Pixel Climate is my favourite climate app. There’s only one downside

I’ve a confession to make: I’m a sucker for climate apps. I like main apps like AccuWeather and The Climate Channel, in addition to smaller third-party ones like Howdy Climate and At the moment Climate. A part of it’s because of dwelling in Michigan and having so many various situations to cope with all year long, and one other half is as a result of I’m only a nerd for making an attempt new Android apps.

Given all this, you’ll be able to think about my pleasure when Google launched its new Pixel Climate app alongside the Pixel 9 sequence final yr. We’ve seen cellphone manufacturers like Samsung, OnePlus, and others create climate apps particular to their units, however they’re usually by no means excellent — and normally much less of a full “app” and extra only a primary climate UI that sends you to The Climate Channel’s web site if you wish to see any actual knowledge.

Pixel Climate, in the meantime, isn’t that in any respect. It’s a feature-rich, extremely customizable, and extremely well-designed climate app that’s rapidly develop into one in every of my all-time favorites. There’s only one downside with it. I can solely use Pixel Climate on Pixel telephones, and it’s time that adjustments.

What’s it about Pixel Climate that makes it so good? For me, it’s a mix of some issues, beginning with the sheer quantity of obtainable knowledge. Primary info, corresponding to an hourly forecast, a 10-day forecast, and upcoming precipitation, are right here. However, like several good climate app, there’s a boatload of different information, too — together with the dawn/sundown instances, humidity, visibility, air high quality, UV index, and extra.

I particularly like how in-depth Pixel Climate enables you to dig into these items. The dawn/sundown menu, for instance, breaks down particular instances for daybreak, dawn, sundown, and nightfall — paired with a stay illustration of the solar’s present place. Dig into the wind web page, and there’s a useful graph displaying how briskly wind speeds are for the approaching hours, plus which path they’re blowing in. As somebody who likes wanting on the nitty gritty knowledge like this — notably throughout spring storm season proper now — it’s a treasure trove of information.

Comparatively, for these instances after I don’t need to parse by way of mountains of knowledge, I fairly just like the AI Climate Report and Climate Perception options, each of which summarize key climate particulars at a look. I believe the AI branding is foolish, however having a short, written abstract of the climate forward is a pleasant, useful contact.

Past the info, Google simply nailed the general UI and design for Pixel Climate. Between the massive and daring temperature on the prime of the app, the whimsical shapes/colours for the assorted climate information, and the themed climate animations within the background, all of it offers the app a enjoyable, lighthearted really feel. Pixel Climate can be the one climate app I’ve used that vibrates my cellphone to imitate rain, snow, and thunderstorms, and it seems like magic each time it occurs. The included dwelling display widgets are wonderful, too.

Lastly, simply as you’d anticipate from an app designed with Android customers in thoughts, Pixel Climate has unbelievable customization. You’ll be able to customise and reorder the place of virtually all of the tiles/widgets within the app. If the 10-day forecast is essential to you, you’ll be able to put that close to the very prime of the app. Should you don’t notably care concerning the climate map, you’ll be able to transfer it to the underside. This allows you to organize Pixel Climate to appear and feel precisely the way you need it, and as a customization nut, I like it.

Of all of the climate apps I’ve tried through the years, Pixel Climate stands out as one in every of my favorites. It’s loaded with knowledge, pleasing to have a look at, absolutely customizable, and isn’t hampered by advertisements or additional fluff like information articles or movies. It checks all of the bins for what I would like in a climate app.

The one downside, as talked about above, is that it’s at present unique to the previous couple of generations of Pixel telephones. Distinctive software program options are what make Pixel telephones so compelling within the first place, however within the case of Pixel Climate, Google can (and may) flip it into the face of climate for all Android telephones.

Because it at present stands, Android doesn’t have a de facto climate app for all units. Samsung telephones have Samsung Climate, whereas OnePlus telephones have OnePlus Climate, however neither is especially good. The closest factor we’ve got is the climate UI that’s a part of the Google app, and whereas it’s effective, it’s only a parred-down model of Pixel Climate — that includes comparable design components however much less granular knowledge and lacking customization choices.

Just like how Google has its Telephone, Messages, and Clock apps obtainable on the Play Retailer for everybody, Google ought to actually do the identical with Pixel Climate. It doesn’t should be put in on each Android cellphone by default, but it surely ought to be obtainable within the Play Retailer as an choice to obtain for anybody who needs it. Similar to your texting or alarm app, checking the climate is among the most elementary capabilities of your cellphone. All Android customers — not simply Pixel house owners — deserve a high-quality, go-to climate app.

If/when this occurs, I’m all for Google protecting some options unique to Pixel telephones. AI Summaries can keep restricted to fashionable Pixels (and certain must for technical causes), plus extra superior options like the pollen rely card and climate vibrations might stay solely on Pixels, too. Google designed Pixel Climate with Pixel telephones in thoughts, so it solely is sensible that a few of its extra superior options ought to stick with its personal telephones.

However past that, there’s no motive the core Pixel Climate app shouldn’t be obtainable to all different Android telephones. Should you’re OK fidgeting with APKs and sideloading, you’ll be able to simply get Pixel Climate on non-Pixels already; Google simply hasn’t taken that additional step of placing it on the Play Retailer for the lots.