We got a preview on Pixel tablets last year, but lock screen widgets have otherwise been MIA on smartphones since Android 5.0 (Lollipop).

Google dropped the feature nearly 11 years ago, but Apple recently brought it back into the spotlight with its own version.

Google has announced that lock screen widgets are coming to Android 16 phones later this year. Widgets have been available on the lock screen of the Pixel Tablet since last year, but Google is now bringing them to phones and more tablets.