Is there a way to make UI animations smoother? Specifically while opening folders (google now launcher) there's an annoying jerkiness that happens when I tap on the folder.
You could try playing around with the animation settings in the Developer Settings. To activate the settings, go to Settings>About Phone, and tap Build Number 7 times. Then go back to the main settings menu, and tap Developer Settings. Turn the main switch on at the top of the screen, and then try different animation settings.
Nova, apex, and GEL seem slightly similar in performance. I should probably just wait for the next iteration of android. It should bring performance enhancements