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The battle between Apple and Android lives on, and shows no sign of stopping. But the war doesn’t just rage on in terms of the hardware; iPhone and Android users will passionately debate who wins in the app world too.

As Android Authority notes, iOS apps tend to be more expensive, which is generally a reflection of how much harder it is for developers to get their apps onto the Apple App Store. The increased competition on the Google Play Store means that Android users have more choice, and more potential to save money.

But what are the best Android apps this year?

Google Assistant

No, Google Assistant isn’t the newest app on the market, but the tech giant has made some serious improvements to its virtual personal assistant, making it even easier for users to ask questions, check the weather, and navigate their way home.

And, if you have a Pixel phone, you get the added benefit of Google Lens within Google Assistant. This nifty little feature uses the camera to analyse and translate text, give information about landscapes, and can automatically connect a phone to Wi-Fi by scanning the Wi-Fi label.

And the head of Google Lens has recently teased that more features could be added soon.

Snapseed

For most of us, our phone is now the main device we use to take photos. But we can’t all be bothered with the hassle of getting the photos onto our laptops to edit them.

Snapseed lets you easily edit photos on your smartphone. This — surprisingly free — app has plenty of filters and effects, but its best feature is Stacks. As Stuff notes, Stacks converts each filter applied into an editable layer, so users can tweak each effect later down the line. These Stacks can also be saved as custom ‘looks’ and applied to other photos without the hassle.

LastPass Password Manager

Whether you use your phone for work purposes or simply do a lot of online shopping on your mobile, you need to download the LastPass Password Manager app.

The password manager and generator locks your passwords and personal information in a secure vault, with your LastPass master password taking care of the rest. With cross-platform support, you can use it across all of your devices to help you stay safe and secure in the online world.

And, for greater security, you can opt for LastPass Premium.

Cardboard Camera

Virtual reality is becoming increasingly accessible, with Google Cardboard one of the first innovations to bring the tech into the everyday home.

Cardboard Camera converts your panoramic photos into a format that can be viewed through Google Cardboard, making your holiday memories even more immersive. Users can then share these photos and audio to friends and family, or simply make a photo album to look back on when you’re feeling the holiday blues.

TickTick

A to-do list app might not sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but it is probably one of the most useful. And once you start using it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it!

TickTick is an effective and simple to-do list and task manager app that syncs across devices, lets users make a schedule, manage their time, set reminders and repeat lists – perfect for doing your weekly shop!

The core features are free but if you want to get the most out of the app, there’s a monthly subscription.

What have your favourite Android apps been this year?