I ditched pixel launcher for microsoft launcher and i dont regret it

When you think of Microsoft, like Windows, Office and Bing will probably come. I doubt that “creating of a brilliant Android Launcher“Would mind. Since I received a Pixel 8, I have struggled to bend the home software to fit my needs. I learned to live with Pixel Launcher more than I have grown to Best smartphones.

Believe it or not, Microsoft Launcher is over a decade old, but I haven’t used it in earnest until now. It was launched in late 2015 and has undergone several iterations, but the original design philosophy remains: Build an Android launch for a Microsoft product user. But this only foams the surface. The Lakøren offers much more for those who seek broad adaptation and functionality, regardless of their allegiance to the company’s products.

I admit that I was reluctant to try Microsoft Launcher on my pixel. Most Microsoft Android apps have let me desire lately. But when installed, I push right into the setting page. There is a staggering amount of goods available to set up a completely adapted environment. There is a clear focus on providing as many user options as possible here – the seemingly antithesis to Pixel Launcher. Off to a good start, then.

Let’s get right into one of my favorite aspects of Microsoft Launcher: its abundance of gesture options. Ultimately, the standard Pixel option is controlled by Android’s standard swipe experience, but Microsoft Launcher allows up to 10 separate gesture patterns, each capable of triggering a variety of launcher actions, apps and shortcuts on the device. I can swipe the home button to trigger Gemini and pinch to look newer apps. A two-finger sweeping down triggers fast settings while sweeping up with two fingers, opening my notifications. This implementation is far smooth than even Google can manage on its own phone and make one -hand operation so much easier on my smaller Pixel 8.

I also found a lot to like when I got to the home screen. I have been contingent on swipe on the right to access Google Discover on my pixel and Microsoft Launcher has a similarly called Your feed. It is a slaughter name, for sure, but it offers far more functionality than Discover Feed ever could.

It consists of two different parts: glances and news. The latter is effective a shortcut to MSN news and likes to detect, it also likes to feed me ad-charged garbage that is difficult to read and manage. I have since tamed my discover experience and have grown to like it, so this was the biggest miss that skipped to Microsoft Launcher. At least with Google’s solution, I’ve been training it to show me what I prefer. Microsoft Launcher lets me follow certain publishers, but the list is anemic, and I’m not sure how these preferences are implemented in the larger feed itself.

However, See lets me overlook Microsoft’s discretion. It draws inspiration from Google now and offers users a selection of rollable cards showing information from the company’s various apps and services. The standard offers include cards for calendar, Microsoft to do, documents from OneDrive and other device -related cards, such as Sticky Notes, Screen Time, newer activities and often used apps. They are changing and removable, so you can garbage every card if you do not use any Microsoft service.

As an experiment, I looked at a Google-loaded widget adventyrland, and it was brilliant. I browse right and can access my data, favorite Keep Notes, upcoming calendar events, Google News Ticker, Financial Watch List and Tasks After-Dos. You can see how it turned out in the larger picture above. I’m not sure why or how Google hasn’t copied this yet, but it really should.

I appreciate that the standard furniture at Microsoft Launcher’s home screen is also removable. Do you not want the clock/weather widget? Bin it. I don’t particularly like the search box, so I remove it from the home screen. I can always trigger it using a gesture anyway. Unlike Pixel Launcher, I can move or remove items to my taste. There is no need to go to a chord and force at a moment or pixel search field in my workflow.

Microsoft Launcher does not limit me to a small 5 × 5 appnett, either. Yes, the options are far more restrictive than such as Nova launcherBut the app drawer offers a comfortable 5 × 8 setup that fits the dimensions of the Pixel 8S screen. I also love the alphabetical jump list on the right, so I can quickly jump to the app I want. Alternatively, Microsoft’s search works pretty well here, and presents the app icons all the way up over the less important web results.

Admittedly, there are many other features I really like on Microsoft Launcher, but several smaller additions add to the lid. It makes it easy to hide icons from the home screen and app drawer. I appreciate the Bing photo search built into the search box, although I didn’t think it was particularly useful for my daily needs. I even enjoyed using the quay, which can extend to three rows when they get an upward sweep. Loading this with quick settings and shortcuts makes it a useful addition. All these small customization options allow me to build a far more comfortable home experience on my Pixel phone than Pixel Launcher himself.

While I wish I had nothing but praise for Microsoft, I have to take up a few pain points. As with all third -party launchers on pixels, some noticeable and annoying animated errors are present. Jumping between Settings pages produces this instant Black Flash that I have not experienced on any other Android phone. Other shooters are still suffering from strains and objects, so this is not a Microsoft launch problem.

It is not visually demanding, but it feels significantly slower than pixel launcher on the device. This is mainly anecdotic, but it is probably noticeable that it is worth mentioning. Pixel Launcher still feels brilliant on pixels, which is why so many adhere to the company’s standard.

None of these deficiencies hit me in the Microsoft Launcher experience. After a week of use, I can comfortably say that Microsoft has made a better launch for pixels than Google.

Apart from the visual errors and really terrible news feed, Microsoft Launcher feels like a far more skilled package. It can be as maximalist or minimalist as the user wants, widgets can be attached to see or lie on the homepage (or both!), Elements from the website can also be removed, and gestures bend to a user’s requirements as well. And to be realistic, the news question can be rectified with a Google News widget.

I just planned to use Microsoft Launcher during the test, but I think it has earned a permanent place on my pixel.