The Tool Desk
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Start with what you need—not a fixed app quota
Josh Render’s January 8, 2026, Tom’s Guide list describes five apps he uses nearly every day. That supports them as options to consider, not a guarantee that they are the first apps everyone should install. Each fills a different niche, and Android phones may already include tools that cover some of those needs.
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Use the list to identify a gap in your setup. Check the current Google Play listing for availability and the features included at no charge in your region; the cited article does not establish current pricing or tier boundaries for every app.
Five apps, five different jobs
Amazon Kindle for reading
The Kindle app lets you read books from your Kindle library on a phone, so a separate Kindle device is not required to use the app. Books are not necessarily free: the cited article says titles can be added to the library and purchases made through Amazon’s app or website. Whether the app and purchasing options are available to you depends on your region and the current listing.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Strava for activity tracking and social motivation
Strava can track activity progress and goals, and lets users share runs and follow friends’ progress. That social element may help if seeing other people’s activity motivates you. The cited article does not specify which current functions are free or paid, so check the app’s present offering rather than assuming every feature is included at no cost.
NYT Games for daily puzzles
The free version described in the cited article includes daily games such as Wordle and the mini crossword. Older games and other offerings—including the full New York Times crossword—require a paid subscription, according to that article. Treat the free offer as a way to play the listed daily games, not as access to the full archive.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Waze for connected driving guidance
Waze uses driver reports to surface traffic and hazards. The cited article calls it free, but says an internet connection, including mobile data, is needed to get the most from it; do not rely on it as a fully offline navigation app. Google Maps is preinstalled on most phones discussed in the article, so Waze is an optional addition for drivers who value its community reports, not a required download for every new phone.
Smart Launcher 6 for home-screen organization
Smart Launcher 6 organizes apps into categories and offers search and wallpaper color matching. A free version is available, but the cited article describes it as limited compared with the paid version. Its different approach may take some adjustment, so it makes most sense if you want to reorganize or personalize your home screen; Android’s default launcher may already work well for you.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Choose only the apps that fill a gap
- Reading: Try Kindle if you want your book library on your phone.
- Activity: Consider Strava if tracking progress or sharing runs appeals to you.
- Puzzles: NYT Games may suit you if its daily puzzles are enough without a subscription.
- Driving: Consider Waze if you drive and want community traffic and hazard reports with an internet connection.
- Home screen: Try Smart Launcher 6 if categories and customization would improve how you find apps.
Before installing anything, consider whether your phone already does the job. Also weigh network needs, paid features and the permissions the app requests. These five serve different purposes; they are not a head-to-head ranking, and the cited article does not provide a same-device comparison or independent tests across them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Set up the phone before adding more apps
Transfer your data first
Android can pair with an old phone during setup to copy apps and data, restore from a Google backup, or use manual transfer steps. Follow Google’s Android device-switching guidance, then confirm that the data you need is on the new phone before clearing or recycling the old one. Installing a handful of apps is not a substitute for migrating your data.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Download carefully and review privacy controls
Android advises installing apps from trusted sources, keeping apps and system software updated, and granting only the permissions needed for an app to work. Google Play’s Data safety panel summarizes developers’ disclosures about data collection, sharing and handling for apps distributed through Google Play. Those disclosures can vary with use, region and age, so check the current listing for the specific app you plan to install rather than treating an app name as a permanent privacy guarantee. See Google Play’s explanation of the Data safety section.
You can manage camera, microphone and location access in Android settings, including choosing approximate or precise location where available and allowing access once, while using an app, or never. Android may also reset permissions for apps you have not used for a while. Details are in Android’s privacy and permissions guidance.
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Do not assume a new phone needs another security app
Android includes protections such as Google Play Protect and lock-screen protection. Google’s mobile security guidance says: “Tools like Google Play Protect and lock-screen protection work to keep your device secure, so you and your data stay protected without the need for another app.” Google Play services also supplies core Android functions, including security and reliability features, backup and password management; its data collection varies with device and account settings, installed apps and services, and the device manufacturer. See Google’s overview of Google Play services.
Quick Recap
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