How many new apps have appeared in the App Store last year. We choose the best iOS apps of 2017 for you.
iPhone picks from: Best iOS Apps 2017
It’s been said that apps are dead, but 2017 proved otherwise. Indeed, piles of good new apps have appeared in the App Store. Both useful tools and great games. We look back to what we enjoyed the most in the past year and what we can no longer do without. We think these are the best apps of 2017.
1. Greatest innovation
HQ
HQ was the big surprise this year. The creators of Vine have started a modern quiz show, where the quiz master is streamed live to your smartphone and you play alongside hundreds of thousands of others. You have a chance to win money every day, but do you have enough knowledge to get there? The concept is good, the technology behind it (despite the lag) impressive and the app manages to tempt us every day to give it a try.
→ Download HQ in the App Store (free)
Runner-up: Nude
The Nude app automatically places your nude photos in a safe. That way, no one will accidentally see these sensitive photos on your phone.
→ Download Nude from the App Store (free)
2. Most beautiful new app
Apollo
There are many Reddit apps in the App Store and Reddit itself does its best, but no app is as good as Apollo. This is not surprising, because the Apollo was made by someone who worked at Apple. The app was built from the ground up to be the best Reddit experience for an iPhone, and it succeeded. Apollo is beautiful and pleasant to use. If we could, we would upvote the app.
→ Download Apollo in App Store (free)
Runner-up: RememBear
Password manager RememBear also has a pleasant appearance, due to the combination of a minimalist design with nice bears. What else do you want?
→ Download RememBear from the App Store (free)
3. Best iOS Game
Gorogoa
Although Gorogoa was released quite late in the year, it is one of the best games ever released for iOS. It is an original puzzle game, in which you move surfaces to solve problems and tell the story. The game is sublime and you really have to experience it. Gorogoa proves that games are not stuck in existing genres, but that true originality is still possible.
→ Download Gorogoa from the App Store (5.49 euros)
Runner-up: The Witness
As runner-up we choose another puzzle game, because we cannot look back on this year without mentioning the sublime The Witness.
→ Download The Witness from the App Store (10.99 euros)
4. Best app from the Netherlands
Hidden Folks
This year the fantastic game Hidden Folks came from the Netherlands, full of interactive search images with a unique style. Among other things, it is nice to tap on all elements in these search images, in order to hear the sounds recorded with a voice. The game also caught the eye of Apple, because Hidden Folks was named the best iPad game of 2017 by the company. We understand that well.
Also read our interview: How Hidden Folks became Apple’s game of the year
→ Download Hidden Folks from the App Store (3.49 euros)
Runner up: Owy
This app lets you keep a list of things you have lent. The app also sends reminders that you haven’t returned the items yet.
→ Download Owy from the App Store (free)
5. Best use of augmented reality
IKEA Place
This was also the year of augmented reality with the launch of ARKit. While few really useful apps have actually emerged, IKEA Place is clearly the coolest. With the app you can virtually place furniture in your home, so that you know whether it is in the right place.
→ Download IKEA Place from the App Store (free)
Runner-up: Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO isn’t new this year, of course, but it has received an ARKit update for better augmented reality. Therefore a place in this list.
→ Download Pokémon GO from the App Store (free)
6. Best of Apple
Apple Clips
Apple also launched some new apps this year. The best is Apple Clips. This app lets you create and edit short videos with a ton of useful functions. You can use stickers, filters and emoji, place matching background music and convert speech into written text. A nice addition to the App Store and your iOS device.
Also read: Get the most out of Apple Clips with these 5 best practices
→ Download Apple Clips from the App Store (free)
Runner-up: Apple Support
Apple Support has also been added to the App Store this year. Although the app was already available for download in the Netherlands in 2016, Apple only added the function in version 1.1 this year to make a repair appointment.
Also read: How to submit a broken Apple product for repair
→ Download Apple Support from the App Store (free)
iPhoned app
Did you know that iPhoned also launched its own app this year? Here you will find all iPhoned articles in a handy readable format. Download the iPhoned app now in the App Store.