That is how I make any Android cellphone really feel extra like a Google Pixel

Many individuals will argue that the Google Pixel collection is the head of Android smartphones. These gadgets supply the slickest implementation of the OS I’ve ever used, whereas together with heaps of unique options. Google’s continually including to this listing, additional distancing the Pixel line from its contemporaries. However, to be fully frank, Pixels aren’t completely distinctive. Even their “unique” options will be ported to different Android telephones with out a lot fuss and a few know-how.

You’ve come to the fitting place in the event you’ve ever needed your OnePlus, Samsung, or Xiaomi to really feel a bit extra like a Pixel cellphone. After experimenting with my Galaxy S24 FE, I’ve slowly made my Samsung-designed cellphone really feel like a Mountain View invention. You may too by following my information under.

Nicely, why wouldn’t you? Initially, it’s enjoyable to experiment! Even in the event you don’t desire a Pixel per se, turning your cellphone into one is a superb studying train. Secondly, there are some extremely helpful Pixel-only options that I’d like to have on my Samsung. Take Now Enjoying, as an illustration, a function that uncovers and information the main points of music within the background. It’s satisfying to get house from a visit to the mall and see a listing of latest songs registered. Then there’s the feel and appear of Pixel Launcher. Whereas I’ve quarrels with the native launcher, it’s so slick that I can forgive its quirks. I crave its quickness once I’m utilizing anything.

There’s some advantage to adopting some traits that make Pixels Pixels. However, after all, there are some options you received’t have the ability to entry until you’ve gotten a Google cellphone your self. This contains the myriad calling options like Maintain for Me and Name Display screen, each of which purpose to scale back the annoyance of utilizing one’s smartphone, , as a cellphone. Greatest Take and Add Me are two extra smarts I want I may entry on all gadgets, however stay locked to Pixel {hardware}.

So, which Pixel options are you able to port to your Android cellphone?

Regardless of the restrictions Google imposes on most Pixel-exclusive options, a number of can nonetheless be loved in your Android cellphone. That is largely achieved utilizing particular apps impressed by Pixel options or ports of these options. Under is a listing of these apps, together with a basic overview of their performance and any dependencies they could have.

At a Look will be annoying at occasions. The irremovable information bar sits on the high of the house display, ticking by way of info because it turns into related, comparable to an upcoming occasion or a visitors replace. Because it’s a fixture on the Pixel Launcher, I’ve grown to like and hate it. Naturally, I needed to really feel the identical feelings when utilizing any Android system.

The best approach to deliver At a Look to any Android cellphone is thru Smartspacer. I’ve lined this quite good app earlier than, and, in some ways, it’s an improve of At a Look. It may be utilized in a widget slot and however presents extra customization choices and data sources from many apps. The whole lot from inventory fields, like Digital Wellbeing information and climate forecasts, to third-party plugins that embrace bundle monitoring and a very cute energetic greeting possibility, can be found to me.

There’s one small caveat: Smartspacer requires Shizuku to run. Shizuku successfully permits Smartspacer to run at an elevated privilege, and the app wants this to switch At a Look. One should observe its personal set up and activation steps, which is important as a number of apps on this listing require Shizuku’s assist.

Keep in mind me mentioning how a lot I find it irresistible when my Pixel 8 greets me with a listing of songs it heard alongside my day by day journey? You may have this function on any Android cellphone with AmbientMusicMod. By the way, it comes from the identical developer as Smartspacer and requires Shizuku to run.

Like Now Enjoying, AmbientMusicMod presents automated music recognition, the frequency of which will be adjusted to extend the variety of outcomes or preserve battery. It additionally contains historical past, favorites, a abstract, and a handbook set off in the event you’re impatient. Lastly, it will possibly present the tune at the moment taking part in on the lock display, which I discover endlessly entertaining.

Lawnchair is each a hilarious identify and one of many oldest third-party launchers obtainable for Android gadgets. The open-source app has largely adopted the inventory Android and Pixel expertise all through its improvement historical past, with model 14 based mostly on the present feel and appear of Pixel Launcher. This contains full assist for Google’s Materials aesthetic, a slot for At a Look, and the Google search bar on the foot of the house display.

Whereas it seems like Pixel Launcher, Lawnchair is basically higher. Its world search smarts let you discover gadgets throughout your system, whereas its assist for wider grid layouts makes it simpler to position icons and widgets. There are extra toggles to tinker with, making it good for many who need the feel and appear of Pixel Launcher with out the fuss.

There’s one small downside with Lawnchair: model 14 has been in beta for a number of months. Whereas model 15 is accessible, discovering and downloading it’s comically tough. The launcher additionally has its fair proportion of bugs, however I noticed no game-breakers whereas utilizing it on my Pixel 8.

Regardless, Lawnchair stays the most effective reinterpretation of the Pixel Launcher you will get on Android, and it makes a wonderful base for anybody eager to make their cellphone really feel extra like a Pixel.

Relying in your Android cellphone’s pores and skin, you could be unable to alter the trace colour of your varied UI components freely. ColorBlendr places these buttons and toggles again in your arms. It’s an excellent app that I exploit on my Pixel 8 and different gadgets. It permits finer management of system colours to match your wallpaper or temper. Perhaps you need to customise the saturation or companion colours — ColorBlendr presents these options.

Like Smartspacer and AmbientMusicMod, ColorBlendr is not going to work with out Shizuku. Utilizing the app with out rooting your cellphone will open up the vast majority of the obtainable options, nonetheless, you have to to root your system to entry every thing.

One of many extra distinctive Pixel options of current years is Again Faucet. This function turns a easy finger faucet on the rear of the cellphone into a strong shortcut launcher. With Faucet Faucet, virtually any Android cellphone can make the most of this function.

The app makes use of the gyroscope and accelerometer of a cellphone to observe for faucets, and, as soon as detected, can launch over 50 actions in response. The choices are really limitless, particularly whenever you think about Tasker assist. However basically, you may flick on the flashlight, set off an app or shortcut launch, and even use this motion to switch the house button’s duties.

It sounds nice on paper, however I couldn’t for the lifetime of me get it to work on my Galaxy S24 FE. Whatever the measurement or sensitivity I selected, the app couldn’t register my faucets. Granted, your mileage will range. There’s an excellent probability that Faucet Faucet nonetheless works on different gadgets.

If you happen to use Google Messages on a Pixel cellphone, Magic Compose means that you can rewrite your textual content in varied types and tones. With a easy faucet, I could make an invite extra formal or ship a cheery blissful birthday message. In brief, it makes typing up message content material far simpler than on some other Android cellphone.

Notably, a number of OEMs now have comparable AI era options for textual content, but when yours doesn’t, you could need to contemplate Ainput to plug the hole.

Google rolled out a brand new quantity panel with Android 15 that’s as helpful as it’s fetching. Whereas the quantity rocker nonetheless triggers the smaller quantity popup, tapping a three-dot menu on that popup now expands the panel to a bigger backside show, which incorporates quantity changes for media, calls, the ringer, notification pings, and alarms. It’s tremendous useful, so porting this to your Android cellphone gives you extra management.

One such app that does that is Exact Quantity. Sadly, that is the one app on this listing that requires a premium unlock to achieve this function. Is it price it? For my makes use of, no. I personal a Samsung cellphone, and Good Lock’s SoundAssistant module exists. Nevertheless, in the event you personal one other mannequin, it’s maybe price contemplating.

To provide Exact Quantity its dues, the app presents loads of extra performance, together with additional panel customizations, varied equalization choices, and automation smarts.

Pixel Screenshots is a must have app in the event you religiously report content material in your display for later. Out there on the Pixel 9 collection, the app collates and organizes screenshots and data for simpler recall later. It leans closely on onboard Gemini smarts, so it’s not a function that may be simply replicated on different gadgets.

Nonetheless, third-party app PixelShot goals to do one thing comparable for telephones operating Android 11 and newer. Like Google’s device, PixelShot organizes and extracts info from screenshots to be used later. The app additionally presents a be aware facility for screenshots and a collections device that lumps comparable photographs into bundles.

I don’t respect that the app calls for entry to all my storage, not simply the Screenshots folder. If you happen to worth your privateness, you could need to suppose twice about this. As PixelShot isn’t a Google product, it doesn’t use onboard Gemini processing (and the way can it, if it’s suitable with a lot older Android telephones?) As an alternative, on-line companies require a connection to do the heavy lifting.

Nonetheless, in the event you will need to have Pixel Screenshots in your Android cellphone, right here’s one great way.

Now, I’ve lined all of the apps and companies that imitate unique Pixel options on any cellphone, however what in regards to the smaller ins and outs that matter? What about wallpaper, widgets, icons, and the like?

• We’ve collated the finest Pixel wallpapers from the Pixel 9 collection to the legacy fashions. You should definitely seize these and apply your favourite.
• Google makes the overwhelming majority of its huge widget library obtainable to Android telephones. Lawnchair makes it simple to pick out and transfer these widgets across the house display, too. You’ll want to seize a few third-party widgets, although.
• Personally, I desire utilizing Breezy Climate‘s Materials widget for my ambient situation wants. It makes full use of Google’s Materials stylings, making it an incredible match.
• As for icons, you may decide to make use of the default listing of icons your system presents, make the most of Lawnchair’s personal icon pack known as Lawnicons, or go for a third-party Pixel-inspired pack from the Play Retailer.

You’re seemingly asking your self, “Is it even price shopping for a Pixel cellphone anymore if I can get unique options on my common cellphone?” My reply to that query remains to be “sure!”

Past the agency Pixel-exclusive options, you’re nonetheless prone to be among the many first smartphone customers on the planet to obtain the most recent variations of Android. As well as, Google has sturdy replace assist for contemporary Pixel fashions, with assist spanning over seven years since a tool’s launch. Solely Samsung can match that promise, and few different Android producers come shut.

There’s additionally the distinct design. You may’t use an app to revamp your cellphone’s exterior, so in the event you’re craving these quirky stylings, that polished pebble exterior, and the cyclops digicam module, you’ll need to buy the precise {hardware}. There’s no getting round that.

Nonetheless, the listing of apps and my strategies will assist your smartphone really feel just a little bit extra like a Pixel cellphone than earlier than.

Have I missed any apps or companies that port a Pixel-exclusive function to Android telephones? Let the neighborhood know within the feedback!