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For years, Nova Launcher was my most well-liked Android launcher. Initially, its prolonged checklist of customization choices attracted me, however its highly effective search capabilities really received me over. I may simply entry obscure elements of an app instantly from its search bar, saving time scrolling by means of app lists and decreasing dwelling display screen muddle. There was now not a must pin vital apps for simple entry. Nevertheless, this modified once I acquired a Pixel 8 and encountered Pixel Launcher‘s restricted seek for the primary time. I used to be disillusioned.

Nova Launcher isn’t developed by a large search firm whose identify is synonymous with search, but it excelled in search performance. Google, accountable for each Pixel {hardware} and software program, falls embarrassingly brief with Pixel Launcher.

A launcher’s search bar must be essentially the most highly effective software on an Android smartphone. It ought to take me precisely the place I wish to go, or not less than shut. If I wish to entry a selected Slack channel, I ought to have the opportunity to take action instantly. If there’s a setting I wish to change, like adjusting default apps, my launcher’s magnifying glass ought to information me there. Judging by Pixel search, evidently Google doesn’t fairly agree with me.

For these unfamiliar with Pixels, there are two methods to entry search by means of the launcher. You’ll be able to faucet the everlasting dwelling display screen search bar on the backside of the display screen or swipe as much as entry the app drawer’s search facility. The latter is barely extra customizable, nevertheless it’s not instantly accessible.

To present Google some credit score, there are features of the house search bar I like. I can faucet the G emblem to open my manicured Uncover feed. I additionally respect how the keyboard disappears with a downward scroll and reappears when the search bar is lively. This element reveals Google’s understanding of good usability options. Nevertheless, these little particulars are overshadowed by bigger issues.

Let me clarify these in additional element, beginning with a easy search time period. Tapping the house display screen search bar and typing “settings” doesn’t present an inventory of toggles however a wall of net search recommendations. I’m uncertain why Google thinks I’d wish to go to “settings iPhone” on my Pixel 8. Solely by scrolling down does the telephone reveal choices to look instantly throughout the Settings, Play Retailer, Maps, and Contacts apps. These choices must be on the prime, or Google ought to enable me to reorder sections throughout the search web page.

To Google’s credit score, that is the case with the app drawer search. I can disable net search outcomes right here, however this selection also needs to be obtainable on the house search bar. App drawer outcomes additionally sometimes embrace fast settings choices, however why not all settings? You’ll be able to see how Nova’s outcomes examine within the subsequent part.

Much more puzzling is the shortage of deep integration with Google’s personal apps. Whereas looking Calendar from the app drawer search yields choices so as to add an occasion, I can’t seek for a particular occasion utilizing key phrases. I can’t seek for Preserve notes, Pixel Climate areas, Sheets paperwork in Drive, or Photographs albums from both search bar.

One may argue that I don’t want to make use of the house search bar on my Pixel if it’s not helpful, nevertheless it’s laborious to disregard. Google makes it a everlasting fixture on the house display screen that may’t be moved or hidden. The corporate clearly needs me to make use of it, much more so than the app drawer search choice.

I don’t consider I’m being too harsh on Google, particularly after we examine the Pixel search outcomes with Nova Launcher’s outcomes working on the identical telephone.

After I search “settings,” Nova instantly lists precise settings choices, initially organized alphabetically: About telephone, Accessibility, Airplane mode, All apps, and Battery. That is obtainable proper off the bat; no further add-ons are needed. I can refine outcomes by including extra particulars to my search. “Settings da” presents hyperlinks to Default apps, Knowledge utilization, and Date and time.

Past settings on my telephone, I can even bounce instantly into shortcuts inside third-party apps. In Nova’s settings, I can improve my search scope by means of API integrations, permitting entry to Spotify library objects (seen under), Calendar occasions, Slack channels, and Twitch streams to call a couple of.

With Nova, there’s no must open Calendar and scroll for a selected occasion I made months in the past; I can merely seek for it from the bar and entry it instantly. I can prolong these capabilities additional with Sesame Shortcuts, an optionally available add-on that enables much more integration with third-party apps and their shortcuts.

Pixel Launcher presents none of those deeper integration options, even with a few of Google’s personal merchandise. I do know the corporate as soon as supplied a extra intricate search system with an API on its gadgets, nevertheless it halted these efforts. Whereas it has reintroduced some integrations to Pixel Launcher’s search, the expertise pales compared to Nova.

So what’s the repair? Switching over to Nova Launcher completely on my Pixel 8 is a workaround, however one which introduces its personal issues. Regardless of Google’s patches, third-party launchers nonetheless endure from animation points on Pixels, and Nova is keenly affected. Returning to the house display screen from any menu ends in flashes and stutters. Regardless of its strong search options, Nova shouldn’t be an choice for now. Pixel Launcher performs so a lot better on its native {hardware}.

My solely hope is that Google improves Pixel Launcher’s search utility sooner or later. This focus would assist novice and energy customers discover content material on their gadgets extra effectively and switch the launcher right into a gateway to Google’s companies. With Android 16 promising new options, together with refreshed animations and refined UI parts, I urge the corporate to think about constructing a extra complete launcher search expertise. Pixel customers deserve it.