Smartphones have become the normal standards in today's world with two of the most prominent mobile-based platforms -- Android and iOS -- already asserting their authority on the market with their own set of features and, more importantly, apps.
Speaking about platform-based apps, both iOS and Android have their own set of apps that constitute a number of categories and advantages.
While it's quite needless to say that apps related to gaming and photography still remain on top of the charts, there are others as well that are although not that popular, are still important nonetheless. We are talking, of course, about utility apps for the Android operating system.
As you may already know by now, the Android operating system is full of potential and is filled with a host of useful applications.
For example, while some are meant for securing your privacy from all those nosy friends and relatives snooping into your smartphone or tablet, others are present just to offer you essential tools that you will use every day.
But while there are a host of such utility-based apps to choose from, not all offer what they actually claim to offer. So which are the most important utility apps that you should have on your device? Here is the list of top 5 among them.
Speedtest.net
Before we head over to the other apps in the list, it's quite important to speak a bit about the Speedtest.net app.
Have you ever wondered exactly how fast your mobile data is in or around your home or office? Now thanks to the free Speed Test for Android application from SpeedTest.net, users can easily determine upload and download speeds for cellular and Wi-Fi networks.
Users will just need to launch the app, hit "Begin Test" and that will provide an estimate of your network's upload and download speeds normally.
App Lock
This one is surely a must in every smartphone that's suffers from that niggling eye of friends and relatives. True to its name, App Lock effortlessly locks all your favored apps with a number code that's next to impossible for any of your friends to break into.
Users can also choose to lock few selected photos and applications, apart from the option of locking SMSes as well.
Dropbox
For all you cloud fanatics out there currently attaining your fix via an Android device, this is the app that you will surely want to download.
Dropbox makes it quick and easy to share files between Web-connected devices, including PCs, tablets and smartphones. And while also existing for all major mobile platforms, Dropbox also gets you 2.0 GB of free storage just for creating an account.
Truecaller
Truecaller is not just your basic call identifying app, but does a lot more than it actually meets the eye.
With Truecaller, a user can see the name of the caller with the number, apart from the approximate location using both 3G or WiFi connection. Apart from that, Truecaller can also block numbers so as to avoid getting unwanted calls and SMSes.
Dictionary.com
The Dictionary.com application for Android devices is absolutely a necessity irrespective of whether you are an avid reader or not. The app offers basic dictionary features, along with audio pronunciation, voice-to-text search and more.
You will also surely love the Word of the Day widget, which sits on your Android home screen and offers a definition for and information on a new and uncommon word.
