league. This is ES File Explorer on steroids. Besides basic file management, Solid Explorer also allows you to password protect files and folders. You can also add fingerprint authentication. You can browse through your files in two separate panels, and can drag and drop files between them. The UI of this application has been one of the biggest plus points, with many users finding it a lot friendlier and intuitive to work with.

2.) SmartIO:

This is a content transfer app, which is great for switching devices. Available on all mobile platforms, SmartIO allows you to transfer a lot of different content types between two devices, regardless of the platform. With its support for more than 20 content types, it is the most efficient and comprehensive, Wi-Fi based content transfer app. Most impressive feature about SmartIO is how it has no limit on how much data you transfer; you can transfer as many music files, pictures, contacts between devices as you want. Also, if you’re transferring media files to an iOS device from an Android, it is quite likely that they won’t be iOS-compliant. SmartIO offers a built-in fix for the situation, allowing you to not only transfer files, but also make them accessible at the end of the transfer.

3.) Anymote:

This universal remote control app is both, fun and functional. After all, who here hasn’t had their fair share of laughs with a universal remote? With support for almost all Android devices, Anymote is the only universal remote you’ll need. With its ability to simulate anything that sends infrared remote commands, it can perform as a VCR remote, a BluRay remote, an Air Conditioner remote and even a DSLR camera remote. There are, however, a lot of device limitations. The app isn’t compatible with Huawei or Sony devices. Also, while it works like a dream on the Galaxy S4 and S6, it isn’t compatible with the S7 due to hardware limitations.

4.) Google Translate:

Have you even been to a new country and been more lost than Alice in Wonderland? Enter Google Translate, your new, most important travel partner. As a Google product, it should come as no surprise that the app supports more than 100 languages. You can use it very easily by copying a word in any application and tapping it for translation. You can take pictures of a text and get it translated, as well as have a two-way conversation in over 32 languages. Our favorite feature is how you can draw characters for over 93 languages.

5.) Google Maps:

If you haven’t heard of Google Maps by now, chances are you’re new…. to this world. The world’s favorite navigation application is just the thing you need if you want to work your way around the roads. You’ll be surprised how Google would know some areas better than the local residents. Besides learning how to get from one place to another, you will also be able to get the details about millions of businesses, like hotels and restaurants including images and reviews. You can also get public transport schedules for over 15,000 cities of the world.

6.) Smart Tools:

Since we are listing utility apps, no list is complete without the coolest toolkit on the app store – literally! Smart Tools is a toolbox of sorts for a variety of DIY and metering tools like bubble level, compass, protractor, a magnifier, even a speed gun and a polygraph. All tools can be calibrated before use. We find this app particularly cool mainly because it essentially turns your smartphone into a literal Swiss-army knife of real world tools.

7.) Opera VPN:

If you want to unlock content that you don’t have access to because of your location, using the Opera VPN is a good solution. Besides changing your virtual location, it also blocks ad trackers. By reassigning your device a different, incredibly fast VPN servers, it gives you access to otherwise blocked online content, for free.

8.) Mobile Security & Antivirus:

This security application from Avast helps you protect your device from viruses, malware, popups and ads. Considering how pervasive mobile viruses have become, and how often you hear hackers gaining access to mobile devices and sending data to third parties, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. This application alerts you as soon as your device installs a spyware or adware. Features included in Avast’s antivirus app include a call blocker, an app locker, a Firewall, a junk cleaner, a web shield etcetera.

9.) Camera360:

You device is incomplete without a good camera application. Camera360 is a photo editing app that gives you access to extensive tools to edit your photos and create one-of-a-kind images. With a variety of filters, and the ability to share edited images on social networks, Camera360 is a simple and functional photo-editing app.

10.) VLC:

No smartphone is complete without a well-rounded media player, and the VLC player checks all boxes. With its ability to play almost all types of media files, including MKV, MP4, AVI, MOV, Ogg, FLAC, TS, M2TS, Wv and AAC, VLC is a favorite for most smartphone users. Another perk is that it comes with all codecs included; you don’t need to separately download anything.

About the Author:

This article is contributed by Khalid Masood Awan. He is featured content transfer app marketer for leading company in California. He has contributed lot of articles and blogs/review on leading and innovative gadgets introduced around the world.

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