One of the most exciting rumors about Android 15 is that lock screen widgets may be making a comeback. Unfortunately, Android may not get lock screen widget support like we had hoped. That's because it may be exclusive to tablets like Google's Pixel Tablet.

According to Mishaal Rahman of Android Authority, the newly released Android 15 beta code ties the lock screen widget to the Pixel Tablet's Hub Mode. This is a feature that turns the Pixel Tablet into a smart home hub when placed on a charging station.

This mode is not available on the phone. This means that, at least for now, the lock screen widget in Android 15 may be exclusive to the Pixel Tablet and future Android tablets that support Hub Mode.

This limitation has been hinted at before, and Rahman has previously found hints of the relationship between lock screen widgets and Hub Mode in older versions of Android; the Android 15 beta version seems to confirm that this is the case, at least for the time being.

This is good news for Pixel Tablet owners, as it adds additional functionality to the device when docked and charging, including Chrome, Contacts, Google TV, Google Keep, Google Translate, YouTube Music, and various Google apps are going to offer lock screen widgets. No doubt, support from Third Pirates will arrive in the coming months.

However, this is sad news for Android phone owners like myself who have been waiting for the return of lock screen widgets after they were removed in Android 5 (Lollipop). It is especially disappointing considering that Apple added lock screen widgets to the iPhone in 2022 with the release of iOS 16.

I hope Google uses the Pixel Tablet as a way to test the viability of lock screen widgets, with the goal of adding them to phones in the near future. If that is necessary, we hope it will be released on a limited basis on the Pixel Tablet before being widely deployed in future versions of Android.

Android 15 is expected to arrive at an unspecified point later this year. You can check out all the best Android 15 beta new features and upgrades available and keep up with the latest news and rumors at our official Android 15 hub.