In Short: A new version of the Pixel Launcher is coming on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, and if you’d like to get it and sideload it to your device, well, you’re in luck, as an APK file is now available to download, a link is included down below. This new version of the Pixel Launcher brings the Google Assistant icon back to the Google Search widget, while the same icon has been added to the app drawer’s G pill as well. On top of that, adaptive icons are now forced on all icons, Google is aiming for a uniform look here, of course. Spacing in the app launcher has also changed a bit, apps are placed further apart now. That’s not all, though, this new Pixel Launcher APK also brings some changes to the app switcher. A small arrow has been added above the G pill, while the size and spacing are also different. Google has also removed the pop-up effect when you tap the icon to enter a split screen mode, see app info and so on. Before you download it, however, keep in mind you’ll need a smartphone running Android 9 Pie in order to use it.
Background: Google had removed the Google Assistant icon from the Google Search widget in Android P Developer Preview 5 for unknown reasons, and it’s now finally back. That being said, this version of the Pixel Launcher comes pre-installed on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL handsets which were introduced yesterday by the company, along with some additional hardware. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are exactly what people have expected, as both devices leaked a number of times, both their hardware and software, actually. The Pixel 3 XL is larger of the two, and it comes with a rather large display notch, while the smaller Pixel 3 does not have a notch at all. Both phones are fueled by the Snapdragon 845, both come with 4GB of RAM, and a rather capable camera setup.
Impact: The Pixel Launcher is quite popular in the Android community due to its simplicity and optimization, and in case you’d like to get your hands on the latest version, and sideload it to your phone, you can do that via the link included down below.
