When Google releases a new phone, the changes it makes to its interface always attract attention. The way the company designs the home screen, search bar, and top area with contextual information sets trends among pure Android enthusiasts. While we're still wondering about the changes that will come in future generations of Pixel, here's a look at... imitate the Google Pixel 2 widget and its style on virtually any Android mobile.
Why imitate the style of the Pixel 2
When Google When a new phone is launched, it usually introduces small visual and functional changes that make them more... recognizableThe company's big bet on hardware began thanks to the Google Pixel, which replaced telephones Nexusvery popular among advanced users. With them also came a Exclusive Pixel Launcher and, above all, a very distinctive widget known as At a glance (At a Glance).
While the first Pixel opted for the classic "pill" at the top alongside the date and temperature, the Google Pixel 2 rearranged things again. The search bar, always present in Android, moved to the bottom, right in the However,, while the upper part of the desk was reserved for a dynamic widget with useful information in real time.
That top widget elegantly displays the when and where and temperaturebut it also integrates with your calendar events to notify you of meetings, reminders, or important tasks. In other words, it's not just a decoration, but a practical element that acts as a quick information hub, similar to what the native widget offers. At a glance in current Pixel phones.
The aim of this guide is to help you replicate that behavior On any Android device, with or without Pixel Launcher, using free apps and advanced widgets. To achieve this, we'll combine simple apps with more comprehensive ones that allow you to customize virtually every detail of the widget.
Applications to imitate the Google Pixel 2 widget
To get a widget similar to the one on the Pixel 2, you have two main options: opt for a very simple solution that does practically everything for you, or use a more advanced tool with many customization options. You'll see that both complement launchers like Nova Launcher or similar, and even with factory desktops if they respect the standard Android widgets.
Another Widget: betting on simplicity
If you don't want to get too complicated when it comes to imitating the Google Pixel 2 widget, your best option is to opt for Another widget. This free app from the Play Store It only offers the option to mimic the widget, helping you to configure more specific aspects in a very clear and visual way, such as the size of the elementsWhat happens when you tap on each part (for example, going to the calendar when you tap the date), and so on. It doesn't deviate from the guidelines implemented by Google's developers, so it's the perfect option if you don't want to overthink things.
Another Widget acts as a very faithful copy from the original Pixel 2 widget: shows next events from your calendar, the current date and meteorological conditionsFor it to work properly, you must first grant the necessary permissions From Android: access to the calendar to read events and access to location (or a weather provider) to get the weather.
Within the configuration options, although they are relatively simple, you can adjust useful details on the table:
- Choosing which calendars They will be displayed in the widget, ideal if you have multiple accounts set up.
- hide or show full-day eventsto prevent them from always occupying the main space.
- Select the temperature unit (Celsius or Fahrenheit) depending on your region or preferences.
- Define the action when tapping the widgetusually open the calendar app or a specific weather app.
Once configured, return to your launcher and add the Another Widget widget like any other Android widget (usually by long-pressing on an empty space on the home screen and entering the settings section). WidgetsPlace it on top of the desktop to resemble the original Pixel.
Chronus: Home & Lock Widgets: betting on more options
If on the other hand you wish to have more options and additional styles, you will have to choose Chronus: Home & Lock WidgetsWith this app you'll have many more widget variations, including designs inspired by the Pixel 2 style along with combined clocks, news, or information panels.
Once installed, you'll need to place one of its Pixel 2-style widgets on your home screen (there are several, choose the one you prefer) and open the app to edit it. From there you can adjust transparency, fondo, font size, sources of meteorological data, date and time format, as well as which application opens when you tap on each area of the widget.
Please note that some details are reserved for the paid versionBut even with the free version, you have plenty of parameters (transparency, background, size, text or icon alignment) at your disposal to decide how you want the widget to look and adapt it as much as possible to the behavior of the original Pixel Launcher.
Chronus also stands out because it allows you to create similar widgets for the lock screen on many devices, thus mimicking the experience of seeing information at a glance both on the desktop and when turning on the screen.
Combine Pixel-style widgets with custom launchers
To achieve an even more similar experience Similar to the Google Pixel 2, you can combine these widgets with launchers like Nova Launcher or similar. This way, you not only copy the widget, but also the search bar at the bottom, rounded icons and the animation style.
In Nova Launcher, for example, is possible:
- Change the search bar style to make it wide with rounded edges, using the Google “G” logo.
- Move the bar to the lower zone From the Dock settings, by activating the search bar option in the dock.
- Hide icon names or adjust the desktop grid to give more prominence to the top widget.
Combining a customizable launcher with Another Widget or Chronus results in a desktop very similar to that of the Pixel 2, with the advantage that you can adapt every detail (colors, sizes, actions when tapped, data sources) to your liking and the limitations of your Android device.
With all these tools you can enjoy the famous "At a Glance" widget from the Google Pixel 2 on almost any Android phone, maintaining the essence of the original design but with a level of customization which even surpasses that of Google's own phones.