But this new Search bar may not be all good news. Those who have grown accustomed to a particular layout with the old widget size may be in for a surprise, as it is now 4×1 instead of 3×1.

That changed in September 2021 with the introduction of a dedicated Google Lens icon. Fast-forward to now, and the launcher's Search bar has retained the same look.

Putting AI on a level with voice search signals a clear ambition. It encourages natural language queries on the home screen rather than in a separate experiment. It also positions Android as the ...