Three apps that extend the Pixel Launcher with wallpapers, shortcuts and lights

Why the Pixel Launcher gets some help

According to Android Police, the Pixel Launcher remains a reliable and straightforward home screen experience, but the site's writer never uses it on its own. Instead, three third-party apps are paired with it to cover the areas where it falls short: wallpapers, gesture shortcuts and the Always-On Display.

The argument is that these apps are subtle additions rather than full replacements. They sit alongside Google's launcher without changing its overall look, and all of them are available through the Play Store.

Backdrops widens the wallpaper choice

The first recommendation is Backdrops, a free wallpaper app that is regularly updated with original designs. Android Police describes the wallpapers built into the Pixel Launcher as muted and forgettable, and says Backdrops covers every theme, from minimalist artwork to real-world photography.

The app has Community and Explore tabs for browsing new images, plus collections that group wallpapers into coherent sets. Some collections are free, while others are paid. One limitation is that users cannot automatically rotate through a single collection.

A Pro level, sold as a one-time purchase or included through Play Pass, unlocks rotation across favourite wallpapers. The writer uses this so the phone shows a new background every day.

Panels adds a shortcut edge to the Pixel

The second app, Panels, brings something similar to Samsung's One UI Edge Panels to Pixel devices. It adds a swipeable side panel of shortcuts that, according to Android Police, fits neatly with the Pixel Launcher's Material You visuals.

The writer has configured a two-by-five grid containing apps, shortcuts and app pairs. An app pair, such as Calendar and Maps opening together for trip planning, can be launched from the panel with one tap.

Panels also supports mapped accessibility shortcuts, custom icons and gestures. With gestures set up, a particular swipe can open a linked app directly, without opening the panel first. The app is free, and the writer says the premium features have not been needed.

Muviz Edge brightens the Always-On Display

The third pick is Muviz Edge, which addresses what Android Police calls a weak spot of the Pixel Launcher: the Always-On Display. The stock version shows only the date, time and notification icons. Muviz Edge adds more display options plus edge lights that sync to music, with settings ranging from subtle lighting to bold waveform effects.

Battery life was the main concern, and the reported impact depends heavily on the chosen effects. The writer measured 5% to 10% battery use over a day with bright, flashy effects, while subtle settings never exceeded 5%.

The free version is described as severely limited, but the full feature set is unlocked with a one-time payment rather than a subscription.

What this means for Pixel owners

All three apps are free to download, with paid upgrades in some cases, and none of them require abandoning the Pixel Launcher itself. Android Police concludes that better wallpapers, extra gesture shortcuts and a livelier Always-On Display together turn the launcher from good to great.

It is worth noting that this is one writer's experience rather than an independent test. Battery figures for Muviz Edge are personal measurements on one device, and results could differ depending on the phone and settings. Even so, the article offers a useful starting point for anyone who finds Google's stock launcher too plain, and each app can be tried for free before paying anything.