SkipLock was one of the greatest applications to make its way onto Google’s Play Store throughout the whole of 2013. Unfortunately, it was released at the very tail end of December after the cut off date for our Best Apps of 2013 roundup, so, as a result, we’ve decided to give the app its very own review right here on Cult of Android.

First released bearing the name “Unlock with WiFi” back in 2012, but redesigned and rebranded last year, SkipLock is one of those extremely useful apps that you never really open, but you know is always there, running in the background with the simple objective of making your life significantly easier.

The logic behind this app is very straight forward; it essentially replicates Motorola’s revolutionary Skip accessory for its Moto X, however, instead of having to attach a clip to your clothing, SkipLock detects when your phone is connected to a trusted Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth device.

SkipLock detects when your phone is connected to a trusted Wi-Fi network or Bluetooth device.

Once a secure Wi-Fi network has been detected, the app will allow you to go straight to your phone’s home screen without having to input your passcode. However, if your phone moves out of the trusted networks range, it will automatically lock and reinitiate the passcode — so all of your personal data will remain protected when you leave a ‘secure space.’

SkipLock also has a nifty little feature built-in that’s designed to save you some battery power, which is particularly useful if you have a smartphone with a non-removable cell. When going through the app’s incredibly easy setup process, you will be asked if you want to opt into a battery conservation program, if you tick the box, the app will automatically turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Android Sync when it detects that it’s not in use. During our review process of this feature, we recorded a saving of approximately 17% of battery power.

SkipLock also has a nifty little feature built-in that’s designed to save you some battery power.

SkipLock is one of the best applications we have ever tested here at Cult of Android, and we strongly believe that it should be a standard feature on every Android device. Best of all, the application itself has been coded to perfection, which makes it a pleasure to use, and most of the time you don’t even realize it’s there running in the background, 24/7.

Product Name: : SkipLock The Good: Extremely easy to use and very reliable. The Bad: Fairly pricey at $4.99 via an in-app purchase. The Verdict An unbelievably good app that should be built into Android as standard. Buy from: Google Play Store

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