Opinion
Android 16 is here - only for Pixel devices and not yet complete
by Jan Johannsen
I was wrong – smartphone launchers aren’t pointless after all
11.3.2026
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
For more than a decade, I was convinced that nobody needs an alternative launcher for their phone any more. Niagara Launcher proved me wrong.
The last time I installed an Android launcher on any phone was well over ten years ago. Back then, the world of smartphones was like the Wild West. Launchers like Nova, Apex and ADW offered more flexibility and consistency. It wasn’t until 2013 with its Pixel lineup that Google provided a clear blueprint for what an Android UI should look like.
The right launcher at the right time
All those years, I could only shake my head in bafflement when my colleagues Jan and Michelle talked about their favourite launchers. As a Google Pixel owner, I felt the topic was beneath me. «Who still needs launchers these days?» was my immediate question when a friend started raving about Niagara Launcher in a group chat. It was only when another mate chimed in to say he sorely missed it on his new iPhone that my interest was piqued. Jan also praised the launcher recently in his overview article.
The timing was also right. With almost 300 apps including system apps (yes, I need them all), navigating my Pixel 10 had become a drag. Countless folders spread across several screens, plus widgets for music, podcasts, calendar and so on… it was overwhelming. That’s why my ears pricked up when my friends praised the Niagara Launcher as creating «less distraction, doing away with the ridiculous number of icons». So, because I apparently love trying out new apps, I bit the bullet and installed a launcher again for the first time in over a decade. And Niagara won me over straight away.
With constraints comes freedom
The biggest difference between Niagara and standard launchers is that there’s just one single home screen. Apps you favourite are arranged vertically in a list. You access all other apps by swiping up or down along the edge of the screen, which brings up an alphabetically sorted list. I’m glad it works by swiping on either side. As a right-handed person who uses his phone with his left hand, I’m constantly annoyed by navigation that’s only easy to reach from one side.
Even though the navigation’s totally different from what I’m used to, I got the hang of it surprisingly quickly. Niagara recommends favouriting no more than eight apps. I’m not ready for that drastic a cut just yet. But even with my 30, the system feels much leaner than before. I notice that I’m less distracted and waste less time on random apps. Maybe I really do need to declutter my 300 apps… Of course, I could’ve done that earlier, but I guess it took the Niagara Launcher to give me that final push.
There’s one small downside to the limited app list, though: when searching for apps in the alphabetical list, you need to know their names. You’d think that would be easy peasy. But especially when it comes to apps I don’t use regularly, it turns out I mainly recognise them by their icon. Others, like the various Twint apps, suffer from inconsistent naming. Sometimes Twint comes first, sometimes the bank’s name, and sometimes just the abbreviation. In these cases, I use the handy search feature. To open it, you simply swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen. I can be set to also search the internet and your contacts.
At the top of the home screen sits the Niagara widget, which displays the date and time. The Pro version of the launcher gives you access to further useful features such as your calendar and the weather. You can test it free of charge for seven days. After that, the app will cost you CHF 13.50 or €12.99 per year, or you can get lifelong access with a one-off payment of CHF 41.95 or €39.99. The one-off price is steep, but I think it’s worth it. And anything’s better than recurring subscription costs.
Even in the free version, the launcher offers all the key functions and, on top of that, skips ads altogether – a major plus. I also like that, for once, the app stems from Germany rather than the US.
Simple yet versatile
Niagara is a simple launcher, but it has a few handy tricks up its sleeve, though you’ll need the Pro version for many of them. I can assign an extra swipe gesture to the Niagara button at the bottom right of the home screen. I use it to open my password manager.
If I swipe right on apps, the quick actions menu pops up. There are also stackable widgets, so I don’t have to plaster the home screen with them. So far, I’m happy with just the built-in music widget. It opens automatically as soon as I launch my music or podcast app. Various apps also display notifications below the icon.
I’ve only been using the Niagara Launcher for a few weeks, but I already can’t imagine going back to the stale old grid layout. My most important apps are quicker to reach, time-wasters are less distracting and I can conveniently find rarely used apps through search. On top of that, there’s a host of clever features that offer genuine added value. If that sounds appealing, then as a former sceptic I can wholeheartedly recommend Niagara Launcher. Who’d have thought it?
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chAs a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
Opinion
This is a subjective opinion of the editorial team. It doesn't necessarily reflect the position of the company.
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