8 Android Skins Options We Need in Android 16

Google lately launched the steady model of Android 15 to Pixel telephones, however the firm is already arduous at work on Android 16. We have already got an concept of ​​what to anticipate from this new model of Android, together with a revamped Do Not Disturb mode, a complicated safety mode, and extra.

What would I prefer to see from the brand new software program? Properly, producers like Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO and others have quite a lot of fascinating software program options that aren’t a part of inventory androidso listed below are those I’d be most excited about seeing in Android 16.

I have been praising this characteristic for some time now, and it permits for extra PC-like quantity controls in your android telephone. Because the identify suggests, per-app quantity settings permit you to alter the quantity of every app independently. Which means you possibly can take heed to Spotify whereas searching Instagram with out all of the sudden being bombarded with obscenely loud Instagram Reels, for instance.

Samsung and Xiaomi have been the primary manufacturers to supply per-app quantity controls, and Samsung carried out this characteristic by the Sound Assistant app. However since then the choice has reached telephones like OPPO, OnePlus, realme and vivo as properly.

Apple was the primary main smartphone model to supply this widget-stacking method, permitting you (shock) to stack one widget on prime of the opposite. You may then swipe to modify between widgets like a carousel. Happily, Android’s third-party Motion Launcher adopted this characteristic in 2021 earlier than Samsung handed it on (heh) in 2023 with One UI 5.0.

In any case, we might like to see this in Android 16, because it successfully offers you far more lively widgets on your property display screen. Even if you happen to’re not an enormous widget person, this might allow you to liberate some area on your property display screen. Or it might allow you to disguise a helpful however ugly widget behind a nicer one.

One of many software program options I like about Samsung Galaxy Z Fold sequence is the flexibility to independently customise the smartphone display screen and the folding display screen. Sadly, many rival foldables, such because the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold and OnePlus Open, lack this characteristic, so adjustments made to the outer display screen are mirrored on the inside foldable display screen and vice versa.

Whereas some choose a constant expertise, for most individuals, use instances differ significantly for every display screen. With per-screen customization, you could possibly have video-focused apps and big widgets on the massive flip display screen, whereas the smaller clamshell show retains its phone-centric use with smaller widgets and shortcuts to your messaging apps.

One approach to tackle this may be for Google to implement per-screen personalization in Android 16 itself. That manner, every folding telephone Available in the market it could be virtually assured to supply the characteristic as an alternative of remaining a Samsung-only possibility.

Probably the most notable options initiated by third events Android Skins is the applying cloning performance, also called Parallel Purposes or Twin Purposes. This lets you successfully create one other occasion of an app with its personal icon that runs independently of the unique. It is significantly helpful for messaging platforms, social media companies, and different apps that do not help a number of accounts.

HUAWEI and Xiaomi pioneered this characteristic round 2016 and it has since been adopted by many OEMs together with Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, and extra. Apparently, Google experimented with this characteristic within the Android 14 developer preview, however we have not seen it but.

App folders have been round on Android telephones for greater than a decade, however some Android producers additionally provide giant app folders, considerably much like the appear and feel of the iOS App Library. They sometimes take up a 3×3 part of the display screen somewhat than the only 1×1 app tile for typical folders. The scale distinction is not only a beauty change, although, as a result of it means you possibly can see extra apps in that folder with out opening it first. Many manufacturers even permit you to launch apps in giant folders with out opening the folder first, which could be very helpful if you wish to group apps however nonetheless retain fast entry to particular person ones.

There isn’t a scarcity of Android OEMs providing giant app folders, together with Nothing, Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, and vivo. Samsung is even anticipated to get into motion with One UI 7. But it surely’s sorely missed on Pixel telephones and inventory Android gadgets.

LG was one of many first main manufacturers to supply routine-style performance with its Context Consciousness characteristic, which lets you set off actions in your telephone primarily based on particular situations. For instance, you possibly can set your telephone to open YouTube as quickly as you plug in your headphones. Or your telephone might mechanically change to silent mode whenever you get residence.

This idea has since arrived on Samsung telephones within the type of Modes and Routines, increasing the variety of actions your telephone can carry out and the situations it might probably acknowledge. Pixel telephones provide Guidelines performance, however this can be a primary model of the idea that solely modifies your ring profile. Both manner, we might like to see Android 16 or Android 17 get full routine performance as it is a actually helpful characteristic that may make life simpler.

We first noticed the desktop mode performance in 2017 with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and HUAWEI Mate 10 sequence, and different manufacturers like Motorola have additionally jumped on the bandwagon. This offers you a PC-like interface when your telephone is linked (wired or wi-fi) to a TV or monitor, which might be helpful if you’ll want to work in a pinch or simply need a big-screen expertise. extra handy.

The unusual factor is that Google has been working by itself desktop mode in inventory Android since 2019, and it is even a hidden possibility for builders in latest variations of Android. However we might love a full, easy-access desktop mode for inventory Android. The encouraging information is that it appears to be like like Google continues to be engaged on the desktop/windowed mode performance in Android 16. Fingers crossed we’ll see it quickly.

Bear in mind when double-tapping to get up the display screen was all the craze within the early and mid-2010s? This characteristic is not as necessary now within the period of in-screen fingerprint sensors that mild up whenever you want them. Nevertheless, some Android manufacturers nonetheless provide this gesture to show telephone screens on or off, and it isn’t obtainable on Android.

We might like to see this gesture in Android 16 because it nonetheless has its makes use of. It could be sooner than urgent the ability button in some conditions (for instance, when the telephone is on the desk). This may be helpful for accessibility causes. And it is one other approach to flip off the display screen if you happen to’re paranoid about sporting out the ability button.

There are a lot of extra options from different Android skins that we wish to see in Android 16. These embrace Good lock performance, screen-off gestures, Open Canvas multitasking, app shortcuts through the fingerprint scanner, and the flexibility to maintain the display screen on whenever you have a look at it. However what would you prefer to see? Tell us within the feedback beneath!