I tweaked this key space of my Pixel to make it extra helpful

Android has lengthy been regarded as a extra customizable working system than Apple’s iOS. Google makes it straightforward to change the launcher in your Android telephone and radically alter the way it works, and even on the corporate’s personal Pixel phones, the previous couple of years of software program updates have supplied a number of official methods to alter the visible look of your smartphone. The iPhone took so much longer to develop into as equally versatile, however as Apple has made the iPhone simpler to personalize, the corporate has pulled forward of the Pixel in a single key method: Lockscreen customization.

As of iOS 16, iPhone lockscreens can are available a wide range of totally different kinds, function customized animations, and widgets that show data from different apps. In distinction, the Pixel lockscreen in Android 16 is surprisingly restrained. That does not imply you’ll be able to’t change it to make it extra helpful to you, nevertheless. Google nonetheless provides some useful choices you’ll be able to tweak, and I’ve discovered they make a giant distinction in how helpful my Pixel is, whether or not I am working or not.

The lockscreen is the touchdown web page in your telephone

You would possibly as properly make it a helpful one

Apart from your telephone case, your lockscreen is the primary place you are in a position to specific your self in your telephone. That chance for self-expression is one in all many causes telephone firms embracing customization options is so thrilling. However your lockscreen can be a key supply of data, whether or not you are checking the time or present climate situations, or notifications you’ve got acquired from different apps.

If I consider my lockscreen as a form of touchdown web page for the remainder of my telephone, then its means to each show data and shortly let me entry apps or options on my telephone are its two most vital options. Fortunately, Google provides just a few methods to tweak my lockscreen to fulfill these wants. As of proper now, I maintain the Flashlight shortcut within the left shortcut area on my Pixel 9‘s lockscreen and Android’s Do Not Disturb mode in the fitting shortcut slot. Each are telephone capabilities I attain for occasionally, and having the shortcuts on the lockscreen means I can instantly entry them with out wading by means of different distractions on my telephone.

To make my Pixel extra helpful as a solution to obtain glanceable data, I additionally make notifications viewable on my lockscreen, so I need not unlock my telephone to learn them or act on them. This won’t be possible or secure for everybody, however since I spend the vast majority of the time working from house, it has been superb for me. As a last cherry on prime, I additionally prefer to have Google’s Now Playing feature enabled on my Pixel so I can establish the songs enjoying round me. After I do work in a espresso store, Now Taking part in has been a enjoyable solution to establish songs I would wish to save for later.

Within the grand scheme of issues, these are small adjustments to make to the lockscreen of my Pixel 9, however they’ve labored properly for me, and within the absence of larger customizations, I am glad that I’ve them.

The lockscreen options Android is lacking

There’s nonetheless solely a lot you’ll be able to see or do

If the Pixel lockscreen expertise appears easy now, there may be hope: Google has been slowly adopting extra of Apple’s lockscreen options. New additions like Live Updates, that are included as a part of Android 16 and provide stay data from an app or service, go a great distance in the direction of making the lockscreen a spot for up-to-date data. However Google might positively go additional.

iPhones now help what are basically locksreen widgets — perhaps a extra applicable comparability could be smartwatch “complications” — for an excellent wider number of stay data or shortcuts into apps. Google discovering a solution to adapt Android’s widget system (which is admittedly way more practical than Apple’s) into one thing that works on the lockscreen might go a great distance in the direction of making its Pixels extra private and helpful.

Even doing one thing so simple as providing the area “Now Taking part in” takes up on the backside of your lockscreen for an additional shortcut or one other supply of passive data might make a giant distinction for individuals attempting to get probably the most out of their smartphone.

Work with what you’ve got bought

On Android, that is nonetheless greater than most

It is ironic that iPhones provide extra customization choices than Google’s personal smartphone on the subject of the lockscreen, however for many individuals the opposite advantages of Android are price what are doubtless short-term trade-offs. Pocket-lint has lined home screen customization options and other ways you’ll be able to tweak your Android telephone to make it yours. Within the meantime, although, I am pleased with what is feasible on my Pixel 9, and I hope extra choices come quickly.