This is a twofer.
Combatant 1: Google.
Once every time period of questionable length, Google gives me an Android pop-up that I can't dismiss. This is to "comply" with the EU law. They want me to be extra sure of my rights to choose and want to know which search engine I'm using for the Android search widget and Chrome.
Well, as a matter of fact, I use Google! So I tell them that. I hope it makes them happy.
Combatant 2: ME
...I fucking hate the Android search bar and I'm this close to installing an alternative launcher just to get rid of it.
Also I use Firefox.
(What do you call it when there's two parties who want the same thing, but there's an arbitrary pointless grudge that both of them can see?)
I have a HMD Global Nokia 5.4 (Android 12), and the search bar in the launcher takes up one row in the home screen. Haven't found a way to disable it. As I understand the Nokia launcher is custom but isn't crazy different from stock. I can, however, see why they'd hype up the search bar considering the phone also has a dedicated Assistant button that I pretty much never use.
Interesting! It seems another user commented that it's a Nokia thing as well. Tbh I haven't used a Nokia phone since Symbian OS lol. Odd that you can't remove the search bar. I wonder if any other phone companies do this.