I ditched Pixel Launcher for Microsoft Launcher and I don’t regret it

If you consider Microsoft, the likes of Home windows, Workplace, and Bing most likely come to thoughts. I doubt that “creator of a superb Android launcher” would spring to thoughts. Since receiving a Pixel 8, I’ve struggled to bend its dwelling software program to go well with my wants. I’ve realized to dwell with Pixel Launcher greater than I’ve grown to find it irresistible. Naturally, I’ve been exploring a number of alternate options. After giving Microsoft Launcher every week on my machine to show itself, I admit there’s a lot to love about Redmond’s dwelling display expertise, even on Google’s greatest smartphones.

Consider it or not, Microsoft Launcher is over a decade outdated, however I haven’t used it in earnest till now. Launched in late 2015, it has undergone a number of iterations, however its authentic design philosophy stays: construct an Android launcher for a Microsoft product person. However this solely skims the floor. The launcher presents rather more for these in search of broad customization and performance, no matter their allegiance to the corporate’s merchandise.

I admit I used to be reluctant to strive Microsoft Launcher on my Pixel. Most Microsoft Android apps have left me wanting up to now. However as soon as it was put in, I dove proper into its settings web page. There’s a dizzying quantity of things out there to arrange a totally customized surroundings. There’s a transparent concentrate on offering as many person choices as potential right here — the obvious antithesis of Pixel Launcher. Off to begin, then.

Let’s get proper into certainly one of my favourite points of Microsoft Launcher: its abundance of gesture choices. In the end, the default Pixel choice is ruled by Android’s default swiping expertise, however Microsoft Launcher permits as much as 10 separate gesture patterns, every able to triggering a number of launcher actions, apps, and shortcuts on the machine. I can swipe up on the house button to set off Gemini and pinch out to view latest apps. A two-finger swipe down triggers fast settings whereas swiping up with two fingers opens my notifications shade. This implementation is way slicker than even Google can handle by itself cellphone and makes one-handed operation a lot simpler on my smaller Pixel 8.

I additionally discovered loads to love as soon as I made it to the house display. I’ve grow to be conditioned to swipe proper to entry Google Uncover on my Pixel, and Microsoft Launcher has an equal known as Your feed. That’s a limp identify, positive, nevertheless it presents way more performance than the Uncover feed ever may.

It consists of two distinct components: Look and Information. The latter is successfully a shortcut to MSN Information and like Uncover, it additionally enjoys feeding me ad-laden rubbish that’s tough to learn and handle. I’ve since tamed my Uncover expertise and have grown to love it, so this was the largest miss leaping over to Microsoft Launcher. At the least with Google’s answer, I’ve educated it to point out me what I choose. Microsoft Launcher permits me to comply with sure publishers, however the record is anemic, and I’m unsure how these preferences are applied inside the bigger feed itself.

Nonetheless, Look lets me overlook Microsoft’s content material supply discretions. It attracts inspiration from Google Now, providing customers a number of scrollable playing cards that show data from the corporate’s numerous apps and companies. The default choices embody playing cards for Calendar, Microsoft To Do, Paperwork from OneDrive, and different device-related playing cards, like Sticky Notes, Display time, Latest actions, and Ceaselessly used apps. They’re reorderable and detachable, so you’ll be able to trash each card in the event you don’t use any Microsoft service.

As an experiment, I turned Look right into a Google-laden widget wonderland, and it was good. I scroll proper and might entry my At a Look knowledge, favourite Hold notes, upcoming Calendar occasions, Google Information ticker, monetary watch record, and Duties to-dos. You’ll be able to see how that turned out within the bigger picture above. I’m unsure why or how Google hasn’t copied this but, nevertheless it actually ought to.

I admire that the default furnishings on Microsoft Launcher’s dwelling display is detachable, too. Don’t fancy the clock/climate widget? Bin it. I don’t significantly just like the search bar look, so I take away it from the house display. I can all the time set off it utilizing a gesture anyway. Not like Pixel Launcher, I can transfer or take away gadgets to my liking. There’s no have to compromise and pressure At a Look or the Pixel search bar into my workflow.

Microsoft Launcher doesn’t restrict me to a paltry 5×5 app grid, both. Sure, its choices are way more restrictive than the likes of Nova Launcher, however the app drawer presents a snug 5×8 format that fits the size of the Pixel 8’s display. I additionally love the alphabetical bounce record on the right-hand aspect, permitting me to rapidly leap to the app I would like. Alternatively, Microsoft’s search works fairly effectively right here, presenting the app icons proper up prime above the much less vital internet outcomes.

Granted, there are many different options I actually like on Microsoft Launcher, however extra minor additions additional add to its attract. It makes hiding icons from the house display and app drawer straightforward. I admire Bing Picture Search constructed into the search bar, regardless that I didn’t discover it significantly helpful for my every day wants. I’ve even loved utilizing the dock, which may lengthen to 3 rows when given an upward swipe. Loading this with fast settings and shortcuts makes it a useful addition. All these little customization choices enable me to construct a much more comfy dwelling expertise on my Pixel cellphone than Pixel Launcher itself.

Whereas I want I had nothing however reward for Microsoft, I do have to deal with a number of ache factors. As with all third-party launchers on Pixels, some noticeable and annoying animation glitches are current. Leaping between settings pages produces this momentary black flash that I’ve not skilled on another Android cellphone. Different launchers nonetheless undergo from stutters and artifacts, so this isn’t a Microsoft Launcher challenge.

It isn’t visually demanding, nevertheless it does really feel significantly slower than Pixel Launcher on the machine. That is primarily anecdotal, nevertheless it’s noticeable sufficient that it’s value mentioning. Pixel Launcher nonetheless feels good on Pixels, which is why so many stick to the corporate’s default.

None of those shortcomings dent my Microsoft Launcher expertise, although. After every week of use, I can comfortably say that Microsoft has made a greater launcher for Pixels than Google.

Other than the visible glitches and actually horrible information feed, Microsoft Launcher looks like a much more achieved bundle. It may be as maximalist or minimalist as a person needs, widgets might be fastened to Look or reside on the house web page (or each!), parts from the house web page might be eliminated, and gestures bend to a person’s calls for, too. And, to be sensible, the information challenge might be remedied with a Google Information widget.

I used to be solely planning to make use of Microsoft Launcher at some point of my check, however I believe it’s earned a everlasting place on my Pixel.