Google takes cues from the iPhone to revamp the Pixel’s lock screen with Android 15

Google seems to be about to bring back lock screen widgets in Android 15, given that it is testing iPhone-inspired features for its Pixel phones. This move is in response to increased demand for faster accessibility and useful information directly on the lock screen, similar to what the iPhone offers.

According to Android Authority and Android Police, the new implementation will include support for third-party widgets by integrating the RemoteViews API into the At a Glance Smartspace API. This would allow third-party widgets to be displayed directly on the lock screen, but the functionality might initially be limited to Pixel devices only.

However, there are technical challenges, including insufficient screen space to display widgets at desired sizes. Additionally, to extend these features to the lock screens of Android phones from other manufacturers, Google will need to work with them, which can complicate implementation.

Currently, the At a Glance widget can be placed on the home screen of non-Pixel phones, but with limited functionality. Google is also considering moving this widget to the bottom of the lock screen to maximize the efficiency of the available space.