We have already reported about new things for the two search bars in Android on Pixel smartphones. Google wants to unite them. The previous search bar on the start page should also open the new universal search of the Pixel Launcher in the future. Google will soon position this universal search differently and is currently making it more powerful.
Additional reports indicate that Google is allowing the Pixel Launcher’s search bar to access more system features. This includes widgets, screenshots and also search suggestions from Google Search. The first users have already found the more extensive search results on their devices.
The Pixel Launcher’s search bar (powered by the Android System Intelligence app) will soon show results matching widgets, saved screenshots, and Google search suggestions.
Flags have existed for these for some time, but they recently started working (H/T @panduu221). pic.twitter.com/ZRQv66xSB4
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) March 21, 2022
Android 13 also shows a new location for the search bar in the app start menu. You should also move down there to be easier to reach. In addition, the design is then consistent because the search bar on the start screen has been positioned at the bottom of the screen for years.
It is currently difficult to predict whether most of the innovations mentioned will come sooner or should really only start with Android 13. Before that, there will be a pixel feature drop in the summer.