You might have known about it already that with Nokia X, while you will be running Android apps and services, it won’t run any of the Google apps or services including the Google Play Store which you normally use for downloading and installing apps. Nokia Store comes pre-installed with Nokia X devices in replacement of Google Play Store and other Nokia and Microsoft services replace the Google services. You must read our review of Nokia X.
Well, it’s not that Nokia X can’t work with Google services. It’s an Android device from the core, if you are a geek and do experiments with your Android devices, you can do same with Nokia X and set it up for running any of the Google apps and services – we’ll post separately for rooting and customizing Nokia X with Google services. This post limits its way to the app stores that you can download and install right from Nokia Store or from the web browser without any hassle that include “Yandex.Store”, “Aptoide Appstore”, “Mobango”, “SlideME Market” and “1Mobile Market”.
Nokia Store
Nokia Store is the one that comes out of the box and you can start exploring Android apps, download and install them. The disadvantage is that the app quantity is very low on the Nokia Store but many popular apps you can get over there such as Facebook app and messenger, Skype, Twitter, Opera browser, Hotspot Shield VPN etc. They are really limited but Nokia Store is good enough to refer you to another store for the apps and games you search but not available on the store.
Following are the quick screens taken from the Nokia Store. You can obviously search the store for your desired apps as well as quick top navigation features the Top Games, Top Apps, Featured Apps/Games. A section provides the apps for which the updates are available. Additionally the huge list of categories is available.
When you search something which is not present on the Nokia Store, it will refer you to another app store where the app is available.
Yandex.Store
Yandex is a Russian search engine who launched their own app store for Android devices which came directly to compete the Google Play Store in 2013. It’s considered one of the big app stores on Android yet available on Nokia X. So there are a little less chances to miss Google Play Store in the presence of Yandex.Store. You can download free APK from their website http://m.store.yandex.com/. Yandex.Store is currently giving access to over 100,000 apps which keep growing.
There is large amount of apps which is free on the Yandex.Store but as well the store provides many paid apps and 10% of your total purchases returns to your bonuses. The user interface is pretty similar to the one of Google Play Store but the dark theme and colors are more like the Amazon Appstore.
Yandex.Shell can also be installed on the Nokia X which comes with a dialer.
Download Yandex.Store
Aptoide Appstore
Aptoide is another choice for someone using Android smartphone who want some additional source of apps and games other than the Google Play Store. So on Nokia X where Google Play Store is not present, the Aptoide could be one of your primary source of apps or games.
The user interface is straight forward where you can browse apps/games right from the “Home” tab where the latest additions are pushed to the view in sections like “Applications”, “Games” and the “Editor’s Choice”. On the other hand the category list is provided in the “Store” tab. Updates to the apps/games are listed in a separate “Update” tab while the “Download Manager” shows the current downloads in progress and the ones that are waiting to be downloaded.
Settings provide with the wide range of options like Clear cache, auto install, filter incompatible apps and a few more. You can also manage the store with your account.
Download Aptoide Appstore
Mobango
Another alternative to Android stores is the Mobango which has been established even before the Android platform came into reality. Mobango serves app distribution to other platforms as well. On Nokia X you got another choice of app store.
The user interface of the app store seems simple with the categorically listed apps along with the Popular and Latest options. You can explore apps you have downloaded and installed via the store in “My Apps” sections.
You can download Mobango store right from the Nokia Store or access the following URL on your Nokia X’s web browser to download and install directly.
Download Mobango
1Mobile Market
Well Nokia X is an Android smartphone and on Android; you really get a lot of alternatives for almost any kind of app. 1Mobile Market is another app store for you on the Nokia X. It’s rather extensive in detail and let you manage a the interface as you want.
The default “Home” tab serves with the featured and new additions of the apps. Another “Categories” tab of course provides a list of categories. Other tabs can be added or removed as per your desire which categorize the apps in Local Top, Local New, Global Top, Global New, 1Mobile Unique, 1Mobile Picks, Games New Force, Trending, Most Acclaimed and Apps for Tablets.
Settings can be managed separately where you can set mobile data network limit, data limit notifications, run installation after download, to save or not the apk file after installation etc.
Download 1Mobile Market
SlideME Market
Last in our compilation but not the least, SlideME Market for Android devices is another alternative on the Nokia X for Android apps. The simple user interface only presents with the tabbed navigation containing Featured, Top New, Top Paid, Top Free, Trending, Local and Categories.
Updates interface is also present via the side menu where the updatable apps are listed. Preferences contains the options to change visual appearance as well as other settings such as your local country for the apps to list in “Local” tab.
You can download SlideME Market for Nokia X from Nokia Store or you can follow the link below to download it directly from your web browser on Nokia X.
Download SlideME Market
Have you owned the new Nokia X? you must download and install the app stores above and let use know about your experience in the comments below. If you are having difficulties in deciding to buy or not to buy Nokia X, you can take a look at our in-depth review of the Nokia X Android phone.
