Most Samsung Galaxy users download apps from the Google Play Store, but that’s not the only place to find useful apps. Samsung has its own store, called Galaxy Store, which provides apps created especially for the Galaxy smartphones. These apps can make your smartphone work faster, let you use additional camera options, and give you more customization options for your device. In this article, we look at five essential apps every Samsung user should know about and why they’re worth trying.
1. Good Lock
Good Lock is Samsung’s own customization app for Galaxy smartphones. With Good Lock, users get access to various settings that aren’t available in the default One UI interface. Rather than installing a third-party launcher to change your smartphone, Good Lock lets you personalize various aspects of your Galaxy device through official Samsung applications. Here are some of the most helpful modules from Good Lock:
- Home Up: The Home Up module provides additional settings for the home screen. In particular, it allows users to resize folders, choose new layouts, use stickers, and activate looping for home screens.
- Camera Assistant: With the Camera Assistant module, users can control extra features of the Samsung camera app. These include activating a 2x zoom shortcut, changing shutter button actions, and accessing such Samsung camera features as Single Take and Dual Recording.
- One Hand Operation+: This module makes large Galaxy phones easier to use with one hand. Users can create custom swipe gestures, open an app switcher, and access quick tools with simple movements.
- QuickStar: QuickStar lets users personalize the Quick Settings panel. It also allows them to hide selected status bar icons, change the panel’s appearance, and adjust the button layout.
- Routines+: This is an expanded version of Samsung’s Modes and Routines feature. Users can create more automations and touch macros for daily tasks.
- MultiStar: The MultiStar module provides more efficient usage of split-screen mode. Also, it enables additional cover screen features on Galaxy Z Flip models.
2. Good Guardians
Good Guardians is another helpful Samsung app that can be downloaded from the Galaxy Store. Similar to Good Lock, it comes with a number of downloadable modules. However, while Good Lock enhances customization options, Good Guardians helps enhance your phone’s performance and optimize its battery usage. These are some of the most helpful Good Guardians modules:
- Battery Tracker: This module shows which apps have used the most battery over the last 24 hours or seven days. It also displays battery usage percentages and screen time for each app.
- Battery Guardian: It provides users with a number of options to increase battery life, such as enabling power-saving mode at bedtime, optimizing display, and minimizing network usage for chosen apps.
- Galaxy App Booster: This feature boosts app performance at just one click. According to Samsung, it should be run once a week and after any software update.
- Thermal Guardian: The feature allows you to check your smartphone’s temperature and tells you why the phone heated up. Moreover, it monitors CPU utilization and lists apps that use maximum resources.
- Memory Guardian: This tool clears unused RAM with one tap, helping free memory and improve overall performance.
- Media File Guardian: It allows you to control media files stored on your phone, including files created by banking, shopping, and social media apps.
3. Expert RAW
For Galaxy smartphone users who want professional-grade control options for their camera, Samsung provides Expert RAW. Though it can be used with the Camera app, it is not automatically downloaded from the start. The user will need to install it either from the Galaxy Store or the More tab of the Camera app.
The app targets photography enthusiasts who want greater control over their camera settings. With this application, users can change settings such as ISO, shutter speed, focusing, exposure, and more before capturing images. Images can be captured using the app in two different file formats: JPEG and RAW. Certain Galaxy flagships offer functions such as astrophotography and multiple-exposure images. Expert RAW is available only on selected Galaxy flagship models, so it may not appear on every Samsung phone.
4. Galaxy Enhance-X
Galaxy Enhance-X is Samsung’s AI-powered editing app designed for Galaxy devices. It makes image and video editing easy regardless of your level of expertise. Its one-click improvement capability ensures you don’t need advanced knowledge to edit your images.
Along with AI enhancement, the app includes tools to eliminate shadows and reflections, enhance facial features, crop photos, and adjust brightness. Users can also restore vintage photos and even create GIFs. Video editing functions encompass cutting videos, muting the sound, and applying various video effects.
Other options include plugins such as FilmStyle, Cinematic Glow, SkyGuide, and SpeedShuffle, which offer additional editing options. But please keep in mind that the available features may differ depending on the Galaxy model.
5. Edge Panel Apps
Samsung’s Edge Panel gives Galaxy users quick access to apps and useful tools from the side of the screen. The feature already includes shortcuts for apps, contacts, weather, reminders, clipboard, and other utilities. Galaxy phones include several built-in panel options, but users can expand them with additional downloads.
The Galaxy Store offers additional Edge Panels that add more functionality. The Galaxy Store offers additional Edge Panels that add more functionality. Samsung provides panels such as the Calculator Panel, Calendar Panel, Edge QuickNotes, and Direct Call Panel. The Calculator Panel lets users perform quick calculations without opening the Calculator app. The Calendar Panel displays a scrollable calendar, while Edge QuickNotes makes it easy to view or create notes. With the Direct Call Panel, you can make a call from your contact list with just one tap. Third-party Edge Panels are also available on Samsung through the Galaxy Store. These panels offer additional options that let users perform daily tasks without opening apps.