Android's Linux-kernel foundation enabled platform flexibility early in its development, allowing extensive customization over time. The home screen launcher serves as the essential user interface for launching apps, viewing notifications, personalizing the home screen, accessing the app drawer, and pulling down the notification shade. Different manufacturers provide different default launchers, such as Pixel Launcher, One UI, OnePlus Launcher, and Nothing Launcher. Some launchers are device-specific and cannot be installed on other phones, while most launchers on the Google Play Store are device-agnostic and installable across many devices. Installing a new launcher can refresh the user experience and improve perceived speed.
One of the main reasons I started using Android (version 1.5 with an HTC Hero phone) was because it ran a version of the Linux kernel. I knew that fact would lead to a thing I value: flexibility. Although the steps toward flexibility weren't exactly graceful, the platform came into its own within a few releases. As Android evolved, so too did its flexibility -- as perfectly illustrated by the home screen launcher.
A home screen launcher is akin to a desktop on a computer. It's a user interface that allows you to access and run applications, view notifications, and keep everything organized. Without a home screen launcher, your Android phone would be fairly useless. You would not be able to launch or view apps, personalize your home screen, access the app drawer, pull down the notification shade, or do anything on your handset.
Not every Android phone ships with the same home screen launcher. For example, Pixel phones use the Pixel Launcher, One UI is Samsung's default home screen launcher, OnePlus phones use the OnePlus Launcher, and Nothing phones ship with the Nothing Launcher. Just because your phone ships with a specific home screen launcher doesn't mean you're stuck with it.
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