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

Google just lately launched the steady model of Android 15 to Pixel telephones, however the firm is already laborious 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? Effectively, 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 taken 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 title implies, per-app quantity changes allow you to, nicely, alter the quantity of every app independently. Which means you’ll be able to hearken to Spotify whereas shopping Instagram with out abruptly 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 by way of 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’ll be able to then swipe to modify by means of the widgets like a carousel. Thankfully, 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 offers you much more energetic widgets on your own home display screen. Even when you’re not a giant widget consumer, this might assist you clear up some house on your own home display screen. Or it might assist 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 sequence is the power to independently customise the smartphone display screen and folding show. Sadly, many rival foldables, just like the Google Pixel 9 Professional Fold and OnePlus Open, lack this function, so modifications made to the outer display screen are mirrored on the interior folding show and vice versa.

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

One strategy to handle this might be for Google to implement per-screen customization in Android 16 itself. That method, each foldable cellphone available on the market could be nearly assured to supply the function as an alternative of it remaining a Samsung-only choice.

One of the crucial outstanding options pioneered by third-party Android skins is the app cloning performance, often known 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 significantly useful for messaging platforms, social media providers, and different apps that don’t assist 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 giant app folders considerably akin to iOS’s App Library look. These often take up a 3×3 part of your display screen versus the one 1×1 app tile for standard folders. The scale distinction isn’t only a beauty change, although, as a result of it means you’ll be able to see extra apps in stated folder with out opening it first. Many manufacturers even allow you to launch apps in giant folders with out opening the folder first, which is sort of useful if you wish to group apps collectively however nonetheless retain fast entry to particular person ones.

There’s no scarcity of Android OEMs providing giant app folders, similar to Nothing, Xiaomi, OPPO, OnePlus, and vivo. Even Samsung is predicted to get in on the motion with One UI 7. However it’s sorely missed on Pixel telephones and gadgets working 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 primarily based on particular situations. For instance, you may set your cellphone to open YouTube as quickly as your earphones have been linked. Or your cellphone might mechanically swap to silent mode whenever you bought 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 situations it may acknowledge. Pixel telephones do provide Guidelines performance, however it is a barebones tackle the idea that solely tweaks your ringing profile. Both method, we’d like to see Android 16 or Android 17 acquire 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 offers you a PC-like interface when your cellphone is linked (wired or wirelessly) to a TV or monitor, which may be useful if it’s worthwhile to work in a pinch or when 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 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.

Bear in mind when double-tapping to wake the display screen was all the fad within the early to mid-2010s? This function isn’t as vital now within the age of in-display fingerprint sensors that mild up whenever you want them. However, 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 useful for accessibility functions. And it’s one other strategy to flip off your show when you’re paranoid about carrying out your energy button.

There are a lot extra options from different Android skins we’d wish to see on Android 16. These embrace Good Lock performance, screen-off gestures, Open Canvas multitasking, app shortcuts by way of the fingerprint scanner, and the power to maintain the display screen on whenever you’re taking a look at it. However what would you wish to see? Tell us within the feedback beneath!