Galaxy phones are full of options and permit customers to select from Android-based Google apps or Samsung alternate options that do the identical factor. The Play Retailer normally reigns supreme because of strong baked-in Google apps like Maps. Google’s huge ecosystem and wonderful integration with different units is tough to beat.
Nevertheless, Samsung has some methods up its sleeve and provides a couple of wonderful apps that I really feel Google cannot match relating to user-friendliness and efficiency. Some are direct rivals to Google’s choices, whereas others are unequalled and rule the roost unchallenged.
1 Samsung Well being
Observe your actions and discover exercises
Samsung/Pocket-lint

Samsung Well being is a well being and health tracker that displays your actions and provides exercises to enhance your well-being. The app provides complete monitoring capabilities so you’ll be able to know exactly how far you have run or ridden your bike, your each day steps, and the way a lot time you have slept. You may as well add your weight and peak and monitor your energy by getting into how a lot meals and water you have consumed.
On the health facet, Samsung Well being provides varied exercises to reduce weight, construct muscle, or enhance endurance. You may filter them in line with your health degree or objectives to seek out what you are on the lookout for. Whenever you’re carried out coaching, the app provides mindfulness choices like meditation, sleep tales, and calming music that can assist you calm down.
Google Match is a formidable rival with a easy interface and plenty of related monitoring options. Samsung Well being nonetheless takes the crown as a result of its coaching and mindfulness choices go the additional mile that can assist you keep match.
2 Samsung Messages
Consumer-friendly messaging with thrilling themes
Samsung/Pocket-lint

Samsung Messages was as soon as the default messaging app on all Galaxy telephones however has now been dethroned by Google Messages because the preinstalled possibility within the US. Nevertheless, it nonetheless has one thing to supply customers regardless of its waning reputation and stays the popular selection amongst customers on the lookout for simplicity in a sophisticated world.
The most important benefit of Samsung Messages is its user-friendliness. It has easy-to-reach tabs for conversations and contacts on the backside, and you’ll create separate folders on the high to type your messages into classes. Because the app is a part of Samsung’s One UI ecosystem, you’ll be able to customise it with themes and colours as a substitute of getting a generic white background like Google Messages. Customers who fear about privateness typically choose Samsung Messages as a result of it really works with out requiring a Google account.
3 Samsung SmartThings
A easy interface to regulate your good units
Samsung/Pocket-lint

Samsung’s SmartThings connects all of your good house units to a single interface so you’ll be able to simply management them out of your telephone or pill. The app works with most third-party units, like cameras, TVs, lights, and extra, making setting automation and routines simpler. It is also appropriate with most voice assistants, like Google Assistant and Alexa, for simpler integration into your current system.
After including your units, you’ll be able to entry wonderful utilities within the Samsung SmartThings app to handle their capabilities and monitor utilization. You may monitor how a lot vitality they’ve used or use the house monitor function to warn you about water leaks, fires, and safety points. SmartThings provides unbelievable versatility and might work as a distant in your TV or create routines to mechanically alter your lighting and heating in line with the time of day or your preferences.
4 Good Lock
Limitless customization choices
Samsung/Pocket-lint

Good Lock
Samsung’s Good Lock is a software program suite with varied modules to customise your Galaxy telephone’s look and efficiency.
Samsung’s Good Lock contains varied app modules for customizing each side of your Galaxy telephone expertise. With Good Lock, you’ll be able to create customized themes, backgrounds, and keyboard skins utilizing any photographs you want to enhance your telephone’s interface. The sky is the restrict, and you’ll improve performance by including routines and superior settings to your sound and digicam apps.
To this point, Google has no reply and would not provide a Good Lock various for customizing Samsung Galaxy telephones. It is not shocking, contemplating all of the work that would want to enter its growth when Google has its personal Pixel telephones to fret about. That stated, Google would not provide a model of Good Lock for its Pixel telephones, and its clients should attempt third-party apps like System UI Tuner that do not come shut when it comes to customization choices.
5 Samsung Notes
Superior instruments for next-level notes
Samsung/Pocket-lint

Samsung Notes is the default note-taking app on Galaxy telephones. It could actually’t compete with Google Hold relating to cloud storage and cross-platform compatibility. Nonetheless, it has some methods up its sleeve that make it a superior possibility. Not like Google’s providing, which retains issues easy, Samsung focuses on giving customers extra options like higher wealthy textual content instruments and drawing capabilities, that are particularly helpful if in case you have an S Pen.
One other advantage of Samsung Notes is that it provides extra components so as to add to your notes, like PDFs, scans, and audio information. It additionally has higher AI integration with quick access to summarize, translate, and different helpful instruments to make your life simpler.
6 Penup
Get probably the most out of your S Pen
Samsung/Pocket-lint

Penup is Samsung’s unique drawing app for getting probably the most out of your S Pen stylus. Its easiest perform provides clean canvases in varied sizes and lets you draw footage utilizing pens, crayons, markers, and brushes in any colour you want. Not everybody is a superb artist, so Penup permits you to draw on current photographs in your gallery or use the Reside Drawings function to show you how one can sketch animals, landscapes, and different footage.
When you aren’t into drawing, you need to use Penup to paint photographs to de-stress or follow your abilities. It provides a spread of primary and superior footage to paint, and you’ll examine your work to on-line customers to see the way it stacks up. Penup can also be nice for socializing with different artists and allows you to take a look at your abilities in opposition to theirs with varied drawing challenges.
7 Samsung Dex
There is no competitors
Samsung/Pocket-lint

Samsung DeX
Samsung DeX connects to most displays and laptops and lets you entry all of your apps on an enormous display screen for higher effectivity.
Samsung DeX is a flexible app that connects your Galaxy telephone to a monitor or PC so you need to use all of your apps on an enormous display screen. It is excellent for multitasking as a result of you’ll be able to open a number of home windows concurrently. Typing and navigation develop into simpler as a result of you need to use a keyboard as a substitute of your telephone’s touchscreen. DeX is right for work as a result of you’ll be able to entry your telephone and PC apps on a single display screen to avoid wasting time. The app is superb for leisure, too, as a result of you’ll be able to entry your cellular video games and streaming providers while not having to obtain them once more.
Third-party alternate options like AirDroid Private and ApowerMirror can be found as a substitute of DeX, however they provide restricted performance and might’t match all its options. To this point, Google has no various app to rival DeX, which places its Pixel line of telephones at a definite drawback regarding connectivity. In line with on-line leakers, Google is engaged on a brand new desktop mode for Android 15, however there’s been no official announcement up to now, and we nonetheless have our fingers crossed.
Trending Merchandise

Samsung 24” FT45 Series FHD 1080p Computer Monitor, 75Hz, IPS Panel, HDMI, DisplayPort, USB Hub, Ultra Thin Bezels, Ergonomic Design, Height Adjustable Stand, 3 Year Warranty, LF24T454FQNXGO, Black

KEDIERS ATX PC Case,6 PWM ARGB Fans Pre-Installed,360MM RAD Support,Gaming 270° Full View Tempered Glass Mid Tower Pure White ATX Computer Case,C690

ASUS RT-AX88U PRO AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 Router, WPA3, Parental Control, Adaptive QoS, Port Forwarding, WAN aggregation, lifetime internet security and AiMesh support, Dual 2.5G Port

Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo, MARVO 2.4G Ergonomic Wireless Computer Keyboard with Phone Tablet Holder, Silent Mouse with 6 Button, Compatible with MacBook, Windows (Black)

Acer KB272 EBI 27″ IPS Full HD (1920 x 1080) Zero-Frame Gaming Office Monitor | AMD FreeSync Technology | Up to 100Hz Refresh | 1ms (VRB) | Low Blue Light | Tilt | HDMI & VGA Ports,Black

Lenovo Ideapad Laptop Touchscreen 15.6″ FHD, Intel Core i3-1215U 6-Core, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Webcam, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi6, SD Card Reader, Windows 11, Grey, GM Accessories

Acer SH242Y Ebmihx 23.8″ FHD 1920×1080 Home Office Ultra-Thin IPS Computer Monitor AMD FreeSync 100Hz Zero Frame Height/Swivel/Tilt Adjustable Stand Built-in Speakers HDMI 1.4 & VGA Port

Acer SB242Y EBI 23.8″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Zero-Frame Gaming Office Monitor | AMD FreeSync Technology Ultra-Thin Stylish Design 100Hz 1ms (VRB) Low Blue Light Tilt HDMI & VGA Ports
