Google modified the search bar on my Pixel dwelling display. I hate it

One in all my favourite issues about Google’s Pixel telephones is the persistent Google Search bar on the backside of the house display. It’s such a easy characteristic, however having that fixed entry to Google, and proper by my thumb, is a big comfort.

Earlier this month, we reported that Google was on the brink of change that search bar by including yet one more shortcut to it — this time, one for Google AI Mode. That shortcut now seems to be broadly rolling out to Pixel telephones working Android 16, as my Pixel 9a simply acquired it the opposite day.

And I’ve received to be sincere: I hate it.

With this newest addition, the search bar now serves 4 important capabilities: performing a daily Google Search, utilizing AI Mode, beginning a voice search, and launching Google Lens.

Having a lot performance crammed right into a single space is, objectively, use of house. Nonetheless, as somebody who doesn’t use any of these further shortcuts, they aren’t useful in any respect. I’m certain they’re nice should you usually use AI Mode, voice search, and Lens, however should you don’t, they only make the Pixel dwelling display look cluttered and messy.

Additional, the extra of those shortcuts Google provides, the much less free house there may be to faucet the search bar for what I exploit it for: launching Google Search. It’s not that it’s not possible to immediate a daily Google Search, however the AI Mode icon is simply shut sufficient to the center of the bar (at the least on the Pixel 9a) that I’ve already unintentionally tapped AI Mode as a substitute of the common search space when rapidly tapping it with my thumb.

Within the Pixel 6 period, the search bar solely had the voice search icon on the far proper — and I used to be OK with that! I may nonetheless faucet nearly wherever to start out typing a search, and for these uncommon cases after I wish to say my search aloud, it was good having the voice mode shortcut.

When Google added the Google Lens icon across the time of the Pixel 7, I used to be barely irritated, although I believed for certain that’s the place the extra icons would finish. But right here we’re, a few years later, with the AI Mode icon proving me incorrect.

Now, is that this the tip of the world? The most important subject dealing with Google’s Pixel telephones? In fact not. Nonetheless, I believe it’s honest to argue that this newest change to the Pixel search bar isn’t one.

I’m high-quality with Google providing customers extra methods to make the most of the search bar, however we should always have some enter on what further shortcuts we’d prefer to see. Hell, Google provides precisely that with its common Search widget, permitting you to alter the shortcut on the finish of it — whether or not it’s one for AI Mode, Google Translate, Google Climate, or none in any respect. But, for no matter purpose, the Search bar on Pixel telephones lacks that customization.

Google’s Pixel telephones are supposed to supply one of the best of Google on an Android cellphone. Whereas there’s clearly rather a lot that Google will get proper, little points like this are all of the extra annoying due to how arbitrary they’re. I ought to be capable to management what the Google Search bar on my Pixel appears like. The instruments are there for the common Android widget, so why can’t I exploit them on my Pixel?

When you have a Pixel working Android 16 and you want AI Mode, I’m completely happy for you. However for the remainder of us, I can solely hope Google lets us do away with this new shortcut sooner quite than later.