Google’s Pixel software is in a great place in 2025, but as with everything, it’s not perfect. Here’s what I want to change this year.
As hard as it is to believe, this year will mark the tenth anniversary of Google’s pixel lineup. It feels like just yesterday that Google was announcing the very first Pixel, asking us if we needed a new phone. Like new new. Like doesn’t have a version number new.
With the Google Pixel 10 series leaking left and right and having just revisited the Google Pixel 9 Pro, the Pixel series has been on my mind a lot lately. Specifically its software. Clean UX and helpful, unique features are why the first few Pixel phones were so good, and they continue to be the biggest perks of buying a Pixel today.
But while Google gets a lot right with its Pixel software, it’s not perfect. If Google wants to make its current phones even better and ensure the Pixel 10 is as good as can be, here are a few software changes I’d really like to see this year.At a Glance needs some tinkering
For the most part, I quite like the Pixel Launcher. It’s uncluttered, buttery smooth, and easy to navigate. But for years, it’s come with a constant annoyance: the At a Glance widget. The idea behind At a Glance is sound — showing you weather info, upcoming calendar events, and other relevant information at the top of your home screen.
There’s just one problem. You can’t remove it or reposition it. You can technically disable At a Glance in the settings, but even then, all it does is remove the contextual bits. You’re still stuck with the date at the top left of your screen. That’s fine if you like At a Glance, but if you don’t want to use it, you shouldn’t be forced to have it take up precious home screen real estate.
Beyond that, I’d also like to see At a Glance improve for folks who do use it. The touch targets between the date (your calendar) and the weather are far too small, and the overall design looks a bit outdated. I don’t want Google to kill At a Glance, but it’s due for some tinkering. My colleague Andy Walker recently wrote about the need for more powerful At a Galance features. Please, Google, hear our pleas.Large app folders
While we’re talking about the Pixel Launcher, I’d also like to see Google add large app folders this year. The latest versions of One UI and OxygenOS have large folder options, the main perk being that you can immediately open an app from the folder just by tapping on it — no need to open the folder first.
