7 awe-inspiring live wallpapers your friends don’t already have

One key difference between Apple and Android is individuality, and the freedom to customize your mobile device the way you want to. Breathe some new life into that old device with a cool new live wallpaper. Here's seven hypnotic ones to get you going.

#1: Photo FX Live Wallpaper

Photo FX Live Wallpaper is great if you snap a lot of photos but don't get to admire them as much as you'd like. Just select images directly from your gallery, or any sub-folder, and arrange them in a live collage on your desktop.This one is probably the most beautiful live wallpaper of all because it features your loved ones and most prized memories.

#2: Star Defender Live Wallpaper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXHa2Gm5MC8Star Defender Live Wallpaper is cool for daydreamers and science fiction aficionados alike. This live wallpaper offers accelerometer movements that allow 180-degree views of the depths of space from alternate angles.It's pretty stunning and feels very lifelike; not that any of us have been to space to know for sure. Unless you're Lance from NSync.

#3: Blue Autumn Live Wallpaper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb08LyIv-z8Blue Autumn Live Wallpaper sets the scene of a bamboo forest at night, backdropped with a full moon that you can resize and place most anywhere you like.Even better, just touch the screen to launch candlelit paper sky lanterns on your whim. The imagery is serene and beautiful, with loads of customization options.

#4: 3D Butterfly Flower Wallpaper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VWeVzCLVkE3D Butterfly Flower Wallpaper is sort of a one trick pony, but that one trick is pretty mesmerizing. It features fire red spider lily flowers that bloom and sway in the gentle evening breeze.And if that weren't gorgeous enough, get a load of the red butterflies that flutter and swoop through the scene and into the red moon above. It's truly captivating.

#5: Raindrops Live Wallpaper HD8

https://youtu.be/GVxwZDh0FUcDo you love a rainy day? If the pitter patter of raindrops lulls you into bliss, then Raindrops Live Wallpaper HD8 is for you.This one doesn't react to touch or anything, but the effect of water droplets on your screen is pretty hypnotic. Cozy up with some ho chocolate and enjoy.

#6: Koi Free Live Wallpaper

https://youtu.be/8TdhC-YZPuYKoi Free Live Wallpaper has been out a while now but it's still one of the coolest live wallpapers around. As the title suggests, it features koi swimming around on your home screen, and if you touch and swipe, you can make the water ripple and react. It's very zen-like and sure to de-stress any hectic day.

#7: Awesome Land Live Wallpaper

https://youtu.be/SAfmQ1jO--oAwesome Land Live Wallpaper is interesting because it features a simple view of a lone tree with particle effects that seemingly flow in a gentle breeze with such lifelike realism, they just might trigger allergies.Even better, swiping downward on the scene changes the color scheme, so you can shift the view on the fly to suit your mood.

And now, the buzz kill

Live wallpapers are really cool, but the cooler the wallpaper, the more likely it is to be a resource hog, which translates to a battery killer.If your phone’s a battery hog, think twice before getting a live wallpaper with all the bells and whistles. But don’t let that stop you from enjoying your device fully and making it your own.

What’s Next: Virtual Reality live wallpapers

The future of live wallpapers will include virtual reality scenes or live video feeds of your baby monitor. Soon customization won't just mean using responsive designs, but enjoying interactive wallpapers from your life that only you can see.Life’s more fun when you share. Post your favorite live wallpapers and predictions in the comments below.