The development team of substratum has launched the new Hyperion LauncherThis app launcher stands out for its extreme focus on personalizationalthough it still has a way to go to be on par with such established rivals as Nova Launcher o Action LauncherEven so, it presents itself as a very solid alternative for those who want an Android desktop with a polished design and full of advanced options without falling into excessive bloat.
One of the key ideas behind Hyperion is that A launcher is not just a home screenbut a complete experience. Its developers created it for their own use, unifying the best features of other popular launchers and adding new tools for customization, performance, and desktop control.
Substratum, one of the most popular customization apps in recent years
For those who do not know the tool, substratum It's a very popular application in recent years within the world of advanced Android customizationIt's a theme system that doesn't require root access. Android OreoHowever, it is required in Android Pie and later versions of the system. Thanks to this theme engine, it's possible to modify many more parameters of your mobile phone than with the native settings, from system colors to specific applications.
This tool allows you to adjust visual elements that normally cannot be changedHowever, compatibility with all Android versions and interfaces has sometimes been a real headache. That's why users often consult specialized forums and communities to solve specific problems and find out which configurations work best on each device.
You can see a bit of how this system works in the video below:
From here, we talk about a complete theme editor that is easy to find different skins in the Google Play Store. It is a popular system for, for example, changing the color of WhatsApp or simply add a system-wide dark theme This app is designed to significantly reduce eye strain when using your device. The main application can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, although we recommend checking out the other options. XDA forums to learn more about it and discover topics created by the community which further expand their possibilities.
Download Substratum Theme Engine from the Google Play Store
New Hyperion Launcher: This is the latest from Substratum developers
We arrived then, yes, to new Hyperion Launcher, an application launcher that aims to stand out for its level of personalization and attention to designAs you have seen, this element is a signature feature thanks to the development of substratumThe official description states that they intend Hyperion Launcher to be quite an experience, going beyond the usual launchers but taking elements from those they consider the best.
Upon installing the application, we won't see too many differences compared to other third-party launchers like Nova Launcher, Action Launcher, or even Pixel Launcher. We have a Classic desktop with Google search bar and an app drawer that opens with an upward gesture. However, it's when you delve deeper into the settings menu that you realize it's a a unique application, packed with advanced settings which are not usually seen together in the same launcher.
One of the main advantages of this launcher compared to other rivals is that It adopts visual components based on Google's design guidelines.Seeking a clean, modern style consistent with the latest Android interface, this is complemented by a vast array of options for changing colors, icons, fonts, transitions, gestures, and even organizing entire desktop profiles.
Color and theme customization options in Hyperion Launcher
This experience stands out especially because of the color customizationAlmost every section of the interface can be modified to assign a different tone, allowing for everything from minimalist configurations to very striking combinations. The developers have included a system of Launcher theming and accents with a carefully designed base theme (inspired by works such as Deep Darkness), which serves as a starting point to customize to your liking.
Within the colors section you can adjust parameters such as bottom of the app drawer, the brightness intensity, the scroll indicator color, the dock background color, the folder background, or the colors of the search widget both in the dock and in the drawer. Even the smart widgets Integrated elements adapt to your chosen palette, helping to maintain visual consistency across your desktop.
Coming from the creators of Substratum, it was obvious that the aesthetic customization Appearance was going to be one of the key points. Many of these settings are available for free, although others are reserved for the paid version. You can change the color of virtually all elements from the interface, choosing between the default palette or manually adjusting the tone with total precision.
The goal is for your phone to look exactly the way you want it: you can choose a clear outline, a dark one or an intermediate combination, play with semi-transparent backgrounds, apply soft blurs to the dock and the application drawer, or adjust the intensity of the wallpaper gradients so that nothing is jarring.
Icons, fonts, and grid adjustment
Hyperion Launcher also does a great job in everything related to the iconographyIt allows you to change the desktop, drawer, and dock icons very precisely: you can modify the icon size, the size and color of the labels, add or remove text shadows or even allow multiple lines in the application name to better identify each shortcut.
In addition, it offers full support for adaptive iconswith different configurable shapes so that the entire desktop has a uniform style. If you use icon packs External processes are handled smoothly by the launcher, allowing you to view changes immediately without needing to close or restart activities, which greatly speeds up testing new configurations.
In the font section, Hyperion includes the option to change the font of the entire launcher (A feature available in the Pro version), which adds a very personal touch to the desktop. Being able to modify font, size, and weight helps achieve a more legible or more elegant interface depending on your preferences and screen size.
Regarding the desktop structure, the launcher allows you to configure the icon grid both on the desktop and in the drawer and dock, adjusting the number of rows and columns. This ability to customize the grids It is key for those who want to make the most of large screens or, on the contrary, prefer a cleaner layout with fewer icons per page.
Interface, gestures, widgets, and advanced features
Beyond the aesthetic changes, Hyperion Launcher offers a very polished interface and various features designed to improve the daily user experience. Among them are the following: folders with Covers modeThese allow you to use a visible main icon and access the actual folder content by swiping up. This keeps your desktop clean without losing shortcuts.
The application includes a system of hidden apps to keep certain apps out of sight in the app drawer, a customizable menu of options when you press and hold on the desktop, and tools like the desktop lock to prevent accidental changes to icons or widgets (with the option to temporarily unlock them when you need to).
In the gestures section, Hyperion allows you to configure custom actions In the Pro version, features like double taps with one or two fingers, and swipes up or down on the home screen to launch apps, open notifications, view recent apps, or lock the screen are included. Some of these functions use accessibility or device administrator permissions, always with the goal of performing the actions without relying on external apps.
The widgets They are also well integrated. It includes a configurable Google search widget and the ability to use a Google Smart Widget Improved in the paid version, which doesn't require additional plugins. Furthermore, you can add time or calendar widgets that take advantage of permissions such as location or calendar access to display relevant information directly on the desktop.
Another interesting point is the management of animationsYou can adjust the launcher animation speed, the type of transition when switching between screens (including effects like fade inspired by other launchers), or the app opening animation. A system is also included... rebound physics so that the movement feels more organic.
Google feed, user profile, and other useful tools
Some features are still to come, and others belong to the Pro version. Additionally, there will also be special add-ons to add more tools, such as... Google feed, which is integrated via a separate plugin (Hyperion Dock) to display the side page with news and suggestions without overloading the base launcher.
Among the advanced features, one stands out: visual profile managerThis feature allows you to save different complete desktop configurations (with icons, widgets, backgrounds, and colors) and view a preview in the form of a capture before restoring each profile. It's ideal for switching between a minimalist desktop for work and a more elaborate one for personal use without having to reconfigure everything each time.
Hyperion also takes care of details such as the possibility of remember the position of the app drawer When you reopen it, you can automatically close the drawer when you launch an application, or show or hide the navigation bar according to your preference. These features can be applied. blur effects to the dock and the drawer, adjust the visibility of the page indicator and customize the style of the status bar to better suit the wallpaper.
The permissions requested by the app are designed to provide specific functions: access to storage It is used to extract colors from the wallpaper and to save and restore profiles; location and the calendar They are used to display time and event information; and accessibility or device manager allow you to lock the screen or open recent items with configurable gestures.
Development status, price, and user experience
We must bear in mind that This is a first version of the launcher. It's constantly evolving, and therefore some users may miss certain features or tools found in older alternatives. However, the update schedule is stable, and the team behind the project has demonstrated prior experience with complex customization tools like Substratum.
What Hyperion Launcher does include is the direct access to Google Assistant From the search bar icon, support for adaptive icons, notification dots, app shortcuts, and various opening animations. It's also possible edit desktop icons Changing its appearance through icon packs and modifying the text, and the information screen of each app within the launcher shows useful data such as the space occupied, the installed version and a shortcut to uninstall it with its own design.
Hyperion Launcher is completely free The basic version is available for download from Google Play, including most of its main features at no cost. Some advanced features—such as complete font changes, certain gestures, or additional automations—are unlocked through a [unclear - possibly "payment plan"]. in-app purchaseHowever, the free set is already quite complete for most users.
If you are tired of the same old pitchers If you're interested in fully customizing the look and feel of your home screen, Hyperion Launcher is definitely worth considering. While it's still a bit rough around the edges in some areas compared to industry heavyweights, its philosophy of offering a lightweight, bloat-free experience focused on design and customization makes it worth trying, especially if you're already a fan of Substratum.
Download Hyperion Launcher from the Google Play Store
The creators of Substratum, the system for adding themes to Android that unfortunately stopped working on Android Pie, have a new project in the works: a application launcher called Hyperion LauncherThere are many launchers for Android, but this one focuses on unify the best ideas from the competition with its own tools to turn the home screen into a truly customizable space.