12 great apps for your new iPhone in 2020

If you’ve been lucky enough to unpack a new iPhone as a holiday gift this year, you’ll probably want to install some new apps on it. Fortunately, we are here to help with some suggestions. We’ve included some great apps that are generally nice or useful to have on your phone, and apps that you need to download to replace the standard apps that Apple ships.

We have summarized our favorite and most used games, programs and entertainment. Check out our app selection for iPhones, Android phones, Windows computers, en M1-equipped Macs; our favorite mobile games from Apple Arcade and Google Play Pass; and our best choices for game computers, the PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S, Nintendo Switch, en VR. We also listed our favorite streaming programs Disney Plus, Hulu, ESPN Plus, en Netflix; some great science books; and exciting new podcasts. (Note: the price was accurate at the time of publication, but may change.)

Widgetsmith

Widgetsmith

Widgetsmith

With iOS 14, Apple has made it easier to customize the way your iPhone looks, with new widgets and easier methods of setting up custom application icons. One of the biggest names in the case of iPhone widgets is Widgetsmith, which allows users to add photos, text, quotes and more. Combine that with some clever icon swapping (now easier than ever in the latest iOS update) and the right wallpaper, and you’ve got the iPhone of your dreams that suits you.

Libby

Libby

Libby

It’s hard to get to libraries at the moment, but if you have a smartphone, you can achieve the next best thing: Libby, which allows you to borrow free ebooks and audiobooks from your local library. On top of that, the app itself is an excellent digital reading app on its own, so you can enjoy books even without a dedicated device like a Kindle.

TikTok

TikTok

TikTok

TikTok exploded in popularity in 2020 to become one of the largest social media networks on the planet, with everything from internet memes, comedy sketches and even a full-fledged Ratatouille musical. In other words, it is currently the most enjoyable place on the internet. Add in an algorithm that looks like it’s almost magically showing videos that’s perfectly tailored to your interests, and you’ve got almost endless content to watch.

Tweetbot

Tweetbot

Tweetbot

Twitter is a vaguely awful way to spend your time these days, but if you (like me) can not tear yourself away from the social media service / access to hell, you want Tweetbot, which actually uses Twitter a lot make less painful. . Tweetbot shows you the tweets of the people you follow, in the order in which they tweeted them. There are no ads or promoted tweets, powerful mufflers to block unwanted noise (and thanks to Twitter’s unfriendly API changes) no notifications to constantly ping you to return to the app.

Paprika Recipe Manager

Paprika Recipe Manager

Paprika Recipe Manager

The internet is basically the best cookbook ever made, with recipes for any dish, dessert or drink you want to create, just a click away. With Paprika you can paste links for the recipes, include the important information (ingredients, directions, portions) from the sometimes endless stories and history that food blogs insist on and store the information in your own digital cookbook to pick up when you need it. .

Halide camera

Halide camera

Halide camera

The cameras on the new iPhones are better than ever before, and a lot of them are due to the useful AI-powered algorithms that work to perfect your photos. However, if you have a little more photographic knowledge, you may want an app like Halide, which is designed to move the cameras to the extreme. It also supports all the latest features of Apple’s new iPhones, including the ProRAW format of the iPhone 12 Pro, ideal for taking your photography to the next level. With an annual subscription, it’s not free, but if you’ve largely iPhone photography, it’s worth the cost.

dark room

dark room

dark room

Of course, photography is only half the comparison. Editing is just as important (if not more so), and Darkroom is one of the best apps available, with support for RAW and ProRAW photos, along with the option to edit photos in groups. Best of all, it’s free, though there’s a monthly subscription option for additional features.

Authy

Authy

Authy

Safety time! Do you secure your Internet accounts with two-factor authentication? If so, wonderful; Authy is the app you want to use for verification codes. If not, go set up two-factor authentication now! And if you do, use Authy, which stores and keeps track of all verification codes better than other programs like Google Authenticator.


Lastpass / 1Password

Lastpass / 1Password

Lastpass / 1Password

If you’re talking about internet security, you should probably start using a password manager instead of just entering the same password for all your accounts. LastPass and 1Password are the two best options, each with different pros, cons and costs. Setting up a new phone is the perfect time to set up more security.

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple’s standard Mail app for email is still bad. The UI is awkward and Gmail support is still weak enough to install another email program instead. Outlook for iOS is still one of the best options, with useful features, a fast user interface and Microsoft support which means it will exist for years to come. Plus, with iOS 14, you can even set it to replace the Apple app as the default option.

Google Maps

Google Maps

Google Maps
Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge

The truth is that Apple Maps is not bad these days. But it does not matter. Chances are you’ll move it to a folder anyway and use Google Maps, because you’re the kind of person who does not want to get lost on the way to wherever you are. Sometimes you just can not beat the original.

Venmo

Venmo stock

Venmo
Image: Venmo

Whether you split the internet bill with roommates or split a tab at a bar (when bars are open again), everyone has to repay someone else at some point. Venmo makes it simple, easy and secure – and unlike Apple Pay, it also works on things other than iPhones.

Google Photos

Google Photos

Google Photos

Apple Photos is the default photo app and you’ll probably never replace it, because all the photos you take go automatically. Google Photos will end its unlimited storage from June 1, 2021, so it will not back up everyone your photos and videos more for free. But it still offers 15 GB (in addition to all the photos and videos you have already uploaded). This is much more than Apple’s standard 5 GB storage for iCloud, so it’s better than no backup. And when it comes to all your favorite photos, why take the risk?

Fantastic 2

Fantastic 2

Fantastic 2

Apple’s standard calendar is ideal for basic tasks, but if you want something more powerful, get fantastic. Now for free (with additional features available for a new subscription), you get a user interface that is much more useful on a phone screen than Apple’s own, along with Fantastical’s excellent contextual directions that can automatically add details like dates or locations when you add new events. It also has an excellent widget that is much better than the standard calendar apps – something that is especially useful with iOS 14.

Otter

Otter

Otter

This is a bit of a niche category, but if you record a lot of voice notes on your iPhone (maybe you’re a student who wants to play lectures or a technology reporter who has to interview people from time to time), you’ll want Otter.ai . This is an app used by AI using voice recordings, which transcribes while you talk and stores it all in the cloud to access from anywhere. There are some limitations to the free version – you can only record 40 minutes at a time and up to 600 minutes per month – but it’s still a useful tool to have.

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