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

Android has lengthy been considered 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 provided a number of official methods to vary the visible look of your smartphone. The iPhone took lots longer to turn 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 approach: Lockscreen customization.

As of iOS 16, iPhone lockscreens can are available in a wide range of totally different types, characteristic customized animations, and widgets that show info 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, nonetheless. Google nonetheless presents 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 to your telephone

You may as properly make it a helpful one

Apart from your telephone case, your lockscreen is the primary place you are capable of categorical your self in your telephone. That chance for self-expression is certainly one of many causes telephone corporations embracing customization options is so thrilling. However your lockscreen can be a key supply of knowledge, whether or not you are checking the time or present climate situations, or notifications you have obtained from different apps.

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

To make my Pixel extra helpful as a option to obtain glanceable info, I additionally make notifications viewable on my lockscreen, so I need not unlock my telephone to learn them or act on them. This may not be possible or protected for everybody, however since I spend nearly all of the time working from residence, it has been tremendous for me. As a remaining 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. Once I do work in a espresso store, Now Taking part in has been a enjoyable option to establish songs I’d 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’s 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 supply reside info from an app or service, go a good distance in direction of making the lockscreen a spot for up-to-date info. However Google may positively go additional.

iPhones now assist what are primarily locksreen widgets — possibly a extra acceptable comparability could be smartwatch “complications” — for a fair wider number of reside info or shortcuts into apps. Google discovering a option to adapt Android’s widget system (which is admittedly far more useful than Apple’s) into one thing that works on the lockscreen may go a good distance in direction of making its Pixels extra private and helpful.

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

Work with what you have bought

On Android, that is nonetheless greater than most

It is ironic that iPhones supply 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 non permanent 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.