8 options from Android skins we would like on inventory Android 16

Google lately launched the steady model of Android 15 to Pixel telephones, however the firm is already exhausting 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, an Superior Safety Mode, and extra.

What would I prefer to see from the brand new software program, although? Nicely, producers like Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, and others have a great deal of cool software program options that aren’t a part of inventory Android, so listed here are those I’d be most fascinated with seeing in Android 16.

I’ve been praising this function for some time now, and it permits for extra PC-like quantity controls in your Android cellphone. Because the identify implies, per-app quantity changes allow you to, nicely, regulate the amount of every app independently. Meaning you may take heed to Spotify whereas searching Instagram with out out of the blue being blasted with obscenely loud Instagram Reels, for instance.

Samsung and Xiaomi have been the primary manufacturers to supply per-app quantity controls, with Samsung implementing this function through the Sound Assistant app. However the choice has since arrived on telephones from the likes of OPPO, OnePlus, realme, and vivo too.

Apple was the primary main smartphone model to supply this stacked strategy to widgets, permitting you to (shock) stack one widget on high of the opposite. You possibly can then swipe to modify by the widgets like a carousel. Fortuitously, Android’s third-party Motion Launcher grabbed this function in 2021 earlier than Samsung swiped it (heh) in 2023 with One UI 5.0.

In any occasion, we’d like to see this in Android 16, because it successfully provides you much more energetic widgets on your property display. Even should you’re not a giant widget consumer, this might enable you to clear up some house on your property display. Or it might enable you to disguise a helpful however ugly widget behind a extra pleasing one.

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

Whereas some might desire a constant expertise, for most individuals, the use circumstances differ vastly for every display. With per-screen customization, you could possibly have video-centric apps and big widgets on the large folding display, whereas the smaller cowl show retains its phone-centric use with smaller widgets and shortcuts to your messaging apps.

One technique to deal with this may be for Google to implement per-screen customization in Android 16 itself. That manner, each foldable cellphone available on the market could be nearly assured to supply the function as a substitute of it remaining a Samsung-only choice.

One of the outstanding options pioneered by third-party Android skins is the app cloning performance, also called Parallel Apps or Twin Apps. This lets you successfully create one other occasion of an app with its personal icon that runs independently of the unique. It’s significantly helpful for messaging platforms, social media companies, and different apps that don’t help a number of accounts.

The function was pioneered by HUAWEI and Xiaomi round 2016 and has been adopted by many OEMs since then, together with Samsung, OPPO, OnePlus, and extra. Oddly sufficient, Google experimented with this function within the Android 14 developer preview, however we nonetheless haven’t seen it but.

App folders have been a factor on Android telephones for over a decade now, however some Android producers additionally provide massive app folders considerably akin to iOS’s App Library look. These normally take up a 3×3 part of your display versus the only 1×1 app tile for standard folders. The dimensions distinction isn’t only a beauty change, although, as a result of it means you may see extra apps in mentioned folder with out opening it first. Many manufacturers even allow you to launch apps in massive folders with out opening the folder first, which is sort of helpful if you wish to group apps collectively however nonetheless retain fast entry to particular person ones.

There’s no scarcity of Android OEMs providing massive app folders, similar to Nothing, Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, and vivo. Even Samsung is anticipated to get in on the motion with One UI 7. However it’s sorely missed on Pixel telephones and gadgets operating inventory Android.

LG was one of many first main manufacturers to supply Routine-style performance with its Context Consciousness function, permitting you to set off actions in your cellphone based mostly on particular circumstances. For instance, you could possibly set your cellphone to open YouTube as quickly as your earphones have been related. Or your cellphone might mechanically change to silent mode while you received house.

This idea has since arrived on Samsung telephones within the type of Modes and Routines, and it expands the variety of actions your cellphone can take and the circumstances it could possibly acknowledge. Pixel telephones do provide Guidelines performance, however this can be a barebones tackle the idea that solely tweaks your ringing profile. Both manner, we’d like to see Android 16 or Android 17 achieve full-fledged routine performance, because it’s a genuinely helpful function that may make life simpler.

We first noticed 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 provides you a PC-like interface when your cellphone is related (wired or wirelessly) to a TV or monitor, which will be helpful if you have to work in a pinch or should you simply need a extra handy big-screen expertise.

The unusual factor is that Google has been working by itself desktop mode in inventory Android since 2019, and it’s even a hidden developer choice in current Android variations. However we’d love a full-fledged, simply accessible desktop mode for inventory Android. The encouraging information is that it appears like Google is certainly nonetheless engaged on desktop mode/window performance in Android 16. Fingers crossed that we truly see it quickly.

Keep in mind when double-tapping to wake the display was all the fashion within the early to mid-2010s? This function isn’t as vital now within the age of in-display fingerprint sensors that gentle up while you want them. Nonetheless, some Android manufacturers nonetheless provide this gesture to show cellphone screens on or off, and it’s lacking from inventory Android.

We’d like to see this gesture in Android 16 because it nonetheless has its makes use of. It may be faster than hitting the ability button in some conditions (e.g. when your cellphone is flat on the desk). This is also helpful for accessibility functions. And it’s one other technique to flip off your show should you’re paranoid about carrying out your energy button.

There are loads extra options from different Android skins we’d prefer to see on 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 on while you’re taking a look at it. However what would you prefer to see? Tell us within the feedback under!