While the world waits for the official release of Android 15, whispers of Android 16’s features are already circulating. According to Android Authority, Google might be planning a dramatic overhaul of its Notifications and Quick Settings panels in the upcoming release.
This potential redesign has its roots in the Android 15 QPR1 beta, where Android Authority discovered a hidden feature hinting at the change. The current design, introduced with Android 12’s Material You, has been criticized for its unified approach, merging the notification panel and quick settings into one. This approach has spurred other manufacturers like Xiaomi, Samsung, and Oppo to adopt separate panels for these functionalities, often due to user feedback.
Based on the information gleaned from the beta, Android 16’s new design separates the notifications and quick settings panels. Pulling down the status bar once will still bring up the Notifications panel, but it will occupy only a quarter of the screen, allowing you to still access the app beneath it. The Quick Settings panel, however, will no longer appear when pulling down the status bar twice. Instead, you’ll need to pull it down using two fingers. This change will require users to adjust their habits, potentially proving controversial.
Once the Quick Settings panel is visible, users can swipe left or right to view all the tiles. This design, while still under development, provides a clearer separation of functions and could offer a more intuitive user experience.
It’s important to note that Google has yet to confirm the implementation of this redesign in the final version of Android 16. However, considering the trend among other Android manufacturers, Google might be receptive to these user-driven changes. This change could reflect Google’s commitment to listening to user feedback and continuously refining the Android experience.
