Ryan Haines / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Android 15 provides help for putting widgets on the lock display, however solely on tablets.
- Regardless of that, the lock display widgets characteristic truly works fairly effectively on smartphones.
- We recorded a video that demonstrates what lock display widgets seem like on telephones.
The upcoming Android 15 replace received’t have a ton of recent options for tablets, however that’s as a result of a few of the greater modifications are nonetheless hidden. Take lock screen widgets for instance: despite the fact that the characteristic is almost absolutely practical, it received’t be a part of the primary steady launch of Android 15 that’s set to roll out very quickly. When it will definitely does roll out, although, it’ll sadly be restricted to tablets. However what wouldn’t it seem like if Google didn’t restrict lock display widget help to tablets? We activated the characteristic on a Pixel cellphone operating Android 15 to search out out.
In case you missed it, earlier right now we printed a better take a look at lock display widgets in Android 15 that reveals the present standing of this characteristic. In comparison with once we first confirmed it off in April, there’s now a greater visible trace at the place to swipe to floor the glanceable hub, there’s now not visible overlap between lock display UI components and widgets, and there’s now not any obstructions stopping widgets from being interacted with. Whereas we admittedly didn’t spend a lot time with the characteristic, it was clearly a lot additional alongside than once we final took a take a look at it, main us to imagine it may make an look in an upcoming quarterly platform launch of Android 15 on the earliest.
Nevertheless, our perception that lock display widget help shall be restricted to Android tablets operating Android 15 nonetheless hasn’t modified. Sadly, there’s no proof to counsel that Google intends for this characteristic to land on telephones. Regardless of that, we have been curious what, if something, would stop lock display widgets from engaged on telephones operating Android 15.
In spite of everything, other than the apparent display dimension distinction, there’s no purpose why telephones can’t technically present Android widgets on the lock display. Underneath the hood, Pixel telephones and tablets operating Android 15 use the identical shared codebase, so it’s not like Pixel telephones are lacking some important little bit of code that implements lock display widget help.
Moreover, lock display widgets aren’t proven alongside different lock display UI components just like the clock, shortcuts, or notifications; as a substitute they’re proven on their very own devoted web page known as the glanceable hub that’s accessed by swiping inward from the precise edge. This, theoretically, signifies that telephones ought to have sufficient display area to indicate widgets; in spite of everything, the glanceable hub is mainly only a house display web page the place nothing however widgets are proven.
With a little bit of tinkering, we managed to search out a solution to this query. Whereas there are some apparent points, particularly with rearranging widgets, Android 15’s present lock display widgets implementation works surprisingly effectively on telephones. In reality, it nearly appears as if Google is definitely making an attempt to optimize this expertise for telephones. Widgets are proven two at a time on display instantly above the fingerprint icon, for instance. Check out the next video to see what I imply.
Whereas I’ve no proof to counsel that is the case, I hope that Google is certainly contemplating bringing lock display widgets to telephones. The characteristic clearly makes lots of sense on tablets, which is why I believe this characteristic would possibly arrive together with the Pixel Tablet 2 launch, however I’m certain some folks will need to place widgets on their telephones’ lock screens too. In spite of everything, some folks like to make use of minimalist home screen launchers, so having a devoted area for widgets on the lock display that’s out of sight by default would allow them to use widgets with out messing up their house screens. It’s clear that Google already desires to make the lock screen more optimized on phones, so including widget help could be the cherry on prime.
