In today’s reference, it would go something like ‘No smartphone is an island.’ Though phone makers like OnePlus ship their phones with a set of apps and plenty of built-in features, they are not enough to get the most out of it. Any phone, be it the OnePlus 8 or the OnePlus 8 Pro needs its share of third-party apps, to increase its potential as a flagship and well, to elevate your experience as well. In this post, we have compiled a list of the must-have Android apps for the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro to maximize its potential. As it’s going to be a long post, let’s go straight ahead, shall we?
1. Type Like a Pro: SwiftKey
One of the first highlights of the SwiftKey is its impeccable prediction and autocorrect. I would not be lying if I said that this keyboard could predict what you are thinking. And the additional gestures and swipe typing sweetens the deal. All you need to do is glide gently over the letters, and the nearest possible words will pop up on the prediction tray. No kidding. Other than that, it bundles a neat set of features and customizations. For instance, you can add a number row at the top or add a series of text shortcuts to make your work easier. Secondly, there’s a handy clipboard that remembers your copied text. So yeah, now you do not have to beat yourself up if you copy more than two text snippets at a time before pasting. One of my favorite features is shifting the keyboard to the left and right, thus making it easy to type with a single hand. Plus, it supports several languages Did You Know: Microsoft bought SwiftKey in February 2016. Download SwiftKey
2. Better Task Management: Notion
Lately, Notion has been grabbing the headlines for all the right reasons. This productivity-focused app is known both for its unique organization features as well as note-taking capabilities. While the app might not have an intuitive interface like most of the apps in this list, but let me assure you that there’s more to its humble appearance. The app operates on the principles of ‘Block’. A block can be any item, such as a to-do item, an image, or a link. The best part is that you can save links to your favorite article or any interesting article for later references. If you click on the Share icon of your browser, Notion will appear in the list of apps. All you need to do is select the Page, enter the details, and the app will take care of the rest. The best part is that notion has apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac, and bundles a web version as well. And these are just the tip of the iceberg. If you can’t wait to get the most of this tool, check out Top 11 Notion Tips and Tricks, Notion vs Google Docs, and Top 11 Notion Templates to Increase Your Productivity. Download Notion
3. Enhance those Photos: PicsArt
There’s no shortage of photo editing apps in the Google Play Store. Though we have been a fan of Snapseed for the longest time, the lack of new and interesting features and customization tools made us look for greener pastures elsewhere. The search ended with PicsArt, thanks to its myriad filters, effects, and tools. And the ability to create stickers and replace backgrounds helped make the shift easy. The app is easy and straightforward to use. All the options are neatly laid out in front, and you have to pick it according to the requirements of the picture. However, some of the features of PicsArt are hidden behind a paywall. Upgrading to the paid version also unlocks the ad-free version. Download PicsArt If you do not want to get into the hassles of payments and are looking for a simple photo-editing app, Snapseed fits the bill. There are no untoward ads in between, and the simple and straightforward interface makes things much easier. Besides that, it lets you tweak RAW images. Sure the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro captures beautiful pictures. But as we at Guiding Tech like to say, tapping on the shutter button is just the beginning. And the journey is complete only when you balance the looks of the photo via post-processing, and the above tools let you do just that. Download Snapseed
4. For a Different Perspective: GCam
If you feel that the OnePlus 8 camera leaves a lot to be desired, especially when it comes to HDRs, you should try out the GCam Mod. The OnePlus phones have support for Google’s Camera2 API, which makes it convenient to port the camera app. You need to sideload an APK version of GCam. After that, you will enjoy the amazing features of the Google Camera like Night Sight, HDR+, and Portrait. And, the portrait mode is something to die for. Okay, I may have exaggerated a bit, but you get my drift. And that’s not the end of the story. GCam also comes with its editing suite. With it, you can dabble with conventional filters as well as color-pop. That is in addition to the image tweaking options. Get GCam
5. Manage Files Better: Solid Explorer File Manager
The stock Files app of the OnePlus is efficient when it comes to viewing your files and photos. And features like FileDash makes it convenient to use in the long run. However, if you are looking for additional functionalities, it’s best to go with file managers like Solid Explorer. One of the primary highlights of this app is the two-panel interface, which makes it painless to move files from one location to another just by a simple drag and drop function. While FileDash also lets you move files to and fro from Google Drive, Solid Explorer goes a step ahead and lets you add cloud storage accounts from Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, among others. However, the feature that comes most in use is the ability to create and extract ZIP and 7ZIP formats apart from supporting extraction of TAR and RAR files. Solid Explorer comes with a 7-day free trial, and upgrading to the paid version will set you back by $1.99. Download Solid Explorer File Manager
6. Jazz up That Curved Screen: Hidey Hole & Zedge
With a high refresh rate and Fluid AMOLED display, the display of the OnePlus phones is a sight to behold. Hence, it only makes sense to adorn it with a great wallpaper. If you want to save battery on your OnePlus device, it’s best to invest in an app like AmoledPix or Darkops. They have stunning AMOLED wallpapers that do their best to spice up the home screen. Download AmoledPix However, if you do not want to be bound by a particular type of wallpapers, you can check out Zedge. This one has a slew of wallpapers spread across multiple categories. Right from AMOLED and neon images to sea beaches and superheroes, the list is pretty endless. Do note that the occasional ad in-between may sore your experience. However, you can choose to remove it by upgrading to the paid version. Download Zedge Another app that is worthy of a mention is HideyHole. It rose to prominence when the Samsung Galaxy S10 series made their debut. The wallpapers in the app accommodate the hole-punch camera. While the backgrounds for the Galaxy S10e fits the OnePlus 8 perfectly, the cameras in both the phones are in the opposite direction. Thankfully, the editing suite of OnePlus is capable enough to do the simple job of flipping the images. Of course, you need to do a couple of additional steps, but some of the app’s photos are worth the extra effort. Download Hidey Hole
7. Protect Your Data: NordVPN
It’s no secret that our activities on the Internet are monitored closely. Whether you are scrolling through Instagram or browsing on some random sites, you will find targeted ads almost everywhere. Hence, it’s best to switch to a VPN network like Nord VPN. NordVPN is one of the fastest VPN services and has a wide server network. Apart from giving you the mask of anonymity and bypassing country restrictions, this VPN also lets you unlock US Netflix. Yes, you read that right. And features like Internet Kill Switch, App Kill Switch, NordLynx add to the experience. The Windows and Mac apps have a couple of extra features such as Onion Over Tor and Dedicated IP. A yearly plan of NordVPN costs around $6.99 per month and a monthly plan will cost you around $11.95. On signing up, you can use the service on 6 devices simultaneously, whether it’s your smart TV or your Windows 10 laptop. Guiding Tech readers can grab an exclusive 70% discount on a 3-year NordVPN when you sign up using the link below. Get NordVPN
Get the Most out of Your OnePlus 8
Apart from that, you can get a PDF reader like the Adobe Acrobat Reader, since the OnePlus 8 doesn’t bundle a native PDF reader. If you have taken to listening to podcasts, then you should certainly try out Podcast Addict. Here’s a video on top must-have apps fro OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro from our Guiding Tech YouTube (English) Channel: One of the things I like about OnePlus phones and OxygenOS is that they do not include as much bloatware as other makers. And at the same time, built-in features like the screenshot editor or the screen recorder only makes the journey worthwhile. Next up: Are you looking for accessories for your new OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro? Click on the link below to discover some really cool accessories for the OnePlus 8. The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.
