Seven widgets anchor the author's default Android setup, with battery, Brave, Gemini, Digital Wellbeing, Samsung Health or Google Fit, Google Maps and Google Keep making every new phone feel complete.
Battery and browser widgets lead the list because they cut friction: the battery panel shows connected-device charge at a glance, while Brave surfaces bookmarks, search and a private-tab shortcut.
Gemini replaces the standard search bar on the author's Galaxy phone, adding one-tap access to chat, camera, screen sharing, Live and Video features.
Three utility picks focus on visibility rather than speed: a 2×2 Digital Wellbeing widget shows screen time and top apps, Samsung Health tracks a 6,000-step goal, and Google Maps shortcuts open location sharing.
Google Keep rounds out the lineup with quick shortcuts for text, photo, voice and checklist notes, while the author says too many widgets can still clutter a home screen.