Does Android still need third-party launchers?

I agree with you. I still use Nova, they had a solid update recently and my phone is feeling snappier than ever. It does concern me, however, that they're tracking every interaction with my phone now 😮‍💨

I'm normally very privacy centric - very conflicted about Nova Launcher because I like the launcher so much...

I still use version 7 because Nova is the only launcher that gives me tabs and treats icons the right way. No other launcher manages to do it, it’s baffling.

I really wish there was another launcher that allowed all of

•Multiple pages for widgets and things

•Empty pages

•Scrolling wallpapers

•A totally transparent home page

Every other launcher I've tried allows for maybe one of those.

Depends what phone you have - Pixels have a search bar on the home screen by default (not sure if they can be turned off on later models, maybe?)

You may be using the default launcher that came with your phone, but if you don't have the search bar, then it's still a 3rd party launcher. Google's launcher forces an immovable search bar on to your home screen.

-Edit-
It's possible this has changed in the years I've been using an alternate launcher. It's been several years since I switched and never really checked back to see if it was still true.

I'm using the Samsung S24 out of the box. What are you missing with it?

Curious, because I want to switch if there's good arguments to do so.

samsung roms in general

folders, grid size, customising badge notifications, dock size, multiple docks, multiple tab pages in app drawer, hide icons in app drawer, drawer groups, etc. those are some of the things i like in nova :)

I don't know what's required for KLWP support in a launcher, but KLWP is a live wallpaper with touch interaction. Don't know if stock support that on my phone. But some cool setup like media player functionality, time and such, in the font and size I want. And some other disguised shortcuts.

But for me in actual Nova, it being able to style app icons individually, swipe actions on app icons, and the dock at the bottom being able to slide to have more apps. And pretty standard now, but swipe up for app drawer and down for notifications. It works especially well with OnePlus gestures that I'm still holding on to.

I don't think it has any customizations for pull down gestures. Would be nice to have for certain people.

I've had to give up on KISS launcher recently because of this. 95% of the time it works fine, until it scrolls right to the end of the lost and won't allow you to scroll back. Swiping left and right then also breaks and the only thing to do is force stop quickstep.

EDIT: Just tried with Niagara and got the same issue almost immediately. (Seems to be triggered by opening recent apps from the launcher itself)

For reference, I'm on a Fairphone 5 using the stock ROM

Swiping left or right on home to switch apps doesn't work. Swiping up on home to bring recent apps works so so. It's slow to trigger or have to swipe almost at top of the screen. Going back to home is also slow. Wallpaper is immediately show but icons take 3/4 seconds to appear. With buttons it's instant. With other apps no problem.

I am using nova latest beta on Android 14 with a OnePlus 12. As it is fairly recent maybe it still need optimization.

Kvaesitso and Niagara for me

although i have practically abandoned niagara for kvaesitso