Google modified the search bar on my Pixel residence display screen. I hate it

One in every of my favourite issues about Google’s Pixel telephones is the persistent Google Search bar on the backside of the house display screen. It’s such a easy function, however having that fixed entry to Google, and proper by my thumb, is a big comfort.

Earlier this month, we reported that Google was on the point of change that search bar by including one more shortcut to it — this time, one for Google AI Mode. That shortcut now seems to be extensively rolling out to Pixel telephones working Android 16, as my Pixel 9a simply acquired it the opposite day.

And I’ve bought to be trustworthy: I hate it.

With this newest addition, the search bar now serves 4 foremost capabilities: performing a daily Google Search, utilizing AI Mode, beginning a voice search, and launching Google Lens.

Having a lot performance crammed right into a single space is, objectively, a superb use of area. Nevertheless, as somebody who doesn’t use any of these further shortcuts, they aren’t useful in any respect. I’m certain they’re nice should you commonly use AI Mode, voice search, and Lens, however should you don’t, they only make the Pixel residence display screen look cluttered and messy.

Additional, the extra of those shortcuts Google provides, the much less free area there’s to faucet the search bar for what I take advantage of it for: launching Google Search. It’s not that it’s inconceivable to immediate a daily Google Search, however the AI Mode icon is simply shut sufficient to the center of the bar (at the very least on the Pixel 9a) that I’ve already by chance tapped AI Mode as an alternative of the common search space when shortly tapping it with my thumb.

Within the Pixel 6 period, the search bar solely had the voice search icon on the far proper — and I used to be OK with that! I may nonetheless faucet nearly anyplace to begin typing a search, and for these uncommon cases once I need to say my search aloud, it was good having the voice mode shortcut.

When Google added the Google Lens icon across the time of the Pixel 7, I used to be barely aggravated, although I assumed for certain that’s the place the extra icons would finish. But right here we’re, a few years later, with the AI Mode icon proving me improper.

Now, is that this the top of the world? The most important problem dealing with Google’s Pixel telephones? In fact not. Nonetheless, I believe it’s truthful to argue that this newest change to the Pixel search bar isn’t a superb one.

I’m superb with Google providing customers extra methods to make the most of the search bar, however we should always have some enter on what further shortcuts we’d prefer to see. Hell, Google provides precisely that with its common Search widget, permitting you to alter the shortcut on the finish of it — whether or not it’s one for AI Mode, Google Translate, Google Climate, or none in any respect. But, for no matter motive, the Search bar on Pixel telephones lacks that customization.

Google’s Pixel telephones are supposed to supply the most effective of Google on an Android cellphone. Whereas there’s clearly so much that Google will get proper, little points like this are all of the extra annoying due to how arbitrary they’re. I ought to be capable to management what the Google Search bar on my Pixel seems to be like. The instruments are there for the common Android widget, so why can’t I take advantage of them on my Pixel?

You probably have a Pixel working Android 16 and you want AI Mode, I’m glad for you. However for the remainder of us, I can solely hope Google lets us eliminate this new shortcut sooner relatively than later.