Productivity means doing more at a given time, and there is no better mobile operating system than Android for this.
Android phones compete with each other to deliver the best productivity features.
However, not everything works for everyone, so not everyone will rate all Android skins equally when it comes to productivity.
I believe that One UI has the best set of productivity features. It also has support for Good Lock to take productivity to the next level.
While I’m biased towards One UI, my favorite productivity feature these days isn’t a Samsung Galaxy-exclusive. It’s available on almost all modern Android phones.
I use it on my Galaxy S21 as well as my Motorola Edge 50 Neo. Since it’s a core part of the Android experience, the experience is also the same on both devices.
The productivity feature was there in Android for years, but I discovered it only recently. Here is why it’s my favorite Android feature.
I love multitasking and app pairs, and I use these productivity features almost every day.
As powerful as they are, I use these two only in certain situations. Most of Android’s productivity features are like that: they have limited usage, and not everyone will need them.
I can’t think of an exception other than the Extend Unlock feature. It saves my time every day, works for everyone, and is available on almost all modern Android phones.
However, the only downside is that the Extend Unlock capability is that it’s buried under settings, and that I reckon is the reason it took me this long to find it.
On the bright side, you need to set it up only once and reap the benefits until you turn it off or your phone stops working.
It’s also related to your security, so you need to enter the passcode you use to unlock your phone to set up the feature.
The requirement of a PIN is surely a hassle, and that’s why you need to spend a good amount of time to set it up at one go, just like I did.
I never looked back since then. I don’t even realize that it’s there, but it does its job behind the scenes to save my time every day without compromising my privacy and security.
Why is Extend Unlock my favorite productivity feature on Android?
Android packs plenty of features that save you time, but nothing quite like the Extend Unlock does.
Extend Unlock removes the requirement for you to enter the PIN to unlock your phone whenever you are in a safe place or your phone is near your smartwatch or other trusted Bluetooth devices.
I work from home and spend most of the time in my home, and this is the safest place for me. Naturally, I use my phone most of the time when I’m home.
However, I never realized how frustrating it was to unlock my phone with my fingerprint every time I wanted to use it, until I discovered Extend Unlock.
I never used my fingerprint to unlock my phone when at home since I marked it as a trusted place in the Extend Unlock setting.
You can add more places if you feel you won’t need a PIN or a fingerprint in those places.
I have also added my Galaxy Watch 4 Classic as a trusted device. So, when my Galaxy S21 is connected to or nearby it, I don’t need to authenticate myself to unlock my phone.
There is also an option to keep the phone unlocked when it is in motion. I don’t recommend this to anyone because there is always a risk of someone stealing your phone when you are walking.
In that case, the thief will also be able to unlock your phone without any kind of authentication as long as the device stays in motion. It can’t distinguish between the owner and a random person.
In One UI, you can find the feature by going to Settings > Lock screen and AOD > Extend Unlock. Android skins like Pixel UI and Hello UI have the same feature buried under Security & privacy settings.
Android is a productivity powerhouse, and Extend Unlock is its crown jewel
Android is known for its openness and flexibility, and that leaves enough room for users to bypass the limitations of the default Android experience.
Developers also take advantage of this and come up with apps that you can use to be more productive on Android.
Android’s system settings alone can’t give you the best productivity experience. In addition to those, you should also look for third-party apps that help you get things done more quickly.
The reason I rate Extend Unlock so highly is that, no matter what productivity features or apps you love the most, it’ll help you reach them more quickly.
