So you’ve just bought yourself a new iPhone. You’ve opened that infamous Apple packaging and retrieved the device from within, powering it up and going through the initial setup process. Now, though, you’re sitting there with your phone staring back at you, and you’re wondering what apps you should install. After all, there’s a whole marketplace out there with millions of apps available, and you’re not sure where to start. That’s a totally normal feeling, and we’re here to help. Here are the 10 best apps for a new iPhone.
1. Emma
If you’re in any way concerned about your finances, then you need to download Emma right now. It’s a free iPhone app that will help you to build and maintain a budget, examining everything from your subscriptions all the way through to your investments. Emma can help you keep track of your personal loans and quick loans alike, creating a big-picture view of your finances that will keep you on the straight and narrow and help to steer you through whatever comes your way.
2. Duolingo
Much has been made of the Duolingo owl’s aggressive attempts to keep you on track when it comes to learning languages, but there’s a good reason for that; you need to practice every day if you’re serious about learning a new language, and Duolingo can help you to do that. With bite-sized lessons that take just a few minutes to complete, you can fit Duolingo into any schedule, and it’s a great jumping-off point on the road to fluency.
3. Spotify
Or Apple Music, Amazon Music Unlimited, or any music streaming app of choice. Truthfully, if you’ve got an iPhone, Apple Music is probably the superior choice, but Spotify is so accessible and so universal that it’s difficult not to recommend it. Spotify’s range of podcasts is also great; if you’re not a music lover, then you’ll still find plenty of audio content to enjoy here, and much of it can’t be found anywhere else, so if you’re not smarting from the Joe Rogan controversy, download this one pronto.
4. Evernote
When it comes time to share your innermost thoughts with your social media followers, you’re going to need a heavy-duty notes app, and that’s where Evernote comes in. It’s a great alternative to the default iPhone notes app; it syncs across multiple devices, offers a huge range of features, and boasts an intuitive user interface to boot. If you take a lot of notes and find yourself scribbling in various different places, Evernote is definitely a must-download.
5. TikTok
Want to put your finger on the pulse of modern social media? TikTok is the app you need. You don’t even need to build an extensive network of followers to enjoy the content TikTok has to offer; just sign up, log in, and let the app’s incredibly accurate For You algorithm steadily build a stream of videos it knows you’re going to love. There’s a good reason people lose hours to scrolling through TikTok; if you like what you see, your scrolling need never end.
6. Netflix
After suffering a serious subscriber setback, Netflix recently announced it had made massive gains in numbers again, so there’s never been a better time to put your faith in the premier video streaming service. Competitors like Prime Video and Disney+ are also well worth checking out, but Netflix’s huge range of original series and movies, as well as its laser-focused algorithm, make it an essential subscription if you love to watch content on your phone.
7. Pocket Casts
The default iPhone podcast app is fine, but if you want extra functionality that goes above and beyond, then you’re going to want to install Pocket Casts. It offers all kinds of features including podcast suggestions, subscription-free downloads, and a clean, easy-to-use interface that makes it incredibly simple to find and listen to your favourite audio content. What’s more, Pocket Casts is entirely free, so you won’t pay a penny for using it.
8. TuneIn Radio
We could all do with broadening our musical horizons, and that’s where TuneIn Radio comes in. It offers a staggering range of radio stations from around the world, including both commercial and non-commercial options. If you prefer ad-supported listening, then the free tier is for you, but there’s also a subscription plan available that eliminates ads (although not the ones on the stations themselves, sadly) and gives you access to extra features as well.
9. Google Maps
Once again, the default iPhone maps app is fine, but if you want a serious navigation aid then you’re going to want to download Google Maps. Although Apple has been making strides in keeping up with its closest competitor in recent years, Google Maps remains the best navigation app out there, complete with a huge range of features and great GPS tracking as well as robust route-planning options. Prefer up-to-date traffic info? Try Waze instead.
10. Met Office Weather Forecast
You can substitute the premier weather app wherever you are in the world for this one, but the Met Office’s weather app is the best one for UK users. Many other weather services get their data from the Met Office anyway, so you may as well go straight to the source. The app offers detailed looks at the weather for today and the next week or so, showing you information like wind direction, severe weather warnings, and even pollen alerts if you suffer from allergies.
