Best Android apps 2015: Social apps

Facebook and Messenger (free)

 

Ahh, Facebook, the social network standard you can’t be without. Now that Messenger has been spun out into a separate app, you’ll need both to get the full Facebook experience.

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Fenix for Twitter (£3.99)

 

 

The official Twitter app may be a serviceable free client, but it pales in comparison to Fenix.

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Snowball (free)

 

Fed up of juggling multiple social networks across loads of different apps? Snowball helps manage the blizzard of information thrown at your phone or tablet every day.

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Timehop (free)

 

Want to remind yourself of how foolish that haircut you had five years ago was? Timehop is here to do just that. But while there’s sure to be plenty of cringe-worthy moments dragged up from the past, Timehop also brings reminders of memories forgotten. That spontaneous road trip, the time you went to the zoo, or perhaps the day you met a loved one for the first time.

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WhatsApp (free for first year, then 69p/yr)

 

Finally updated with a new interface, WhatsApp is the instant messenger of choice for any smartphone.
WhatsApp needs little introduction. Make voice calls or send video clips, pictures, audio or text messages. It’s everything you need to replace tired old SMS and MMS services.
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Best Android apps 2015: The apps your Android phone needs

Google Play has changed a lot since its inception as the Android Market back in 2006. Fourteen years later it's a powerhouse to rival that of Apple's mighty iOS App Store, boasting 1 billion daily active users and 50 billion installs of applications over the last 12 months.
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Avast Antivirus & Security (free; with in-app purchases)

 

While Google’s built-in protection is sufficient enough for most Android users, it pays to be protected – and when that protection is free, it’s an absolute must.

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Greenify (free)

 

 Getting the most from your phone’s battery is always key. Lollipop may have its own set of battery-saving tools, and many phones now offer power-saving modes, but these should be seen as a last resort. Greenify will help to optimise your phone’s battery.

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Opera Max (free)

Unless you’re lucky enough to have unlimited data on your phone, or a bottomless wallet, you’ll want to get the most out of your data package.

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Pocket (free)

 

Found an article you like but want to read it later, when you may not have an internet connection? Pocket is the solution to your problem.
Allowing you to save articles and videos to read and watch later across any Pocket-enabled device, you’ll never be short of something to read or share again.
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Clean Master (free)

 

 

Nobody likes having a slow device, and Android somehow manages to grab digital detritus like a magnet in a junkyard. Clean Master is the mop and bucket you need to scrub your phone or tablet clean.

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