While not perfect, the Pixel Launcher is my preferred choice among all the stock launchers from Android OEMs. It packs all the important features I need, including a system-wide search tool.

While it is not as customizable as other first-party launchers, Google has been steadily closing that gap with recent Android updates.

I certainly miss Nova Launcher’s features, but the Pixel Launcher felt good enough for daily use — until I tried Smart Launcher.

Gestures galore

More than just swipes and taps

On the Pixel Launcher, I can swipe down on the home screen to bring up the notification panel, with another swipe expanding the Quick Settings panel.

With a swipe up, I can open the app drawer with the search bar and keyboard summoned for a quick, system-wide search across contacts, files, YouTube Music, Google services, and more.

These two are among my most-used home screen gestures. But then I gave Smart Launcher a try and made use of the plethora of gestures it supports.

For starters, I’ve set up gestures for most shortcuts on my Pixel’s home screen. So, if I double-tap the Phone app icon, it will call my wife.

Likewise, a left swipe tap on the Pixel Camera shortcut opens the selfie camera. For some apps, like YouTube Music, I’ve mapped the double-tap gesture to bring up their widget.

Individually, these app icon shortcuts might not seem like a big deal. But in everyday use, they save me multiple taps and let me jump straight into a specific part of an app.

Granted, setting up app icon shortcuts is a time-consuming process. But when set up, they transform how you use your phone, letting you get things done faster.

These app icon shortcuts are in addition to the single and double-finger gestures that Smart Launcher supports.

I use a few of these gestures, but not all, to keep things from getting convoluted too quickly. For example, I’ve mapped the swipe-up gesture to trigger Smart Search.

Pixel Launcher has a system-wide search tool too, but Smart Launcher’s version feels faster and far more flexible, as it shows app shortcuts and calendar events.

With Google working on adding limited app icon customization to the Pixel Launcher, its next focus should be to bring gesture support.

App drawer organization done right

No more endless scrolling

Most of the time, I use the Pixel Launcher’s search feature to quickly find and open the app I need. But on the rare occasion I dive into the app drawer, I’m greeted with an endlessly long list of all the installed apps.

Smart Launcher tackles this problem by neatly sorting apps into categories like communication, productivity, and entertainment.

So, instead of a long, unorganized list, I get a structured app drawer, making it easier to find the app I want, minus the frustration.

Left: Pixel Launcher’s app drawer is basic. Right: Automatic app categorization in Smart Launcher.

The best part is that Smart Launcher automatically sorts apps into categories, doing the hard work for me. Within each category, I can further organize apps by name, usage, or other criteria.

Google could take a cue from Smart Launcher and add automatic app categorization to the Pixel Launcher’s app drawer. At the very least, proper folder support would help cut down on the endless scrolling.

The app drawer is one of the aspects of the Pixel Launcher that Google desperately needs to fix.

Icon customization done right

From shapes to styles, you’re in control

For all the customization options that Google has added to Pixel Launcher, it still misses out on icon pack support.

And that’s a shame because the Play Store is filled with some great options. You are limited to themed icons and customizing the icon shapes.

Smart Launcher goes beyond just icon pack support. You can change the icon shapes, adjust their size, and fine-tune their position with precise controls.

You also get advanced grid customization and widget placement options, like adjusting icon size, setting custom padding, or even hiding icon labels for a cleaner look.

Put it all together, and Smart Launcher gives you the tools to build home screens that feel both personal and practical.

Am I making use of all these options? No. But it’s good to know they are available, so that whenever I’m bored with my current home screen, I can customize everything for a fresh new look.

With the Pixel Launcher, my customization options are limited to changing the wallpaper and picking a different app icon shape. And that hardly goes far enough, especially for an operating system that prides itself on flexibility and personalization.

I’m not going back to Pixel Launcher

Smartphone home screens are no longer about housing all the app shortcuts you frequently use. It’s time they evolved, providing more customization options and flexibility.

Pixel Launcher gets the basics right, but for an operating system that’s all about customizations, it does not offer enough. After sticking with it for so long, switching to Smart Launcher made me realize just how much I’d been missing.

It’s easy to forget how powerful third-party launchers can be, especially with the stepchild treatment they so often get.