As most of you know, Android 15 is almost here, and its latest beta version includes a newly redesigned volume panel. If you want to replicate this volume panel on any other Android device, download Precise Volume 2.0. Inside it, head to the settings tab, tap on the volume button override, enable it, and grant it all the permissions it needs. You'll have the new volume panel from Android 15 at your fingertips. It's not an exact replica, but it's a better design since it takes up less space and still includes useful buttons like an equalizer and volume presets. Plus, you can customize it further, matching your wallpaper colors, switching it to the left side, and more. Thumbs up for starting off with a banger app!

Precise Volume 2.0: Equalizer

Up next, I have Motion Lock, which automatically locks your phone whenever you place it face down on a table. It only takes a few seconds to lock, regardless of your screen timeout settings, and don't worry—it won't lock itself whenever you cover your front sensor during phone calls because it requires the phone to still be flat on a table. This is super useful if you often forget to lock your phone when you set it down. Best of all, it's free, open-source, and available on F-Droid.

MotionLock

You're going to love this next app: Sound ID Headphone Equalizer. It lets you create a unique equalizer based on your hearing conditions, sound preferences, or headphones, providing a truly personalized listening experience. Within the app, you just connect your Bluetooth headphones, and if it recognizes them, it will provide profiles to improve the audio automatically. It has a studio profile that makes the audio completely flat and neutral, perfect for artists or editors, and a profile with the most popular sound choice that people tend to use. You can even take a personalized sound test to create your own equalizer. The test has you choose an audio track similar to your preferred music type and adjust the audio until you can't hear it. After each test, it shows you the results and even indicates if you're experiencing hearing loss. The best part is that you can have different profiles for all your headphones, which is really useful since every headset has different hardware and drivers.

AOD Plus: Peek Notifications

The always-on display is one of my favorite Android features ever released, but it gets even better with AOD Plus. This app lets you see incoming notifications in detail and scroll through all the notifications without turning on the screen or unlocking the phone. The best part is that you can interact with each notification, including tapping buttons like reply, delete, and more. There's even a private mode that displays the time and hides your notifications until you tap on their icons. It works really well and doesn't feel gimmicky at all. The only downside is that it costs a dollar a month to use, but I've just dropped 450 lifetime promo codes for it on my Patreon, thanks to the developer's generosity.

SoundIDTM Headphone Equalizer

Phones can be addictive and time-consuming, but Block It is the perfect solution to this problem. Within this incredible-looking app, you choose the amount of time you'd like to stop using your phone, and once you hit the play icon, it'll lock you out, only allowing access to the phone app for emergencies and your notifications. If you try to close the app or go back, the phone will immediately lock itself. Even if you restart your phone, the app will auto-run and lock you out. The only way to regain access is to wait for the timer to run out or use a parachute, which you have a limited amount of and can purchase more of if needed. The app even tracks how much time you spend away from your phone and your best usage periods. It's really useful, and it has the best design among similar apps.

blockit: break phone addiction

Another useful productivity app is Remit. This one lets you set multiple stopwatches to manage your day better. You can track how long it takes to do tasks like studying for an exam, writing an essay, going for a run, or even just how much time you use your phone. You can create daily timers or stopwatches and float them over your home screen or any other app for easy access. As you continue to use these daily timers, you'll create a record of which tasks or habits you spend the most time on and see which days you've done those activities. It's a fantastic app, free to use, and works really well.

Remit: Daily Timer

Switching over to games, the first one is Boxes: Lost Fragments. It's made by the developers of the famous The Room series of puzzle games and features even crazier puzzles. This game challenges you to uncover the secrets of various boxes and obtain a valuable fragment to move on to the next level. Each fragment is used inside the main dungeon you start in, unlocking more hidden secrets and passageways. The puzzles are extremely well thought out, giving you a 360° view of each box with miniature puzzles and mechanisms. Even though it has the craziest unlocking mechanisms, they make logical sense. Each box has a unique theme, ensuring the game never feels repetitive. The only downside is that by the third chapter, it prompts you to purchase the full game for $7, but it's well worth the price considering the depth and craftsmanship of the game.

Boxes: Lost Fragments

Next on the list is Perfect Grind, a skateboarding game that's fun and easy to play. Most skateboarding games have overly complicated controls, but Perfect Grind keeps it simple. You swipe right or left to move, swipe up to jump, and swipe in any direction while in the air to perform tricks. The graphics are sharp, and you get to explore various open-world maps with quirky characters giving you missions to complete. As you progress, you can customize your character with cooler outfits or switch to different characters. The game is enjoyable, though it lacks a multiplayer mode, and some quests can be repetitive.

Perfect Grind

Leia's Horizon is an adventurous game that requires a Netflix account. You play Leia, a character who can soar through the sky with her cape, exploring a vast, open world. The controls are difficult to master, but they make sense once you get the hang of them. The game focuses on exploration and completing missions from various characters while learning about the history of a mountainous island. The artwork is fantastic, making it a long-term game. However, it requires a high-end flagship device to run smoothly, as it may lag on lower-end devices.

Laya's Horizon

Paper Trail is another awesome game that requires a Netflix membership. You control Paige, a character setting out for university, in a world made up of interconnected sheets of paper that you can fold to create new paths. The folding mechanic creates mind-bending puzzles that get more complex as you progress. The game's visual style is stunning, and it's a challenging but rewarding experience that will keep you engaged as you navigate Paige through her journey.

Paper Trail NETFLIX

Finally, check out last month's episode of the best Android apps for May 2024. Thanks for sticking to the end! Drop a thumbs up if I helped you find a new app or game today. See you at the next one!