Top 10 Android performance apps and tips that will speed up your device

With news of the introduction of Android 4.3 some of you certainly have something exciting to look forward to, as the update makes its way around the globe. While this is a time of joy for some, do not be surprised if the next iteration of Google's OS isn't getting everyone as excited – for many it's a reminder of their own troubles with Android. To put it bluntly: only 38.9% of all Android users are running a version of Jelly Bean. That means, roughly speaking, some 500 million devices are missing out on all the performance improvements that versions 4.x and above bring to the table. What's more, if your device is among the ones left out, it's usually the case that your device is also probably running on some aging hardware.

With a userbase edging on the billion, making sweeping statements for all of the Android ecosystem would be a gross oversimplification. There is one thing that we dare postulate, though: everybody hates lag, even those of you running Google's latest and greatest. Hundreds of millions downloads of apps promising to boost your device back to its former glory or simply keep it in good shape are an objective indication of that.

Most of you have come across such apps, many have them installed as you read this. As you have probably figured by now – no one-click solution exists. As always, if you want good results, you have to roll up your sleeves and get a little dirty. The guide below is aimed to be fairly simple, but there's also something for the more adventurous of you.