ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Some Android users might enjoy their phone, but want some iOS-style perks.
- Getting the best of both systems is a few customizations away.
- Your options vary between free and paid versions.
Have you switched to an Android phone from an iPhone but miss the look and feel of Apple’s OS? Alternatively, maybe you’ve always used Android, but prefer specific visual elements and features of iOS. Either way, you can’t turn Android into iOS, but you can replicate certain aspects from Apple’s aesthetic on your Android device.
1. Install a home screen launcher to replicate iOS
A home screen launcher customizes the look, layout, and functionality of the Android home screen. Your Android phone already comes with a built-in home screen launcher designed by the manufacturer. But you can switch the launcher to a third-party program.
Also: 6 Android launchers that are better than your default home screen
At Google Play, you’ll find a variety of launchers that mimic the iOS Home screen. Some are free, some are paid. Be aware that the freebies typically throw a lot of ads at you, which you can pay to remove. Some of these launchers can also be buggy.
One launcher worth trying is Moni Launcher: OS 26 Style, which you can download and install from Google Play. After you start the app, the setup is quick and simple, allowing you to choose it as the default launcher. Your Home screen then reboots to resemble something more like iOS. Swipe through each screen to see all your apps and widgets, ending with the App Library. There’s even the iOS Dock at the bottom.
The icon for Moni takes you to its settings, where you can easily tweak the wallpaper, themes, icons, widgets, grid, and gestures. From here, you’re also able to switch your default launcher back to the original. Though it doesn’t bring over every nook and cranny of iOS, it does replicate enough of the look and layout to make an iPhone user feel…