Skip to main content

Hopper, Midnight Star, and more of the best mobile apps you need to download this week

App stores are crowded places these days, and because storage space on your phone is often at a premium, you’ll want to find and fill it with not only the best, but also the most helpful apps out there. Because they come and go quicker than the latest fashion trends, and digging through Google Play, the iTunes App Store, or any of the others is such a mission; a little nudge in the right direction is often very welcome. Here are the apps we think you need to check out this week.

Hopper

iOS

Screen Shot 2015-02-08 at 12.23.27 AM
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Flying has never been easier, but at the same time, it has never been harder. There are more planes in the air than ever and more travel options than the Wright Brothers could have imagined. However, booking a flight and boarding the plane are still needlessly time-consuming tasks. Plus, there is nothing more frustrating than finalizing your flight only to learn you could have saved $100 or so just by waiting a bit longer.

This is the problem Hopper aims to solve. It’s a new app made for travelers who would rather not drop more cash than need be. Which we think is pretty much everyone. It analyzes pricing, trends, and other key data to make suggestions on the best time to buy tickets. The app will notify you when a price drops or may be about to rise, so you’ll hopefully avoid overpaying. Hopper claims it can save you up to 40% on airfares. That makes it an app with real value.

Recommended Videos

Picturesque Lock Screen

Android

picturesquelockscreen
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Microsoft continues its trend of releasing solid apps for platforms other than Windows. Picturesque Lock Screen is pretty much exactly what you expect given its name, and it delivers on its promise by bringing gorgeous images (from Bing, of course) to your lock screen. Outside of some stunning backdrops, it also presents pertinent information like a basic weather report, call details, and bite-sized news so you can say informed without having to unlock the phone.

Reserve

iOS and Android

Reserve
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Your nights out are about get to easier. Reserve is your own personal concierge service that takes just a few taps to set up the perfect night on the town. Set your reservations, get an alert when your table is available, and pay through the app when you’re done. It’s perfect for impressing your date or looking like an organizational genius while planning a business outing, which are two very good reasons to download it. The one downside is it currently only works in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, and San Francisco.

Soul Seeker

iOS and Android

SoulSeeker
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Who says mobile games have to be simplistic? Soul Seeker proves just how deep games on the small screen can get. It’s an action-packed RPG with fun characters, great graphics, and plenty of excitement. There are over 200 characters to unlock and collect, many items to craft and combine, various weapons to master, and new worlds to explore. If you have a tendency to get hooked on RPGs, you may want to grab a battery pack to go with this one. You may end up needing it.

Midnight Star

iOS

MidnightStar
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nothing legitimizes mobile gaming like the presence of one of the big guns from the world of consoles and PCs. The team at Industrial Toys is headed by the co-creator of Halo, and it’s hoped Midnight Star will do to mobile platforms what Halo did for the Xbox. Fight off aliens as you explore the solar system in this on-rails shooter that delivers incredible graphics on iOS. Could this be one of the first must-play, truly gamer focused, first-person shooters for mobile?

AJ Dellinger
AJ Dellinger is a freelance reporter from Madison, Wisconsin with an affinity for all things tech. He has been published by…
The best iPhones in 2024: Which iPhone is right for you?
The iPhone 16 Plus next to the iPhone 16 Pro Max

Imagine having an AI assistant on your phone that can analyze documents, write emails, and even generate creative content. That future is closer than you think with Apple Intelligence, and the newest iPhones are leading the way.

While the latest iPhone 16 models offer cutting-edge technology, older models like the iPhone 15 remain excellent. They provide a similar experience at a lower cost; some even come in unique colors that are no longer available on newer models.

Read more
Tim Cook wants you to know he’s confident in Apple’s AI future
Apple's September 2023 event Tim Cook

If you own an iPhone 16 series, you likely purchased it to be among the first to use Apple Intelligence. However, a month after the latest iPhones were released, this highly anticipated AI suite from the largest company in the world has not yet been released to the public. Tim Cook thinks the wait will be worth it.

In a long-ranging interview with The Wall Street Journal, the Apple CEO defends his company’s speed at which it is introducing AI into its products. He also sees a bright future for Apple Vision, even though the first product in a likely series of alternate reality devices, the very expensive Apple Vision Pro, has largely failed to catch on with most users.

Read more
What does a 120Hz refresh rate do? Smartphone refresh rates explained
Playing Dianlo Immortal on iPhone 14 Pro

A number of manufacturers have added 90Hz and 120Hz displays to smartphones -- like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra -- and lots of numbers are being thrown around (60Hz, 90Hz, 120Hz), but what do they mean? Most importantly, what will they mean for how you'll use your smartphone?

Smartphones are getting more and more powerful, but with the last generation's hardware still holding its own, the jump from generation to generation doesn't seem as great as it once did. Where are manufacturers to go when a new phone doesn't feel more powerful than last year's device? One alternative is to make it feel smoother and more responsive -- and a great way to do that is to increase the refresh rate of its display.

Read more