When comparing Smart Launcher 5 vs Microsoft Launcher, the Slant community recommends Smart Launcher 5 for most people. In the question“What are the best launchers for Android?” Smart Launcher 5 is ranked 2nd while Microsoft Launcher is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Smart Launcher 5 is:
One of Smart Launcher 2's ways of keeping things simple is to categorize your apps. The categorization is quite accurate and is very useful once you learn the categories.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Easy App Drawer categorization
One of Smart Launcher 2's ways of keeping things simple is to categorize your apps. The categorization is quite accurate and is very useful once you learn the categories.
Pro Minimalist, functional design that gives quick access to most important apps
Smart Launcher uses a simple circular layout of apps. It display 6 user-selected apps, date and time and hides everything else from view.
Pro Lightweight
Smart Launcher uses very little resources which is good for performance and saving battery power.
Pro Allows accessing everything quickly
Pro Hides apps easily
If you have tons of apps that clutter your app drawer even after they’ve been categorized, you can choose to hide certain apps from view.
Pro Good in both Portrait and Landscape modes
Smart Launcher is designed with both Portrait and Landscape modes in mind, which means no matter the orientation one wants to use it in it adapts well to either.
Pro Easy to set up
As soon as you open Smart Launcher 3 for the first time you will begin the setup process. The steps are easy and you will be up and running in no time.
Pro Extendable with unread counts plugin
There is an extra download called Plugin Notifications that allows for the function of notification counts on the users app icons in the drawer and shortcuts on the home screen. It is available for free for Smart Launcher 3 and 2.
Pro Easy theming with icon pack support
Smart Launcher supports using icon packs that are meant for ADW Launcher, Apex Launcher, Nova Launcher, and LauncherPro. You can also change icons on a per-app basis.
Pro Supports gestures
Pro Lock screen is redesigned to provide a cohesive experience
Smart Launcher 3 provides a lock screen which helps to maintain an overall cohesive design on your Android device. It is optional for those that still want to use their stock lock screen.
Pro Hundreds of downloadable themes
The themes change icons, wallpapers, and colors. Each has its own unique feel, but they all adhere to the same layout.
Pro Widgets can be used on secondary home screens
There is an optional function (on at stock start) that allows users to set their own widgets on extra home screen pages.
Pro Gesture support for quick launching
Gestures can be enabled to perform Smart Launcher actions or just to open apps. Smart Launcher actions include but not limited to: open app drawer, show/hide status bar, show notifications panel, and show toggle panel.
Pro One search for everything
One search for apps, contacts and web browsing. Also lets use of Google Now.
Pro Folders on main screen provides fast access to apps
Pro "Okay Google" support
Users can add "Okay Google" support for voice search by downloading the Plugin Extra plugin from the Play Store.
Pro Can be personalized with themes
Smart Launcher 2 offers a selection of themes that change the look of the homescreen.
Pro Live wallpaper support
Live wallpapers are a special type of wallpaper that is animated. Despite the simple and sleek design of Smart Launcher, you can still make it look and feel great, and live wallpapers are just one in a few ways for doing so.
Pro HD Wallpaper
Smart Launcher has HD wallpaper. Very impressive
Pro Easy to organize
It has different pages that help you to have your contacts, reminders, last files opened, and more.
Pro Simple design
Very simple drawer for productivity. Requires little time.
Pro To-do list reminder
It has a very helpful integrated to-do card/widget.
If you use Wunderlist, you may connect this, and have your tasks synced between Microsoft Launcher and Wunderlist.
Pro Utility page
Microsoft Launcher has a powerful utility page, which contains the card widgets, which are powerful widgets integrated within Microsoft Launcher.
It is a page which by default is to the left of your home screen.
Pro Notes card/widget
Microsoft Launcher has its own Notes card/widget, which you may use for easy to access notes and checkbox-lists.
Pro Icon packs
Pro Vertical scrolling
You may enable vertical scrolling for your home screen, which enables you to add multiple pages for your apps and widgets.
Pro Recents
Microsoft Launcher has a Recents card/widget, which can show you recent phone calls, social messaging, SMS, files, clipboard and camera activity.
Pro Gestures customisation
There's customisation for gestures, i.e double tap to lock phone, swipe up for app drawer, etc.
Pro Built-in search engine
Microsoft Launcher features a built-in search engine, which you may use to search the internet and your installed apps.
You may choose to use Bing, Google, or Yahoo as your search engine.
Pro Arrow Hub
Share files directly to your Arrow Hub, which you can connect to from a PC via an URL and your Microsoft Login.
Cons
Con Drains battery faster than stock Android
This may be due to some of the extra features in the app as well as some of the workarounds need for support of things like "Ok Google".
Con Freemium
Extra widget pages, remove ads, edit categories, popup widget, etc are only for pro users
Con Notifications don't work for some users
Multiple people have reported that app notifications don't work at all with SL2 and they are forced to open each app individually to see if there are changes.
Con High resource usage
Con Widgets not available for new page
Con Need microsoft account to use
Con Limited Icon Customisation
You can select icons from icon packs but not from individual icon images.
Con App organization
There is no option to automatically sort apps by type and put them into one folder. You'll have to do that manually, which is a pain in the neck if you have lots of apps and want to organize them into folders.