{"id":403655,"date":"2026-04-29T18:57:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/403655\/"},"modified":"2026-04-29T18:57:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T18:57:14","slug":"these-5-google-apps-arent-preinstalled-and-i-cant-imagine-using-my-phone-without-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/403655\/","title":{"rendered":"These 5 Google apps aren’t preinstalled, and I can’t imagine using my phone without them"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you think about Google apps on Android, you probably only picture the obvious ones, like Chrome, Gmail, Photos, and Calendar. But there are plenty more useful Google apps that don\u2019t come preinstalled<\/a>, and some are so underrated that most people don\u2019t even know they exist.<\/p>\n

Personally, I rely on a few of these Google apps myself. None of them are flashy, but they are all free and make my phone easier to use.<\/p>\n

\"Android<\/p>\n

Related<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\tI uninstalled 5 apps I used every day once I found out Android already does all of it
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

These apps made sense once, but not anymore.<\/p>\n

Snapseed<\/p>\n

The best photo editor you probably haven\u2019t tried<\/p>\n

\"Snapseed
\n Credit:\u00a0Keval Shukla \/ MUO<\/p>\n

The problem with most photo editing apps is that they either bombard you with subscriptions or come packed with so many features that the whole editing experience is confusing. Snapseed avoids both problems completely. <\/p>\n

Since it\u2019s a Google app, it\u2019s completely free and doesn’t show any ads. What I like the most about it, though, is the simplicity. The entire app is organized around just three sections: Looks, Tools, and Export. Even if you haven\u2019t tried photo editing apps, it\u2019s easy to figure out within minutes.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite Snapseed features is the Selective tool. With it, you can tap a part of an image and adjust things like brightness, contrast, or saturation for only that area. Its Healing tool lets you remove unwanted objects or distractions from a photo. Beyond that, there are plenty of other useful tools, like Perspective for fixing awkward angles, Expand for extending the edges of an image, and Stacks, which lets you tweak previous edits without starting over.<\/p>\n

\"Snapseed<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tOS \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndroid, iOS<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPrice model \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFree<\/p>\n

NotebookLM<\/p>\n

Use AI to learn anything<\/p>\n

NotebookLM is powered by Google\u2019s AI models, but unlike Gemini or other chatbots that pull information from all parts of the internet, this one only works with the material you provide. You can upload PDFs, Google Docs, lecture notes, meeting notes, or even plain text and NotebookLM uses that to answer questions. And that changes everything.<\/p>\n

When I use Gemini for research, I still find myself double-checking sources to make sure the information is accurate. With NotebookLM, the responses come directly from the files I upload, so there\u2019s less uncertainty. <\/p>\n

One of my favorite features is Audio Overviews<\/a>, which basically generates podcast-style discussions based on the uploaded content. It sounds gimmicky, but it works great. I\u2019ve listened to summaries while walking or relaxing, and it makes dense information feel far less intimidating. Honestly, Audio Overviews are a big reason I prefer using NotebookLM on my phone more instead of a PC.<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tOS \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndroid, iOS, Web-based app<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tDeveloper \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGoogle<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPricing model \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFree<\/p>\n

Action Blocks<\/p>\n

The accessibility app that\u2019s useful for everyone<\/p>\n

\"Action
\n Credit:\u00a0Keval Shukla \/ MUO<\/p>\n

Action Blocks is one of Google\u2019s lesser-known Android apps, mainly because it\u2019s designed for older users and people with cognitive disabilities. But even if you don\u2019t fall into either category, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll find it useful.<\/p>\n

Action Blocks lets you create and add customizable buttons on your home screen<\/a> that perform Google Assistant actions. For instance, you can create a button that calls someone, starts navigation home, plays your favorite playlist, turns on smart lights, or sends a text message.<\/p>\n

This way, instead of manually going through menus or using your voice every time you want Google Assistant to do something, you can trigger actions with a tap. Of course, Action Blocks is no Tasker or MacroDroid, but honestly, that\u2019s the part of the appeal. It’s great for creating simple shortcuts for everyday actions. <\/p>\n

\"Action-Blocks-app-logo\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tOS \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndroid<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tDeveloper \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGoogle LLC<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPricing model \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFree<\/p>\n

Chrome Remote Desktop<\/p>\n

The app that lets me leave my laptop at home<\/p>\n

\"Chrome
\n Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOfCredit:\u00a0Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOf<\/p>\n

Carrying my laptop everywhere isn\u2019t practical, but that doesn\u2019t mean I can\u2019t access it when I need to. Chrome Remote Desktop is a free tool that lets me access my PC even when miles away from it.<\/p>\n

As the name suggests, the app lets me access and control my PC remotely from any phone or tablet. This means any time I need to grab a file on my desktop or check something important, I can do that as long as there is internet. It\u2019s also ridiculously easy to set up. You install the companion software on your PC and phone, sign in with your Google account, and pair your devices. <\/p>\n

The app also lets me control my PC from another computer or even an iPhone. And since it\u2019s from Google, there are no session limits, paywall, or annoying ads that make the experience overwhelming. <\/p>\n

\"Chrome<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tOS \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndroid<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPrice model \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFree<\/p>\n

Gallery<\/p>\n

A simpler alternative to Photos<\/p>\n

\"Google
\n Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOfCredit:\u00a0Pankil Shah \/ MakeUseOf<\/p>\n

Android phones already come with Google Photos, but frankly, it\u2019s not the simple app we fell in love with. The good thing is, Google already offers a quieter alternative called Gallery.<\/p>\n

Unlike Photos, the Gallery app keeps things simple. It works entirely offline, so you don\u2019t need to worry about the internet or signing in with an account. There are no endless tabs, memory montages, or constant prompts asking you to back up everything. And despite being lightweight, it still includes useful editing features like cropping, filters, and video trimming.<\/p>\n

Of course, it\u2019s not for someone who wants AI-powered photo editing or handy search tools. But if you want something simple, Google Gallery fits the bill perfectly.<\/p>\n

\"Gallery\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tOS \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAndroid<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\tPrice model \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFree<\/p>\n

Honestly, I\u2019ve been using these apps for so long now that I didn\u2019t even realize they didn\u2019t come preinstalled. What makes them so easy to recommend is that they\u2019re all free, lightweight, and genuinely useful. So yes, do give them a go, and see if they can replace any of your current favorite apps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When you think about Google apps on Android, you probably only picture the obvious ones, like Chrome, Gmail,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":403656,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[342,111,139,69,145],"class_list":["post-403655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mobile","tag-mobile","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403655","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=403655"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/403655\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/403656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=403655"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=403655"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=403655"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}