9 essential apps to install on your Galaxy phone

Samsung’s Galaxy phones have access to over three million apps in the Google Play Store, leaving buyers with an overwhelming choice. Out of the overwhelming options, a handful of essential apps stand out because of their excellent functionality and convenience and deserve a place on every Galaxy phone.

It’s impossible to list all the useful Samsung Galaxy apps, but I’ve narrowed it down to the nine everyone needs to make their lives easier. I use these apps daily for communication, fitness, and entertainment, and I think they could benefit you, too.

1 WhatsApp

Connect with family and friends everywhere

WhatsApp

WhatsApp is a globally popular messaging app offering end-to-end encrypted text, voice, and video communication, along with file sharing and group chat features.

WhatsApp is probably the app I use the most because it’s my primary method for communicating with friends and family around the world. Its simple yet functional interface is one of the biggest reasons for its popularity, and it’s never been easier to send pictures, videos, and other messages for business and private use.

I’m part of many family and friend groups because it’s one of the best ways to stay in touch and share photos and videos of special moments and events. I also use WhatsApp for international voice and video calls because it’s cheaper than regular calls and allows me to add more participants to the conversation. Many companies also use WhatsApp to communicate delivery times and send quotes to my phone because they know I’ll receive them and respond promptly.

Setting up WhatsApp is a cinch after installing the app from the Play Store. All you need to do is verify your number and then add your name and profile picture to get started. The app will automatically detect all your contacts using the app, and you can connect to them instantly and view their updates.

2 Google Translate

Understand any language

Google/Pocket-lint

Google Translate

Google Translate is a convenient app to easily translate another language while on the go.

Google Translate is another essential app that allows me to translate text and speech to and from various languages in real-time. This makes it perfect for communicating with people from other countries. It’s also good for translating instructions, warning labels, ingredients, and other information on goods from other countries, making them more accessible and safer to use.

The app has a clean and intuitive interface, with a space to enter the text you want translated. The buttons below allow you to easily change the translation input and output languages or switch to voice translation if you’re unsure of certain spellings or pronunciations.

Another handy feature of Google Translate is the camera function, which instantly scans text and changes it to my preferred language. Most languages are supported, although some might require an additional download.

3 Steam Link

Turn your Galaxy into a gaming console

Steam/Pocket-lint

Steam Link

Steam Link gives you access to your Steam library on your Android phone, allowing you to game from anywhere.

Steam Link is a must-have app for gamers who want to stream their Steam library on another PC, phone, or tablet. The app turns your Samsung Galaxy into a handheld console, and you can enjoy your games while lounging on your sofa.

Using Steamlink is straightforward, as long as there’s good internet. Once it’s paired with my PC, all I need to do is click on the “Start Playing” button to gain access to my Steam library on my phone. The playing experience is a mixed bag and depends on what I’m playing. Touchscreens can’t match the same fluid movement as a mouse and keyboard for shooters, but they aren’t bad for racing and platform games.

Console players aren’t left out, and they can try the PlayStation and Xbox remote play apps on their Samsung Galaxy smartphones to get a similar experience.

4 Fiton

An easy way to stay healthy

Fiton/Pocket-lint

Fiton

Fiton offers free access to many different types of workouts, including Cardio or HIIT, along with nutritional advice and meal plans.

A good fitness app is essential to a healthy and balanced life because it can assist with workouts, diet, and mindfulness. Of the many available options, I use Fiton because of its many free features and comprehensive approach to health. The app has a massive variety of workouts, like Cardio, Strength, HIIT, and Mobility, and I can pay for live classes if I want a more interactive training experience. There are countless options, and it’s easy to filter them by targeted body parts, duration, trainers, and intensity, depending on what I feel like doing.

Besides workouts, Fiton offers nutritional advice and healthy meal plans for main courses, snacks, and special diets, such as vegan and gluten-free. There’s no reason to go elsewhere for health and fitness advice because the app has a section dedicated to articles on improving habits and new tips and tricks.

It’s not my thing, but users looking for a social experience can try the Friends feature. It connects users to like-minded people who enjoy the same workouts and diets and can provide encouragement and inspiration.

5 Spotify

All the songs you love in your pocket

Spotify/Pocket-lint

Spotify

Spotify gives you access to all of your favorite songs, plus countless more. Not to mention, you can access podcasts directly in the app as well.

Life without music is dull, and Spotify is the easiest way to access all the songs you like and millions of others on your Samsung Galaxy phone. The free package offers over 80 million songs and 2.6 million podcasts, and you can choose between the various premium options if you want more features like additional users, ad-free listening, and unlimited skipping. The value of any service comes down to how much you use it, and it’s worth paying extra if you’re a music lover who wants full control of their playlists and uninterrupted listening pleasure.

One of the things I like the most about Spotify is that I can access my playlists on PlayStation consoles, PCs, Android Auto, and numerous other devices. Finding new music is easy because I can view popular albums and artists on the home page, and the app provides recommendations based on what I like. I can also share my music with friends and try other people’s playlists to expand my taste.

6 Kindle

Take your library anywhere

Kindle

Amazon’s Kindle library is a must-have for any avid reader.

Kindle is just like Spotify but for books. It offers millions of titles, from old classics to modern bestsellers. Book lovers like myself don’t mind paying $11.99 monthly for Kindle Unlimited, which offers millions of books, comics, and magazines. Other readers might be better off buying the titles they want instead of paying a monthly fee. The hard part is deciding what to read when I have limited time, and thankfully, the app offers handy recommendations to help me choose.

As someone who grew up before Kindles became popular, I can’t understate how convenient it is to have a library in my pocket that I can easily access on the go to keep me entertained on planes and buses. Another thing I love is that I don’t have to worry about finding that missing book in a series or an obscure title I remember from high school because they’re all readily available and download instantly for me to read.

7 Microsoft 365

Portable productivity and AI tools

Microsoft/Pocket-lint

Microsoft 365

Never go without access to your OneDrive files and Microsoft Office documents.

Google Docs and Sheets may reign supreme on Android devices, but it’s still worth having Microsoft 365 on your Samsung Galaxy phone to access your Word and Excel Spreadsheets from anywhere. Working on the go has never been easier, and the mobile versions of the app have the same features as the desktop app, so I don’t need to carry a bulky laptop or tablet when I’m traveling.

Extra features like OneDrive make Office 365 so handy because I can easily access digital copies of important documents like passports and IDs and a backup of my image gallery. The capture feature makes scanning images and dictating notes easy, and the nifty Copilot AI tool uses the GPT-4 engine to answer questions, reply to emails, and more.

8 LinkedIn

Find your dream job and keep your skills up-to-date

LinkedIn/Pocket-lint

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the best place to find new job opportunities and network with like-minded professionals.

I climbed up the writing ladder thanks to LinkedIn, and I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a new job or want to see what opportunities are out there. The app makes it easy to search for remote or onsite opportunities in various fields, and you can’t afford to miss out because it’s where all the top companies seek new talent.

LinkedIn is more than just a job-searching app; it is one of the best social media platforms for connecting with professionals and staying up-to-date with best practices, new trends, and other factors that could benefit your work performance. It’s helped me improve my skills by networking with industry professionals to find solutions to problems without the toxicity of other platforms.

9 Expert RAW

Upgrade your camera for free

Samsung/Pocket-lint

Expert RAW

Expert RAW upgrades your Samsung Galaxy camera with manual controls and allows you to store photos in multiple file formats.

Samsung Galaxy phones have amazing cameras, and you can unlock their full potential with the Expert RAW app. It’s an alternative to your regular camera app, allowing you to take photos in JPEG and edit RAW files simultaneously. It also has a different interface and adds manual camera controls for shutter speed, ISO, and other settings to get the perfect shot in any conditions.

I love that Expert RAW works independently of my Samsung Galaxy’s camera app, and each platform has its own purpose and settings. The regular camera is best for selfies and other casual shots, and I can switch to Expert RAW when I’m taking work shots that might require color boosting or exposure tweaks. Expert RAW isn’t for everyone and takes time to master, but it’s worth it if you want to take your photography to the next level.