8 options from Android skins we wish on inventory Android 16

Google not too long ago launched the secure model of Android 15 to Pixel telephones, however the firm is already onerous 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 wish 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 characteristic 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, effectively, regulate the quantity of every app independently. Meaning you may hearken to Spotify whereas searching Instagram with out instantly being blasted with obscenely loud Instagram Reels, for instance.

Samsung and Xiaomi had been the primary manufacturers to supply per-app quantity controls, with Samsung implementing this characteristic by way of the Sound Assistant app. However the possibility 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 method to widgets, permitting you to (shock) stack one widget on prime of the opposite. You may then swipe to change via the widgets like a carousel. Fortuitously, Android’s third-party Motion Launcher grabbed this characteristic 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 way more energetic widgets on your private home display. Even if you happen to’re not an enormous widget consumer, this might aid you clear up some house on your private home display. Or it might aid you cover a helpful however ugly widget behind a extra pleasing one.

One of many software program options I like on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold collection 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 characteristic, so adjustments made to the outer display are mirrored on the interior folding show and vice versa.

Whereas some could favor a constant expertise, for most individuals, the use circumstances differ enormously for every display. With per-screen customization, you would have video-centric apps and large 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 approach to deal with this might be for Google to implement per-screen customization in Android 16 itself. That approach, each foldable cellphone available on the market could be just about assured to supply the characteristic as an alternative of it remaining a Samsung-only possibility.

One of the crucial distinguished options pioneered by third-party Android skins is the app cloning performance, also referred to as 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 notably helpful for messaging platforms, social media companies, and different apps that don’t assist a number of accounts.

The characteristic 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 characteristic 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 supply 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 typical folders. The scale 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. Nevertheless it’s sorely missed on Pixel telephones and units working inventory Android.

LG was one of many first main manufacturers to supply Routine-style performance with its Context Consciousness characteristic, permitting you to set off actions in your cellphone based mostly on particular circumstances. For instance, you would set your cellphone to open YouTube as quickly as your earphones had been linked. Or your cellphone might mechanically change to silent mode if you acquired residence.

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 may acknowledge. Pixel telephones do supply Guidelines performance, however this can be a barebones tackle the idea that solely tweaks your ringing profile. Both approach, we’d like to see Android 16 or Android 17 achieve full-fledged routine performance, because it’s a genuinely helpful characteristic that may make life simpler.

We first noticed desktop mode performance in 2017 with the Samsung Galaxy S8 and HUAWEI Mate 10 collection, and different manufacturers like Motorola have additionally jumped on the bandwagon. This provides you a PC-like interface when your cellphone is linked (wired or wirelessly) to a TV or monitor, which could be helpful if that you must work in a pinch or if you happen to simply desire 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 possibility in latest 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 fad within the early to mid-2010s? This characteristic isn’t as essential now within the age of in-display fingerprint sensors that gentle up if you want them. Nonetheless, some Android manufacturers nonetheless supply 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 facility button in some conditions (e.g. when your cellphone is flat on the desk). This may be helpful for accessibility functions. And it’s one other approach to flip off your show if you happen to’re paranoid about sporting out your energy button.

There are lots extra options from different Android skins we’d wish to see on Android 16. These embody Good Lock performance, screen-off gestures, Open Canvas multitasking, app shortcuts by way of the fingerprint scanner, and the flexibility to maintain the display on if you’re it. However what would you wish to see? Tell us within the feedback under!