I have always been looking for ideal productivity applications – those that would finally help me stay organized, concentrated and conquer my list of tasks constantly increasing.
Over the years, I have downloaded and tested dozens of them on my Google Pixel 8, each promising to be the key to unlock my full potential. But more often than not, they ended up creating more friction than flows.
Although these applications have their takers, I arrived at a simple conclusion: for me, they simply did not work. Here is why I finally gave up these Android applications and I uninstalled for good.
Notion
Let’s start with the concept, the application that has promised to be the one -stop shop in my whole life. On a desk, it’s a powerful beast, but on Android, it’s another story.
The application is incredibly slow. Navigate my large databases and my workspaces always looked like a patience test. They have taken centuries to load, which makes it impossible to reference information or to add a new input on the go.
The biggest problem for me, however, is that the Android application looks like a web packaging – a slow and clumsy version of the bureau piled up in an application frame. It doesn’t look like a native mobile experience at all.
I wanted to use the concept for everything, but it failed simple things. When I need to note a quick reflection, the slowness of the application made a sticky note faster.
When I needed a simple reminder, its complicated system made me use Ticktick instead.
It is a powerful tool, but its mobile performance made it completely unusable for fast tasks and on the move for which I owed.
First day newspaper
The next list is the first day, an application that I really wanted to love on Android because I was a big fan of his polished experience and rich in functionality on iOS.
When I went to Android, the first day was one of the first applications I downloaded.
However, this excitement quickly faded.
The Android application looked like a second class citizen. The beautiful fluid interface to which I was used to my iPhone was replaced by an awkward user interface that felt out of words.
It was immediately obvious that the Android version was far from perfect. Many basic features were missing that made the iOS version special.
I gave him an honest blow, but after a few days of frustration, I was ready to move on. I uninstalled it and returned to Journey, which has a better user interface and suitable for my preferences as digital journalization.
Obsidian
Regarding the philosophy of the “second brain”, I had huge expectations of the obsidian. The idea of a local and interconnected knowledge base that I finally owned was attractive.
However, the Android application was a disappointment. Although the main concept is fantastic, the mobile experience is far from being as good as some of the other native applications (Anytype, for example).
The user interface looks like an office application on a scale, not something built from zero for a touch -up device. It is functional, but it does not have the fluidity and the varnish that I expect.
A major point of frustration was dependence on third -party plugins. Some of them felt half cooked or were completely unusable on Android. The obsidian also lacks home screen widgets.
I could not have a quick view of my daily notes or a simple button to create a new entry without having to open an application.
Portfolio by budgetbackers
Wallet of Budgetbackers was another application for which I had raised myself, especially for its promise of bank connections without effort.
The idea of having my transactions up -to -date automatically was a dream. Unfortunately, the Android application simply was not up to this promise.
First of all, the design seems dated. He always uses a classic hamburger menu, and the global user interface has not been updated with you. But it was a minor discomfort compared to the biggest problem: banking connections.
For an application that sells for this feature, it has been broken. My connections with my banks often failed or simply updated. I would open the application hoping to see a complete image of my finances, only to find the entries ago days.
Refreshing or reconnection manually was a constant problem which completely defeated the objective of using (and paying) the application in the first place.
Thunder
As a long -standing office user in Thunderbird, I had huge expectations for its Android application. The desktop version is fantastic – a powerful, customizable and confidentiality courier customer that does the work.
With the recent refreshment of the nebula user interface, the office experience has become better. I hoped to find this same quality on my phone.
Unfortunately, the Android application is lower than the average. It lacks the same user interface caure and looks like a generation or two behind.
Worse, the application lacks many features that make Thunderbird if great on a computer. After a week of tests, I was back to my outlook configuration.
Google tasks
My experience with the own Google applications is generally good, so I had great hopes for Google tasks.
I was looking for a list of simple and reliable tasks that integrated in a transparent way to everything I use. But the problem is that Google tasks are too basic.
The biggest problem with Google tasks is that it does not understand natural language. I was spoiled by other tasks applications that allow me to type something like “call mom tomorrow at 2 pm” and that automatically defines the recall, the due date and the time.
With Google tasks, I have to type the task, then press a separate field to define the due date and time.
In addition to that, there is no way to add attachments. It is a disposition system for me. I often need to connect a receipt, a document or a screenshot to a specific task.
Courageous navigator
Brave Browser promises a faster web experience, without advertising and more secure when leaving the box, and it largely holds this promise. My main problem is the lack of personalization compared to other browsers like Vivaldi.
The other major element was the constant push for its own services. Every day, it seemed that brave pushed me to get involved with his ecosystem. There is the brave reward system, the portfolio for crypto lovers, the information service and the additional paid modules like VPN.
Although I appreciate that they need to generate income, the constant presence of these features looked like the company forcing its products to users.
Uninstalled these applications in no time
My experience with the concept, the first day and other applications on this list recalls that what works for a person may not work for another.
The five -star opinions and brilliant recommendations can often establish an expectation that the application transforms your life as if by magic.
But productivity is deeply personal. For me, alternatives like OneNote, Journey, Ticktick, Microsoft Edge, Speedee and Outlook do a much better work for my workflow.
Although I will continue to keep an eye on these applications and new tools, my main objective is now on simplification. I am more interested in using some simple tools that help me do things that really matter.
