For a few years, there wasn’t any doubt about who made the finest foldable cellphone. Samsung kickstarted the brand new class in 2019 and didn’t face a number of critical competitors for a very good whereas, however the discipline has modified considerably in 2023. Different smartphone makers haven’t solely caught as much as Samsung however arguably surpassed the Korean tech large in relation to making book-style foldable {hardware}.
However {hardware} isn’t the one issue to contemplate in a head-to-head comparability of two foldables, because the machine that has the higher software program arguably supplies a greater total expertise because it truly takes benefit of all that further area. Samsung’s years-long head begin on making foldable telephones has given them extra time to optimize Android for foldables, and it actually reveals.
I’ve been utilizing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 for just a little over a month now, and I’m regularly stunned by simply what number of helpful options I preserve discovering in its One UI 5.1.1 software program. It will take ages to clarify each change Samsung made to Android that I like or dislike, so as an alternative, I needed to focus on simply the modifications that enhance the expertise of utilizing a book-style foldable cellphone.
Quite a lot of the options I’m going to say aren’t discovered within the open-source model of Android (AOSP) — at the very least not but, which implies additionally they aren’t discovered within the Google Pixel Fold. If Google had been so as to add these options, it could enhance the expertise of utilizing the Pixel Fold and different foldable units. In fact, Google can’t copy each function from the Galaxy Z Fold 5 since they’ve quite a bit to contemplate earlier than they will add any new function to inventory Android. Nonetheless, there’s quite a bit that Google might pull from Samsung and different OEMs, particularly in relation to multitasking and productiveness options.
Break up-screen
To start with, let me present how multitasking is healthier in One UI than on inventory Android, because of the modifications and enhancements that Samsung made to split-screen mode, windowing, and the taskbar.
Android on the Pixel Fold helps placing two apps side-by-side in split-screen mode, however Samsung takes issues a step additional by letting you set three apps on display screen without delay. One app takes up half the display screen, whereas the opposite half of the display screen is break up between the opposite two apps of your selection.
To be honest, the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s internal show is simply 7.6 inches diagonally, so giving an app 1 / 4 of the display screen doesn’t give it a number of respiratory room. Three-way split-screen mode isn’t one thing you’ll use fairly often, however the choice is sweet to have. I’m certain some folks will discover it helpful occasionally or fairly often. That’s type of the factor with One UI: it’s packed stuffed with options to the purpose that it could really feel overwhelming to a brand new consumer, however when you discover a function or two that basically fits your fancy, you’ll miss them while you change units.
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However I digress. It’s truly doable to suit a bit extra content material into 2-way and 3-way split-screen mode by means of one other function not current in inventory Android: “full display screen in break up display screen view.” This function, discovered below Settings > Superior options > Multi window, permits you to conceal the standing and navigation bars while you’re in split-screen mode. I personally depart this selection off, as I like having the taskbar seen always so I can shortly change between apps.
That leads me to my subsequent level: initiating split-screen is simply usually quicker on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
For one, while you open your first app to start out split-screen mode (by means of both the “swipe for break up display screen” gesture or the multi-window menu), One UI instantly opens an app choice display screen on the opposite half. This app choice display screen neatly categorizes your apps by part by your latest apps, adopted by your most used apps, and eventually, all of your apps sorted alphabetically. Additionally, you possibly can faucet the search button to shortly discover the app you wish to launch.
The Pixel Fold, in distinction, doesn’t also have a search bar in its taskbar (but), so it’s awkward to pick a second split-screen app while you provoke split-screen mode from the recents menu. Google’s software program does, at the very least, allow you to launch apps in split-screen mode from the house display screen, in contrast to One UI. Then again, Google’s software program lacks arguably the most effective function for split-screen multitasking: saving app pairs.
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One UI permits you to save your split-screen format as an app pair that you may pin to the taskbar or residence display screen. You possibly can later relaunch the duo or trio of apps saved within the app pair by tapping an icon. This can be a function that the Pixel Fold at the moment lacks, however Google could possibly be introducing the function quickly in a future Android 14 launch.
Saving an app pair in One UI requires tapping the divider when in split-screen mode after which hitting the star icon when the pop-up seems. This is because of the truth that Samsung selected to not show a context menu when long-pressing an app icon within the recents menu. As an alternative, long-pressing an icon within the recents menu or taskbar permits you to drag the app to 1 half of the show to launch it in split-screen mode or to the middle to open it in a pop-up view.
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Freeform multi-window
Freeform multi-window is a multitasking mode Google launched all the best way again in Android 7.0 Nougat, but it surely was left in an unfinished state. Google appears to lastly be sprucing it up for a future Android 14 launch, however Samsung way back determined to take issues into their very own palms and make one thing out of freeform multi-window.
Enter pop-up view, One UI’s model of a freeform multi-window. At a base degree, the pop-up view is mainly a extra versatile model of Android’s chat bubble function. Beneath Settings > Notifications > Superior settings > Floating notifications, One UI permits you to select whether or not to open notifications in a bubble or in a pop-up view window. It’s also possible to, as talked about earlier than, open any app in a pop-up view from the recents menu or taskbar.
As soon as an app is in a pop-up view window, you should use the buttons within the window’s title bar to attenuate it, increase it, change the opacity, launch it in split-screen, or shut it. You possibly can even long-press the title bar after which drag and drop it to provoke split-screen mode. Pop-up view is one among One UI’s most helpful multitasking options, which is why so many different smartphone makers have made their very own model of it.
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The final freeform-related change I needed to focus on is the nifty “present multi window menu with 1 window” choice (as I mentioned, One UI can really feel overwhelming…). This feature is discovered below Settings > Superior options > Multi window, and it provides a mini deal with on the prime of every app window that, when tapped, reveals buttons to launch the app in split-screen mode or pop-up view. I personally preserve this function enabled as an alternative of the “swipe for break up display screen” or “swipe for pop-up view” gestures, as I really feel it’s simpler to launch split-screen/pop-up view this manner than remembering the particular swipe gestures I must carry out.
Taskbar
Launching apps in split-screen/pop-up view can also be made simpler in One UI because of the persistent taskbar. The taskbar on the Pixel Fold, in distinction, is “transient,” because it solely seems for just a few seconds after you swipe up from the gesture capsule. The transient taskbar is aesthetically higher because it offers you extra display screen area, but it surely’s worse for multitasking. You must swipe as much as reveal the transient taskbar anytime you wish to change apps, which is awkward sufficient because it’s straightforward to swipe too far and return residence or present the recents menu.
Samsung’s persistent taskbar, in distinction, is all the time on display screen by default and might even present as much as 4 latest apps (on One UI 5.1.1 and later). It additionally has a search bar in its app drawer to make it simpler to seek out the app you wish to launch.
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The persistent taskbar isn’t all the time superior, although. It takes up treasured display screen area which you’ll reclaim by “stashing” the taskbar by means of a long-press on an empty spot. Nonetheless, it’s a bit awkward to “unstash” the taskbar because the contact goal space could be very small. This can be attributable to the truth that I hid the gesture capsule by means of the “gesture trace” toggle in settings, however I feel it’s higher visually to not have the gesture capsule all the time displaying beneath the taskbar.
The transient taskbar grew to become Android’s default method after Android 13 QPR2, however I feel there are clear advantages to each the previous persistent taskbar and the brand new transient taskbar. That’s why I hope Google follows by means of on its work to add a toggle that lets us change between the 2.
Cowl display screen & internal display screen
Let me inform you upfront: I’m not a giant fan of the quilt display screen on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Whereas its slender profile does make the cellphone simpler to carry in a single hand, it additionally makes it awkward to sort or use many apps. The flip aspect is that the internal display screen will get to be much less vast, which implies it works higher with apps that don’t have tablet-optimized layouts. That brings up its personal share of issues and workarounds, which I’ll get into under.
First, although, the quilt display screen. Samsung developed two options that I’d wish to see Google add in some kind to the Pixel Fold. The primary is “proceed apps on cowl display screen” below Settings > Show. By default, folding the machine turns the display screen off, however this function permits you to “select which apps you wish to proceed utilizing on the quilt display screen while you shut your cellphone.” That is helpful for while you wish to provoke one thing whereas utilizing the internal show, like navigation, music playback, or viewing a listing, that you simply wish to proceed accessing from the quilt display screen as you progress about.
The Pixel Fold doesn’t have an choice like this, although, by default, it does transition apps to the quilt display screen while you’re watching a video or utilizing Google Maps. It will be good if Google added a menu like Samsung’s to regulate this habits on a per-app foundation, however on the very least, an extra choice must be added that retains the quilt display screen on till the display screen timeout is reached.
The opposite cowl screen-related function Google ought to take into account is a toggle to show off residence display screen mirroring. By default, the Pixel Fold syncs the house display screen format between the quilt and internal screens. In distinction, Samsung permits you to select whether or not you wish to do this by means of Settings > House display screen > Cowl display screen mirroring. I personally preserve cowl display screen mirroring off, as I like to make use of the quilt display screen for fast entry widgets and the house display screen for my full app assortment.
Subsequent, the internal display screen. Earlier, I discussed that Samsung’s selection of facet ratio has some advantages but additionally some downsides. Effectively, Samsung solves a few of these downsides by means of elective settings you possibly can allow on a per-app foundation. Because the facet ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s internal show isn’t vast sufficient to be thought of a pill, and its default unfolded place is taken into account its “portrait” orientation, most apps present their cellphone UI as an alternative of their giant screen-optimized UI. You must flip the Z Fold 5 over to get apps like Discord, Gmail, and YouTube to indicate their two-pane layouts.
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The Pixel Fold’s internal show, in distinction, has a large sufficient facet ratio and by default is in its “panorama” orientation, so that you don’t should flip the cellphone over to get apps to indicate their giant screen-optimized UI. Nonetheless, this causes a difficulty with many apps which can be locked to portrait mode. Google labored round this by forcing portrait-locked apps right into a letterbox, however which means apps are proven with black bars on either side.
Samsung’s workaround for portrait-locked apps like Reddit and Twitter (sorry, X) is thru the “panorama view for portrait apps” below Settings > Superior options > Labs. This function is extra highly effective than Android’s built-in orientation override, because it not solely lets the consumer choose which apps to override orientation for but additionally lets the consumer select to stretch the app to fill the display screen. One UI individually has one other menu, Settings > Show > Full display screen apps, that lets customers pressure a full display screen, 16:9, or 4:3 facet ratio on apps.
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Google actually wants so as to add a compatibility choice that lets customers pressure a selected facet ratio on apps reasonably than patiently look forward to builders to optimize their apps for giant screens. If Google had been so as to add this, then I feel the app expertise on the Pixel Fold may develop into higher than on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, however till then, I’ll take a blown-up cellphone UI over a letterboxed one.
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Lastly, Samsung’s “flex mode panel” function deserves a shout-out. At the moment, solely a choose variety of media apps assist tabletop/flex mode. YouTube, for instance, reveals media controls on the underside half of the display screen when a foldable is positioned in tabletop mode. However not each media app does this, which is the place the flex mode panel is available in.
Flex mode panel is accessed by means of a button that seems on the backside left when the Galaxy Z Fold 5 is folded in half. This panel reveals media controls for no matter is enjoying and has shortcuts to launch split-screen mode, pull down the notifications, take a screenshot, and extra. Whereas the “flex mode panel” sadly reveals the identical media management actions for each app, it’s a helpful stopgap till extra apps implement tabletop/flex mode assist.
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Miscellaneous
Right here’s a fast roundup of another options in One UI that I feel Google ought to implement themselves:
Desktop mode assist
I might spend all day speaking about Samsung DeX, however this text is already too lengthy. Google is engaged on higher desktop mode assist in Android 14, however sadly, the Pixel Fold lacks show output assist. Perhaps subsequent 12 months.
Edge panels
Whereas the default edge panel has been made redundant because of the taskbar, the clipboard and particularly the sensible choose panel are extremely helpful. The previous offers you fast entry to your clipboard on any display screen, which is much more helpful on One UI since Samsung inexplicably took away Android’s clipboard overlay.
The latter permits you to draw a rectangle or oval to pick textual content or pictures on display screen, create a GIF out of part of the display screen, or pin part of the display screen as a floating window. (Pixel lets you choose textual content/pictures from the recents overview, however I nonetheless assume Samsung’s sensible choose panel is extra helpful since you have got extra space and options to work with.)
Double faucet to show off display screen
One UI has an choice that allows you to double-tap on an empty spot on the lock or residence display screen to show off the display screen. That is helpful when the cellphone is unfolded as a result of it could typically be arduous to succeed in the facility button on the aspect (very true for the Pixel Fold with its wider internal show).
Stylus assist
One UI has stylus assist built-in into the default keyboard and notes apps, so you possibly can handwrite, exactly choose, or draw. Google is engaged on enhancing stylus assist in Android and of their first-party apps, however sadly, solely their pill helps stylus enter. Perhaps subsequent 12 months.
One-handed mode
Google bafflingly determined to disable Android’s one-handed mode on the Pixel Fold, which is unquestionably a nasty resolution because it’s not straightforward to succeed in the highest of the display screen with one hand. The motive they disabled it’s as a result of one-handed mode isn’t supposed for giant screens, which doesn’t apply to the Pixel Fold’s cowl display screen.
One UI provides much more options than I’ve touched upon on this article.
I’m effectively conscious that, by means of varied Good Lock modules, One UI provides much more options than I’ve touched upon on this article. As I discussed within the intro, although, One UI merely has too many options to listing to start with, at the very least if I wish to preserve this text an inexpensive size. That’s why I’m chopping issues right here, however I do briefly wish to point out some options that different smartphone makers launched for their very own foldables that I feel Google (and Samsung) ought to look into.
Options for foldables from different OEMs that Google ought to copy
Since I don’t have a number of expertise with different foldables, I requested two specialists, Michael Fisher, aka Mr. Cellular, and Ben Sin from XDA-Builders, for his or her enter. One function highlighted by Ben on social media comes from the Honor Magic V2. Honor’s software program, in response to Ben, “can pressure Twitter to open in [a] two-pane format” in distinction to the blown-up cellphone UI you get on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Samsung does have a function that’s just like this, but it surely doesn’t work with Twitter. Beneath Settings > Superior options > Labs > App break up view, you possibly can pressure choose apps like Line and WeChat to open in a two pane format.
Michael, in the meantime, introduced up a very good level about Samsung’s “swipe for split-screen” gesture. Samsung’s gesture requires swiping with two fingers throughout the internal show. In distinction, the equal gesture on the OPPO Discover N2 includes swiping down with two fingers, which is extra ergonomic. He additionally famous that, in his expertise, different foldables deal with cowl display screen mirroring higher.
Conclusion
Samsung’s head begin over its competitors undoubtedly gave it a bonus in growing new options and optimizing Android for foldables, however the hole between its software program and that of different foldable cellphone makers will shrink over time. Samsung at the moment provides essentially the most options for foldables out of anybody, however even it is behind in some areas. Honor, for instance, has a function that makes its Magic V2 the higher foldable to browse Twitter on. Google, in the meantime, has a smarter auto-rotate system than Samsung (and a significantly better keyboard app, in my opinion).
I’m fascinated by seeing what further options for foldables Samsung plans so as to add to One UI. The corporate’s subsequent model of its OS, One UI 6, is at the moment in beta for its flagship non-foldable machine, so we’ll have to attend and see what Samsung will convey to the desk. Google, however, has already introduced that it plans to convey a dual-screen interpreter mode in Google Translate with the Android 14 replace.
Aside from the options that we’ve already uncovered within the Android 14 betas, we don’t know what else the corporate plans to convey to the Pixel Fold. Hopefully, Google is already working to convey a number of the options I discussed on this article, just like the per-app facet ratio one, as foldables throughout the ecosystem stand to learn from no matter Google introduces to AOSP.
