After more than three and a half years on a Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, switching to a Pixel 10 Pro in March 2026 revealed something unexpected: Google's flagship software has gaps that Samsung closed years ago. A new writeup on How-To Geek catalogs the features the author misses most—and argues that Google's priorities have drifted away from the power users who made Android great.
The pattern is consistent across three areas: customization depth, home screen organization, and system-wide automation. Samsung kept building; Google kept adding AI features that, in the author's words, "aren't that useful, and some even downgrade what they replaced."
Good Lock and the customization gap
Samsung's Good Lock app is a collection of modules that let users tweak everything from volume steps to lock screen layout without rooting. The writer installed it shortly after getting the S21 FE and kept finding new options months into ownership. He originally downloaded it for extra volume steps beyond the default 15 and ended up tweaking settings he didn't know existed.
Pixels have no first-party equivalent. A third-party app called Essentials covers some ground, but the reviewer calls it Good Lock lite at best. For a reader who treats their phone as a control surface, that gap is the dealbreaker.
Widget stacks and home screen real estate
Widget stacks let One UI users pile multiple widgets on top of each other and swipe through them from one home screen page. The writer had a single stack holding clock, smart home, Modes and Routines toggles, Sofascore, and a pedometer, with another stack for weather, battery, and Galaxy Buds. The result was faster navigation and more room for app shortcuts, since he avoids folders and the app drawer.
On the Pixel, those same widgets have to be spread across multiple pages, and the default home screen page cannot be changed. Google acknowledged it was looking into widget stacking in 2025 and has said nothing since.
Automation that actually does something
Modes and Routines is Samsung's system-wide automation tool. It can change settings based on time, location, or triggers, much like Pixel automations, but the piece argues the depth and the number of preset routines is greater. For users who like their phone to handle small chores without opening an app, that difference shows up daily.
Our analysis
The pattern is hard to ignore: Google ships a polished phone, then treats software as a finished project while Samsung keeps layering tools on top. For buyers who want a phone they can tune, the Pixel keeps losing ground. For buyers who want a clean camera and Google's AI in exchange for depth, the trade still makes sense. Watch the next Pixel feature drop for any mention of stacking or a Good Lock competitor. Until then, power users have a real reason to stay on Galaxy.
Who should care
| User type | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Power users who customize everything | Stay on Galaxy; Pixel's customization ceiling is real |
| Automation lovers who build if-this-then-that workflows | One UI's Modes and Routines have no Pixel rival |
| Camera-first buyers who barely touch settings | Pixel still wins; the gap only matters if you notice it |
| AI feature enthusiasts | Pixel pulls ahead; Samsung's AI push has been slower |
A practical example
Say you set up a routine that turns off Bluetooth, drops brightness, and opens your audiobook app when you plug in headphones at night. On One UI, that takes one routine and a handful of taps. On a Pixel, you are stitching together automations, third-party apps, and home screen shortcuts. The result works, but it works slower and breaks more often.
Key takeaways
- Pixel phones still lack a first-party answer to Good Lock years after Samsung shipped it.
- Widget stacks have been missing since One UI got them in late 2022.
- If deep customization matters more than AI extras, a current Galaxy is still the stronger buy.
- Anyone switching from Samsung to Pixel should expect to rebuild their automation setup from scratch.
Frequently asked questions
What is Good Lock and why does it matter?
Good Lock is Samsung's official customization suite, built from modules that change volume steps, lock screens, recents, and more without rooting. It matters because Pixel users have no comparable first-party toolkit.
Are widget stacks coming to Pixel phones?
Google said it was "looking into" the feature in 2025, according to How-To Geek, and has not announced a release date since.
How is Pixel automation different from Samsung's Modes and Routines?
Both let you trigger changes by time, place, or action, but the How-To Geek writeup argues Modes and Routines has more presets, deeper hooks into system settings, and a longer track record.
Should a customization-focused user switch from Galaxy to Pixel?
Based on this comparison, no, unless they value Google's AI and camera pipeline more than One UI's depth.