Around this time of year, with the holidays and lots of planning to do, the last thing you want is to have your phone slow down on you.
When your smartphone, like your iPhone or Android, begins to slow down, it can be incredibly frustrating. Some users might automatically think that their device slowing down is a sign that something is wrong with it internally. However, a lot of it could be related to the apps on that phone. One of the biggest causes of a slow device can be unused preinstalled apps, so we used information from tech experts on which ones you’d likely be better off deleting. Read more about them below.
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1. Games
A lot of iPhone users can't imagine owning a smartphone without playing a quick game every day. You might have plenty of gaming apps already installed, but chances are you aren't actually using the Apple Games app on top of them. That app is mainly designed for social features like tracking achievements and comparing scores with friends or other players, not for everyday gameplay.
If you're not interested in those extras and prefer gaming on a larger console anyway, removing the Apple Games app can help your phone run a bit smoothly. Extra background processes, stored data, and notifications tied to the app can quietly use resources, which may slow things down over time. Getting rid of it frees up both storage and system activity so your main gaming apps perform normally.
2. GarageBand
These days, unless you're actively recording or producing songs, GarageBand often sits untouched in the background of your iPhone. The app is packed with instruments, files, and editing tools, which makes it surprisingly large for something you might not use.
Because of that size, GarageBand can eat up storage and keep small background processes running, both of which can affect how quickly your phone functions. Clearing it out can lighten the load on your device and give you back some space and speed without impacting anything you actually use.
3. Samsung Free
Samsung Free comes preinstalled on many Android devices and offers a mix of news, videos, and casual games in one place. For some users, it's a handy hub to scroll through, but plenty of people never open it after setting up their phone. If you already have your own preferred apps for entertainment or news, Samsung Free can end up feeling more like clutter than a helpful feature.
Since it refreshes content in the background, the app can use data, storage, and a bit of processing power without you realizing it, which may contribute to slower performance. Disabling or uninstalling it can reduce that extra activity and keep your phone running more efficiently.
