Getting the best out of Android: your must-have tweaks?

[konstabo1]

Running a Pixel 8 and Galaxy S23 side by side, I'm always looking for new ways to optimize performance and battery life without rooting. For browser privacy, I switched to Firefox with uBlock Origin but I'm debating trying AdGuard for system-wide blocking. Also using Samsung's built-in app disabler but some bloatware still lingers. For storage management, Files by Google has helped but I'm not sure if there's a better alternative. Which privacy tweaks or debloating tools do you rely on for getting the best out of Android? Is AdGuard really worth it over browser-only options?

 

[spARTacus]

Opera Browser with built in VPN and AdBlock seems to work ok, but I think they might have updated it (and it seems they have a few different versions that are similar so not sure if new downloads of it are the same as what it used to be). The place where Opera is now owned makes me wonder.

The add-on network filesharing feature of Samsung's My files works well if one has filesharing within one's networks.

Routines works well for me for ensuring control of charging for the battery the way I prefer.

I'd love to be able to additionally disable (or better yet full uninstall) of way more of the built in included apps. I'd love to also hear what others do to achieve such, other than rooting.

 

[mustang7757]

Welcome to AC!
For Samsung I use this app to disable bloat

Package Disabler

The only NON-root solution that let’s you disable any unwanted packages that come pre-installed / installed with your phone / tablet.

www.packagedisabler.com

 

[spARTacus]

Welcome to AC!
For Samsung I use this app to disable bloat

Package Disabler

The only NON-root solution that let’s you disable any unwanted packages that come pre-installed / installed with your phone / tablet.

www.packagedisabler.com

Not available via Play store?

 

[mustang7757]

Not available via Play store?

No it's been awhile

 

[kirk781]

Opera Browser with built in VPN and AdBlock seems to work ok, but I think they might have updated it (and it seems they have a few different versions that are similar so not sure if new downloads of it are the same as what it used to be). The place where Opera is now owned makes me wonder.

Opera once was a great browser back in the Symbian days when it ran it's own engine. Now, if I am correct, it's just a Chromium re-skin. Firefox has basic support for extensions and if one installs a FF fork like Waterfox or IceRaven, they can even sideload extensions..