Microsoft Office
It can be hard to find applications with well-designed tablet interfaces, particularly when the Play Stores only requirements for the “Designed for tablets” label is designers adding a big screenshot to the app listing. The only method to learn if an app is actually created with tablets in mind is to attempt it out yourself, so thats precisely what we did for this roundup.
Google hasnt had much of an interest in Android tablets since the days of the Motorola XOOM and Android Honeycomb. As a result, most of the companys apps arent developed with tablets in mind, and third-party applications have actually largely followed match. Sure, Android tablets can technically run all Android apps, however much of them have stretched-out layouts that were planned for 6-inch screens. Some even force a portrait orientation (Google Tasks, Im looking at you).
Android Police protection: Microsofts brand-new all-in-one Office app is now offered for all
Microsofts Office applications are some of the very best examples of tablet-optimized Android apps that Ive ever discovered. Sure, you might not require to modify an Excel spreadsheet on the go really typically, but the apps have the same Ribbon interface as the desktop equivalents. There is likewise comprehensive assistance for keyboard faster ways, if you regularly use a keyboard with your tablet.
The only drawback is that producing and modifying files requires a paid subscription to Microsoft 365, previously called Office 365. The cheapest plan is $70/year (or $7/mo) and consists of the web, mobile, and native desktop versions of the most popular Office applications, plus 1TB of OneDrive storage.
Previously this year, Microsoft launched a brand-new combined Office app that consisted of PowerPoint, Word, and Excel in a single plan. The new app at first didnt effectively support tablets, but that has considering that been fixed. Microsoft has actually likewise integrated the Office Lens scanner and notes that sync with Windows 10, but I dont use those features.
VLC for Android
Google Duo.
SketchBook is one of the most feature-packed illustration applications on Android. Its created for whatever from commercial design sketches to digital art, and it works best with tablets and active stylus pens.
Android Police coverage: MyScript Nebo is a handwriting acknowledgment and note-taking app for gadgets with active styluses.
Gmail is among the couple of staying Google apps that have a devoted tablet user interface. On large screens, Gmail has a two-column design, with your inbox shown on the left and the current message on the. There are also a few keyboard faster ways offered for rapidly handling messages.
Android Police protection: Autodesk SketchBooks Pro functions are now totally free.
Google Keep is another application in the elite “Google app that looks okay on tablets” club. Its a cross-platform note/list application, with support for connecting files and developing pointers. There are absolutely more capable note applications, but Keep strikes a terrific balance in between features and simpleness.
Microsoft Outlook.
Vivaldi is another web browser that works a little better on Android tablets in Chrome. It shares the exact same core engine as Chrome, however uses a tracker blocker, an alternative to constantly view desktop websites (super practical for websites attempting to fill mobile layouts on tablets), a speed dial, and a built-in screenshot utility.
I do not typically need to deal with moving files around on my Android gadgets, however if thats something you routinely do, provide Solid Explorer a try. You can utilize it for 14 days before you need to pay the $1.99 in-app purchase for full access.
VLC is the cross-platform media gamer that can open practically any video or audio file ever developed, and the Android app works effectively. It has an integrated file browser (with the ability to see network drives!), Picture-in-Picture assistance, and other nice functions.
Samsung Internet is one of the most popular web internet browsers on Android, and it appears to have one of the finest tablet user interfaces. Thats hardly a surprise, considered that Samsung has to do with the only business left producing high-end Android tablets, but you do not necessarily require a Galaxy Tab to use the browser– its offered on the Play Store for any gadget.
Android Police protection: VLC 3.2 revamps audio and video gamer, enhances TV interface, and includes keyboard faster ways to Chrome OS (APK Download).
The interface only has small tweaks for tablets, like additional columns in the file audience, but youre going to invest the majority of your time watching media anyway. VLC is likewise among the few media applications Ive tried where tapping the spacebar on the keyboard really stops briefly the content.
Comixology.
Theres one catch to Nebo: to use all the features, you require an Android gadget with an active stylus pen, like a Galaxy Tab S6 or S6 Lite. Nebo has a list of some compatible models here.
Gmail.
Comixology is a comic/manga reader for Android and other platforms, including combination with Kindle libraries (if you login with your Amazon account) and offline assistance. The app works well adequate on tablets, though comics will not look quite as crisp on lower-resolution devices.
Gboard is the default keyboard application on lots of Android gadgets, and it has one feature that is especially great on tablets– one-handed mode.
Gboard Keyboard.
Gboard is the default keyboard application on lots of Android devices, and it has one feature that is particularly nice on tablets– one-handed mode. With Gboard open, tap the separated keyboard icon in the toolbar to move the keyboard to a floating window. Its a lot easier for me to type while holding a tablet in one-handed mode, especially when I swipe between letters rather of tapping keys separately.
Im always reluctant to advise products from Adobe, particularly given the business doesnt support Linux (my desktop OS of choice) and likes to charge monthly subscriptions for applications that have actually barely changed in a decade, but there actually isnt any cross-platform competitor to Lightroom.
Solid Explorer is an exceptional file supervisor application, and its one of the couple of options with a tidy tablet interface. It has a dual-panel mode for seeing (and moving files between) 2 directory sites at when, assistance for network drives, batch operations, integration with numerous cloud storage services, and much more.
Samsung Internet is based on Chrome, however it does have a couple of features not present in Googles browser. You can move the buttons around to your preference, require a dark theme on all web pages, and install select add-ons. Tabs can either be displayed below the address bar (comparable to Chrome), or hidden behind the tabs button for more vertical space.
SketchBook.
Outlook has a similar design to Gmail on tablets, with columns for both your inbox and the currently-selected message, however there are a couple of distinctions. The list of accounts is constantly pinned to the left side, and a third column for inboxes/folders can be toggled by pushing the hamburger menu at the top-left.
MyScript Nebo.
If youre not a fan of Gmail, or youre just wanting to try something brand-new, Microsoft Outlook is another fantastic e-mail application for Android tablets. It works with third-party email services in addition to Microsofts own Outlook.com, so you can utilize it without changing email addresses.
Google hasnt had much of an interest in Android tablets because the days of the Motorola XOOM and Android Honeycomb. Sure, Android tablets can technically run all Android apps, but numerous of them have stretched-out layouts that were planned for 6-inch screens. Microsofts Office applications are some of the best examples of tablet-optimized Android apps that Ive ever come throughout. Its not a native Android application, which is a bit frustrating, however it looks considerably much better on tablets.
Google Keep.
Twitter Lite.
Lightroom is a fantastic image editor that I use for all work-related images, and since Android lets me connect my Sony Alpha cam over USB to move files, I can do my entire image editing workflow from my Galaxy Tab S6. I still have to do a second round of importing/exporting with PhotoStack later, due to the fact that Lightroom for Android does not support image watermarks.
The routine Twitter app looks definitely horrible on tablets, with tweets using up the full width of the screen. Youre better off with Twitter Lite, a repackaged variation of the Twitter web app. Its not a native Android application, which is a bit frustrating, but it looks considerably better on tablets.
Google Duo is most likely the very best video chat application on Android, and it works simply as well on tablets as it does on phones. In truth, you no longer need a telephone number coupled with your Google account when utilizing it on tablets, which comes in helpful for kids and other individuals without a phone.
Nebo is among the very best note-taking applications Ive tried out Android. It can transform your hand-written sentences into text, and simply like Evernote and OneNote, you can embed images, illustrations, and other resources into your notes. The full list of functions is truthfully staggering.
Adobe Lightroom – Photo Editor & & Pro Camera.
Samsung Internet Browser.
Vivaldi Browser.
Android Police coverage: Adobe Lightroom v5.0 includes innovative export alternatives and interactive tutorials [APK Download]
Twitter Lite is only readily available from the Play Store in choose areas, so if you cant download it, just open twitter.com in your mobile web browser of option and find the option to install it to your home screen (in Chrome, tap the menu button at the top-right and choose Add to Home Screen). Its the same exact experience– just remember to enable notifications from Twitters settings for full functionality.
Android Police coverage: Vivaldi for Android goes stable with desktop-style tab strip and tracker stopping.
Strong Explorer File Manager.
Android Police protection: Samsung Internet 12 includes partial Autofill API support and upgrades Chromium engine (APK Download).
