Lock screen customization

Google appears to be working on improving the lock screen customization options for Pixel phones.

Mishaal Rahman, senior technical editor for Esper, shared several glimpses of the work-in-progress changes in a recent tweet thread (via Android Police). Rahman was able to find most of the details in the third Android 13 QPR2 beta.

First up, Rahman detailed a new preview user interface (UI) for picking a wallpaper and style. This includes a new fullscreen preview and some other tweaks. However, Rahman notes it appears unfinished (he suspects Google is making room for several upcoming customization options like custom clocks and lock screen shortcuts).

Here's a look at the “revamped” Wallpaper & style UI. It doesn't look finished, but I think the idea is to make room for all the upcoming lock screen customization options (custom clock, lock screen shortcuts).

Credits: @Za_Raczke pic.twitter.com/HGRtx3WIOE

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) February 1, 2023

Rahman then shared a look at the lock screen shortcuts feature, which lets users assign functions to a left and right button. Some of the functions visible in the screenshots include turning on the flashlight, do not disturb, and smart home device controls. There’s also an option to pick a custom lock screen clock, and Rahman points to a Twitter thread he made in mid-January about the new clock options.

To activate the new lock screen shortcuts, Rahman says you have to long-press them instead of simply tapping them, which should help reduce accidental activations.

Here's a first look at the settings page for the new lock screen shortcuts feature! pic.twitter.com/5q08OWyq9o

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) February 1, 2023

Overall, it looks like a future Android update will enable a ton of customization options on Pixel phones, bringing them more in line with Samsung and Apple — both companies offer ways to customize your lock screen.

Android Police suggests the features will arrive with the next Pixel Feature Drop, which should release in March 2023.

Source: @MishaalRahman Via: Android Police

One of the primary attractions of iOS 16 is that it finally allows users to customize their lock screen, a feature that Android users have long enjoyed. When paired with the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island, it gives a distinct look to a locked iPhone.

The distinctions, however, don’t last long. We already know that Android applications like ‘dynamicSpot’ allow Android users to experience the Dynamic Island-style cut-out without having to buy a new iPhone 14 Pro, and now, Samsung’s OneUI Beta 3 seems to offer a similar lock screen to iOS 16.

First spotted by TechDroider founder Vaibhav Jain (@vvaiibhav), via 9to5Mac, the way users would customize their lock screen in OneUI Beta 5 appears very similar to Apple’s approach.

GoodLock vs Samsung OneUI 5 vs iOS 16

Show me exactly where GoOdlock Did It First 😂

Where’s the Lockscreen Wallpaper Filter Option? From where Samsung copied Long Press to Customise Lockscreen Interface and Wallpaper Picker

The OneUI 5 Lockscreen Interface is a copy of iOS16 pic.twitter.com/nGaOkt8KTF

— Vaibhav Jain (@vvaiibhav) September 26, 2022

The ability to change clock style font and a similar colour palette, alongside a wallpaper filter option for different colour tones, and the wallpaper picker option, all look similar on both operating systems. Additionally, the way to customize the lock screen is identical, too — by long-pressing the lock screen.

It’s worth noting that the ability to change clock styles, via GoodLock, has been available since OneUI 4.1.1. That said, the new update adds the ability to change clock fonts and a wallpaper filter option — both of which look similar to iOS 16 in terms of UI — alongside the ability to long press to enter lock screen customization interface.

Check out more comparison photos in the tweet below:

Apple iOS 16 vs Samsung OneUI 5 (Android 13) – Lock Screen pic.twitter.com/2tIcMaLaAN

— TechDroider (@techdroider) September 26, 2022

Image credit: @vvaiibhav

Source: @vvaiibhav