Android 15 is still under construction. Although a beta version is already available for some users, Google continues to work on developing more features for the final version, which could be released between August and September of this year. One of those changes is the improvement in the lock screen, which will have a strong inspiration in the iPhone design.
Since its inception, Android has stood out for its customization capacity and the freedom it offers users to adapt their devices according to their preferences. However, the possibility of adding widgets to the lock screen has been relegated, despite being a feature that was present in previous versions of the operating system, but was removed almost a decade ago with the launch of Android 5.0.
Although some manufacturers like Samsung have kept the idea of lock screen widgets alive, Google hasn’t shown much interest in reviving this feature, until now. With Android 15, the company is giving the possibility of having support for widgets on the lock screen, something that Apple has recently strengthened in iOS.
The first clue about this new feature was found in the Beta 1.2 version of Android 15, where a feature was discovered for “At a Glance” that will allow widgets to be displayed on the screen of iOS style lock.
Although it was initially thought that this feature would be available only on tablets, it was confirmed that it will be available on all devices, at least those from Google.
The key to this tool and the changes to adapt to current features is in the way the widgets are accessed. Instead of appearing directly on the lock screen, Widgets will be displayed when you gesture from the right edge, similar functionality to that found on iOS.
This design decision not only makes widgets easier to access, but also helps for a smoother and more consistent user experience.
Another similarity with iPhone is found in the concept of “Live Activities”, an iOS feature that allows contextualized information to be displayed on the lock screen. Although in Android 15 this feature is still under development and is not activated by default, it is possible to enable it in the latest beta of the operating system.
This feature, along with the ability to display widgets on the lock screen, will be one of the big changes users will see when the new version of the operating system is available.
On the one hand, the ability to add widgets to the lock screen offers users quick access to the most important information and functions of their favorite applications. Allowing it to be possible to perform actions or activate functions without having to unlock the phone, making everything much faster.
However, It is worth keeping in mind that this can lead to visual clutter and the need to ensure an intuitive and easy-to-use user experience.so on Android they will have to polish this function well for it to be really useful.
For that, Google is already working on improving the integration of widgets on the lock screen, ensuring that they fit appropriately into the available space and do not interfere with other elements of the user interface. Besides, The company is exploring the possibility of relocating the “At a Glance” element to the bottom of the lock screenwhich could contribute to a more balanced distribution of information.
