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 cellphone and radically alter the way it works, and even on the corporate’s personal Pixel phones, the previous few years of software program updates have supplied a number of official methods to vary the visible look of your smartphone. The iPhone took quite a bit 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 manner: Lockscreen customization.

As of iOS 16, iPhone lockscreens can are available quite a lot of completely 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 may’t change it to make it extra helpful to you, nonetheless. Google nonetheless provides some useful choices you may 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 cellphone

You would possibly as effectively make it a helpful one

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

If I consider my lockscreen as a kind of touchdown web page for the remainder of my cellphone, then its means to each show info and shortly let me entry apps or options on my cellphone are its two most essential options. Fortunately, Google provides a number of 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 appropriate shortcut slot. Each are cellphone 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 cellphone.

To make my Pixel extra helpful as a method to obtain glanceable info, I additionally make notifications viewable on my lockscreen, so I needn’t unlock my cellphone to learn them or act on them. This won’t be possible or protected for everybody, however since I spend the vast majority of the time working from residence, it has been wonderful for me. As a ultimate cherry on high, I additionally wish to have Google’s Now Playing feature enabled on my Pixel so I can establish the songs taking part in round me. Once I do work in a espresso store, Now Taking part in has been a enjoyable method to establish songs I’d wish to save for later.

Within the grand scheme of issues, these are small modifications to make to the lockscreen of my Pixel 9, however they’ve labored effectively 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 may 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 dwell info from an app or service, go a great distance in the direction of making the lockscreen a spot for up-to-date info. However Google might positively go additional.

iPhones now assist what are primarily locksreen widgets — perhaps a extra acceptable comparability could be smartwatch “complications” — for an excellent wider number of dwell info or shortcuts into apps. Google discovering a method 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 info might make a giant distinction for individuals making an attempt to get probably the most out of their smartphone.

Work with what you have received

On Android, that is nonetheless greater than most

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