When does the narwhal bacon? If you know the answer to that question, there’s very little doubt that you’re a regular Reddit user. Reddit, apart from being a social news website, has also become a cultural phenomenon. It has reached millions of internet users and has changed many lives since its inception. Though most users prefer browsing the site in its original avatar, that is the web-based version, there are some Redditors who need to upvote/downvote stuff even while they’re travelling. So, to fulfill that need, here are some of the best Reddit Apps for Android which will let you browse the site from anywhere.
Reddit is fun: ‘Reddit is fun’ is a simple, clean, and easy-to-use Reddit browser for Android. Being one of most popular Reddit clients on this platform, the free app is rated 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Once installed, it lets you browse the site in an interface that is quite similar to what we have on the web version. On the left there’s an upvote/downvote button along with the vote count. On the right, you’ll find a small thumbnail for image-based Reddits. Clicking on a link opens up a menu which lets you choose whether to go the original link or to visit the comments. If you open a link, it will show up inside the app itself along with a persistent topbar that lets you conveniently go back to the main page.
Comments are displayed in the same way as they are displayed on the main site, and you can upvote/downvote each comment by clicking on it. Though not the most convenient app around, it does have the closest resemblance to the web version.
Reddit News: Reddit News is one of the best-looking Reddit apps for Android. With a gesture-laden, clean, and easy-to-use interface, this free ( ad-supported ) app lets you browse the popular social site in style.
The interface consists of a topbar containing a list of subreddits, and a bottom bar for hopping between new, controversial, rising, and saved links. To move between these lists all you have to do is slide your finger horizontally. Also, swiping horizontally across a link will reveal options like upvote, downvote, hide, save, and a link to the comment section.
Recently the app has included a newly designed ICS theme, which, in my opinion, makes Reddit News one of the best apps in its genre. Also, as far as performance is concerned, the app is amazingly smooth and browsing the latest memes on Quickmeme or opening imgur links takes little to no time at all. Overall, Reddit News brings out the best of Reddit in a cool, shiny-looking-yet-smooth interface.
BaconReader: One of the latest entrants in this genre is BaconReador. With what is perhaps the cleanest interfaces around, the free app lets you access almost all features of Reddit without you having to leave the app. Though BaconReader doesn’t have as many gestures as the aforementioned Reddit News app, it does have an interface that will appeal to minimalism fans.
The main interface consists of a simple topbar below which you’ll find links. Links are displayed along with their votecounts. If the post contains an image, or if it is an image-based post, a small thumbnail will be displayed to the right-hand side of the link. Upvote/Downvote buttons are not revealed unless you long-press a link, a feature which might be a bit hard to find for new users, but nonetheless does a good job at decluttering the interface. The same effect can be achieved by clicking a link, which reveals the upvote/downvote and other standard options along with the comments section.
The comments section is one of the most well-designed aspects of the app. Nested comments start with a small colored strip at the left, a small feature which makes reading huge comment threads a lot easier. Like on the main page, long-pressing on a comment reveals a small toolbar allowing you to upvote or downvote that comment.
Again, BaconReader may not be as feature-laden or as intuitive as Reddit News, it does, however, give you a fresh, no-fuss interface to browse Reddit with. ain, BaconReader may not be as feature-laden or as intuitive as Reddit News, it does, however, give you a fresh, no-fuss interface to browse Reddit with.
Reddit Mobile: Though this next app doesn’t have the prettiest interface around, it still is quite popular amongst many Redditors.
Reddit Mobile has a look that slightly resembles the bluish feel of the main website. The main interface consists of just the topbar and links. On the left of each link is a huge button for upvoting/downvoting, and to the right you’ll find the comment count. For image-based links there’s a small thumbnail of the picture to the right of every link. Below the comment count, there’s also a button that reveals additional options like Share and Report.
External links are loaded within the app, but lack of persistent toolbars like in the other apps makes the interface a tad confusing. Also, common options like search and login are not as easily accessible as they should have been. Despite the somewhat clunky interface, the app is not a bad choice if you’re looking for something that closely resembles the main website.
F5 Reddit Browser: If you love apps with dark themes, then F5 is bound to be your favorite. This free Reddit browser lets you browse and interact with Reddit using a fast but simple interface.
The overall theme of the app is dark which makes it stand out a bit, especially when compared to other apps on the list. The user interface relies mostly on menus that pop up once you click them. For example, clicking on a link will reveal a set of options which will let you upvote/downvote a link, view an embedded image, or go to the comments section. Images on the other hand, are opened in another pop-up window, which you can close instantly and return to the page you were browsing.
Though I’m not a big fan of dark interfaces, I somewhat like this app, even more so because it blends in quite nicely with the ICS interface. Apart from that, I’d prefer sticking with Bacon Reader or Reddit News if I wanted a dedicated Reddit browser.
Miscellaneous Apps
Radio Reddit : This open-source application lets you listen to RadioReddit ( http://radioreddit.com ) from your mobile. The interface is ICS-based and the app works as smoothly as expected.
Reddita : If you own an Android-based tablet, then Reddita is the perfect app for you. Specially optimized for tablets, the free ( ad-supported) lets you get the best of Reddit on your Droid tab.
Rage Reader: If you’re into Rage comics, then Rage Reader is something you’ll adore. The app lets you browse rage comics in a fast but simple interface.
Pix-o-Reddit: Pix-o-Reddit is the best app if you’re only looking to browse pictures on Reddit. The free app lets you browse any picture on Reddit and even set it as your phone’s wallpaper. Cool huh?
Image Credits: teuobk on Flickr via CC
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