For a few years, there wasn’t any doubt about who made the greatest foldable telephone. Samsung kickstarted the brand new class in 2019 and didn’t face a number of critical competitors for 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 big 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 gadget that has the higher software program arguably gives a greater total expertise because it really takes benefit of all that further house. 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 somewhat over a month now, and I’m regularly shocked by simply what number of helpful options I preserve discovering in its One UI 5.1.1 software program. It might take ages to clarify each change Samsung made to Android that I like or dislike, so as a substitute, I wished to spotlight simply the modifications that enhance the expertise of utilizing a book-style foldable telephone.
A number of the options I’m going to say aren’t discovered within the open-source model of Android (AOSP) — not less than not but, which suggests in addition they aren’t discovered within the Google Pixel Fold. If Google have been so as to add these options, it might enhance the expertise of utilizing the Pixel Fold and different foldable units. In fact, Google can’t copy each characteristic from the Galaxy Z Fold 5 since they’ve so much to contemplate earlier than they’ll add any new characteristic to inventory Android. Nonetheless, there’s so much that Google may 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 best in One UI than on inventory Android, due to 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 place three apps on display without delay. One app takes up half the display, whereas the opposite half of the display is break up between the opposite two apps of your alternative.
To be honest, the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s interior show is just 7.6 inches diagonally, so giving an app 1 / 4 of the display doesn’t give it a number of respiration room. Three-way split-screen mode isn’t one thing you’ll use fairly often, however the possibility is good to have. I’m positive some folks will discover it helpful infrequently or fairly often. That’s type of the factor with One UI: it’s packed stuffed with options to the purpose that it will possibly really feel overwhelming to a brand new person, however when you discover a characteristic or two that actually fits your fancy, you’ll miss them while you swap units.
Picture 1 of 2
However I digress. It’s really potential to suit a bit extra content material into 2-way and 3-way split-screen mode by way of one other characteristic not current in inventory Android: “full display in break up display view.” This characteristic, discovered below Settings > Superior options > Multi window, enables you to cover the standing and navigation bars while you’re in split-screen mode. I personally go away this feature off, as I like having the taskbar seen always so I can shortly swap between apps.
That leads me to my subsequent level: initiating split-screen is simply typically sooner on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
For one, while you open your first app to start out split-screen mode (by way of both the “swipe for break up display” gesture or the multi-window menu), One UI instantly opens an app choice display on the opposite half. This app choice display neatly categorizes your apps by part by your current apps, adopted by your most used apps, and eventually, all of your apps sorted alphabetically. Additionally, you may faucet the search button to shortly discover the app you need to launch.
The Pixel Fold, in distinction, doesn’t actually 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, not less than, allow you to launch apps in split-screen mode from the house display, not like One UI. Alternatively, Google’s software program lacks arguably the perfect characteristic for split-screen multitasking: saving app pairs.
Picture 1 of 2
One UI enables you to save your split-screen format as an app pair that you could pin to the taskbar or residence display. You may later relaunch the duo or trio of apps saved within the app pair by tapping an icon. This can be a characteristic that the Pixel Fold at present lacks, however Google could possibly be introducing the characteristic 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 a substitute, long-pressing an icon within the recents menu or taskbar enables you to drag the app to at least one half of the show to launch it in split-screen mode or to the middle to open it in a pop-up view.
Picture 1 of 3
Freeform multi-window
Freeform multi-window is a multitasking mode Google launched all the way in which again in Android 7.0 Nougat, but it surely was left in an unfinished state. Google seems to lastly be sprucing it up for a future Android 14 launch, however Samsung way back determined to take issues into their very own arms 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 principally a extra versatile model of Android’s chat bubble characteristic. Underneath Settings > Notifications > Superior settings > Floating notifications, One UI enables 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 reduce it, increase it, change the opacity, launch it in split-screen, or shut it. You may even long-press the title bar after which drag and drop it to provoke split-screen mode. Pop-up view is one in all One UI’s most helpful multitasking options, which is why so many different smartphone makers have made their very own model of it.
Picture 1 of 3
The final freeform-related change I wished to spotlight is the nifty “present multi window menu with 1 window” possibility (as I mentioned, One UI can really feel overwhelming…). This selection is discovered below Settings > Superior options > Multi window, and it provides a mini deal with on the high 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 characteristic enabled as a substitute of the “swipe for break up display” or “swipe for pop-up view” gestures, as I really feel it’s simpler to launch split-screen/pop-up view this fashion than remembering the particular swipe gestures I have to carry out.
Taskbar
Launching apps in split-screen/pop-up view can be made simpler in One UI due to 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 provides you extra display house, but it surely’s worse for multitasking. You need to swipe as much as reveal the transient taskbar anytime you need to swap 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 by default and may even present as much as 4 current apps (on One UI 5.1.1 and later). It additionally has a search bar in its app drawer to make it simpler to search out the app you need to launch.
Picture 1 of 2
The persistent taskbar isn’t all the time superior, although. It takes up treasured display house which you’ll reclaim by “stashing” the taskbar by way 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 as a result of the truth that I hid the gesture capsule by way of the “gesture trace” toggle in settings, however I feel it’s higher visually to not have the gesture capsule all the time exhibiting beneath the taskbar.
The transient taskbar grew to become Android’s default strategy after Android 13 QPR2, however I feel there are clear advantages to each the outdated persistent taskbar and the brand new transient taskbar. That’s why I hope Google follows by way of on its work to add a toggle that lets us swap between the 2.
Cowl display & interior display
Let me let you know upfront: I’m not an enormous fan of the quilt display on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Whereas its slim profile does make the telephone simpler to carry in a single hand, it additionally makes it awkward to kind or use many apps. The flip facet is that the interior display will get to be much less huge, which suggests 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 beneath.
First, although, the quilt display. Samsung developed two options that I’d prefer to see Google add in some type to the Pixel Fold. The primary is “proceed apps on cowl display” below Settings > Show. By default, folding the gadget turns the display off, however this characteristic enables you to “select which apps you need to proceed utilizing on the quilt display while you shut your telephone.” That is helpful for while you need to provoke one thing whereas utilizing the interior show, like navigation, music playback, or viewing an inventory, that you simply need to proceed accessing from the quilt display as you progress about.
The Pixel Fold doesn’t have an possibility like this, although, by default, it does transition apps to the quilt display while you’re watching a video or utilizing Google Maps. It might be good if Google added a menu like Samsung’s to regulate this conduct on a per-app foundation, however on the very least, an extra possibility ought to be added that retains the quilt display on till the display timeout is reached.
The opposite cowl screen-related characteristic Google ought to contemplate is a toggle to show off residence display mirroring. By default, the Pixel Fold syncs the house display format between the quilt and interior screens. In distinction, Samsung enables you to select whether or not you need to do this by way of Settings > Residence display > Cowl display mirroring. I personally preserve cowl display mirroring off, as I like to make use of the quilt display for fast entry widgets and the house display for my full app assortment.
Subsequent, the interior display. Earlier, I discussed that Samsung’s alternative of side ratio has some advantages but additionally some downsides. Properly, Samsung solves a few of these downsides by way of non-obligatory settings you may allow on a per-app foundation. Because the side ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s interior show isn’t huge sufficient to be thought of a pill, and its default unfolded place is taken into account its “portrait” orientation, most apps present their telephone UI as a substitute of their giant screen-optimized UI. You need to flip the Z Fold 5 over to get apps like Discord, Gmail, and YouTube to indicate their two-pane layouts.
Picture 1 of 2
The Pixel Fold’s interior show, in distinction, has a large sufficient side ratio and by default is in its “panorama” orientation, so that you don’t need to flip the telephone over to get apps to indicate their giant screen-optimized UI. Nonetheless, this causes a problem with many apps which are 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 each 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 characteristic is extra highly effective than Android’s built-in orientation override, because it not solely lets the person choose which apps to override orientation for but additionally lets the person select to stretch the app to fill the display. One UI individually has one other menu, Settings > Show > Full display apps, that lets customers pressure a full display, 16:9, or 4:3 side ratio on apps.
Picture 1 of 3
Google actually wants so as to add a compatibility possibility that lets customers pressure a specific side ratio on apps relatively than patiently await builders to optimize their apps for big screens. If Google have been so as to add this, then I feel the app expertise on the Pixel Fold would possibly develop into higher than on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, however till then, I’ll take a blown-up telephone UI over a letterboxed one.
Picture 1 of 2
Lastly, Samsung’s “flex mode panel” characteristic deserves a shout-out. Presently, solely a choose variety of media apps assist tabletop/flex mode. YouTube, for instance, reveals media controls on the underside half of the display 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 way 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 taking part in 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.
Picture 1 of 2
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 may 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 due to the taskbar, the clipboard and particularly the sensible choose panel are extremely helpful. The previous provides you fast entry to your clipboard on any display, which is much more helpful on One UI since Samsung inexplicably took away Android’s clipboard overlay.
The latter enables you to draw a rectangle or oval to pick textual content or photographs on display, create a GIF out of part of the display, or pin part of the display as a floating window. (Pixel lets you choose textual content/photographs from the recents overview, however I nonetheless assume Samsung’s sensible choose panel is extra helpful since you could have extra space and options to work with.)
Double faucet to show off display
One UI has an possibility that allows you to double-tap on an empty spot on the lock or residence display to show off the display. That is helpful when the telephone is unfolded as a result of it will possibly typically be exhausting to achieve the ability button on the facet (very true for the Pixel Fold with its wider interior show).
Stylus assist
One UI has stylus assist built-in into the default keyboard and notes apps, so you may handwrite, exactly choose, or draw. Google is engaged on bettering 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 foul choice because it’s not straightforward to achieve the highest of the display with one hand. The cause they disabled it’s as a result of one-handed mode isn’t supposed for big screens, which doesn’t apply to the Pixel Fold’s cowl display.
One UI provides much more options than I’ve touched upon on this article.
I’m properly conscious that, by way of numerous 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 checklist to start with, not less than if I need to preserve this text an affordable size. That’s why I’m slicing issues right here, however I do briefly need 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. Cell, and Ben Sin from XDA-Builders, for his or her enter. One characteristic highlighted by Ben on social media comes from the Honor Magic V2. Honor’s software program, in keeping with Ben, “can pressure Twitter to open in [a] two-pane format” in distinction to the blown-up telephone UI you get on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.
Samsung does have a characteristic that’s much like this, but it surely doesn’t work with Twitter. Underneath Settings > Superior options > Labs > App break up view, you may pressure choose apps like Line and WeChat to open in a two pane format.
Michael, in the meantime, introduced up level about Samsung’s “swipe for split-screen” gesture. Samsung’s gesture requires swiping with two fingers throughout the interior show. In distinction, the equal gesture on the OPPO Discover N2 entails swiping down with two fingers, which is extra ergonomic. He additionally famous that, in his expertise, different foldables deal with cowl display mirroring higher.
Conclusion
Samsung’s head begin over its competitors positively gave it a bonus in creating new options and optimizing Android for foldables, however the hole between its software program and that of different foldable telephone makers will shrink over time. Samsung at present provides probably the most options for foldables out of anybody, however even it is behind in some areas. Honor, for instance, has a characteristic 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, for my part).
I’m all in favour of 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 present in beta for its flagship non-foldable gadget, so we’ll have to attend and see what Samsung will carry to the desk. Google, alternatively, has already introduced that it plans to carry a dual-screen interpreter mode in Google Translate with the Android 14 replace.
Other than the options that we’ve already uncovered within the Android 14 betas, we don’t know what else the corporate plans to carry to the Pixel Fold. Hopefully, Google is already working to carry among the options I discussed on this article, just like the per-app side ratio one, as foldables throughout the ecosystem stand to profit from no matter Google introduces to AOSP.