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 quite a lot of critical competitors for a very good whereas, however the area has modified considerably in 2023. Different smartphone makers haven’t solely caught as much as Samsung however arguably surpassed the Korean tech large relating 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 general expertise because it truly 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 a bit over a month now, and I’m regularly shocked by simply what number of helpful options I hold 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 wished to focus on simply the adjustments 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 least not but, which implies in addition they aren’t discovered within the Google Pixel Fold. If Google have been so as to add these options, it will enhance the expertise of utilizing the Pixel Fold and different foldable units. After all, Google can’t copy each function from the Galaxy Z Fold 5 since they’ve lots to contemplate earlier than they will add any new function to inventory Android. Nonetheless, there’s lots that Google may pull from Samsung and different OEMs, particularly relating to multitasking and productiveness options.

Cut up-screen

To start with, let me present how multitasking is best in One UI than on inventory Android, due to the adjustments 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 without delay. One app takes up half the display, whereas the opposite half of the display is cut up between the opposite two apps of your selection. 

To be honest, the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s inside show is just 7.6 inches diagonally, so giving an app 1 / 4 of the display doesn’t give it quite a lot of respiratory room. Three-way split-screen mode isn’t one thing you’ll use fairly often, however the possibility is good to have. I’m certain some individuals 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 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 whenever you swap units. 

However I digress. It’s truly potential to suit a bit extra content material into 2-way and 3-way split-screen mode via one other function not current in inventory Android: “full display in cut up display view.” This function, discovered below Settings > Superior options > Multi window, allows you to conceal the standing and navigation bars whenever you’re in split-screen mode. I personally go away this feature off, as I like having the taskbar seen always so I can rapidly 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, whenever you open your first app to start out split-screen mode (via both the “swipe for cut 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 at last, all of your apps sorted alphabetically. Additionally, you’ll be able to faucet the search button to rapidly discover the app you need 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 whenever you provoke split-screen mode from the recents menu. Google’s software program does, at the least, allow you to launch apps in split-screen mode from the house display, not like One UI. However, Google’s software program lacks arguably one of the best function for split-screen multitasking: saving app pairs. 

One UI allows you to save your split-screen format as an app pair that you would be able to pin to the taskbar or dwelling display. You may later relaunch the duo or trio of apps saved within the app pair by tapping an icon. It is a function that the Pixel Fold at the moment lacks, however Google might 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 allows 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. 

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. Below Settings > Notifications > Superior settings > Floating notifications, One UI allows you to select whether or not to open notifications in a bubble or in a pop-up view window. You may as well, 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 utilize 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 may even long-press the title bar after which drag and drop it to provoke split-screen mode. Pop-up view is considered one of One UI’s most helpful multitasking options, which is why so many different smartphone makers have made their very own model of it.

The final freeform-related change I wished to focus on is the nifty “present multi window menu with 1 window” possibility (as I stated, 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 prime of every app window that, when tapped, reveals buttons to launch the app in split-screen mode or pop-up view. I personally hold this function enabled as an alternative of the “swipe for cut up display” 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 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. It’s important 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 dwelling or present the recents menu. 

Samsung’s persistent taskbar, in distinction, is at all times 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 seek out the app you need to launch. 

The persistent taskbar isn’t at all times superior, although. It takes up valuable display house which you’ll be able to reclaim by “stashing” the taskbar via a long-press on an empty spot. Nevertheless, it’s a bit awkward to “unstash” the taskbar because the contact goal space could be very small. This can be as a consequence of the truth that I hid the gesture capsule via the “gesture trace” toggle in settings, however I believe it’s higher visually to not have the gesture capsule at all times displaying beneath the taskbar. 

The transient taskbar grew to become Android’s default method after Android 13 QPR2, however I believe there are clear advantages to each the outdated persistent taskbar and the brand new transient taskbar. That’s why I hope Google follows via on its work to add a toggle that lets us swap between the 2.

Cowl display & inside display

Let me let you know upfront: I’m not a giant fan of the quilt display on the Galaxy Z Fold 5. Whereas its slim 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 inside display will get to be much less broad, 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 beneath. 

First, although, the quilt display. Samsung developed two options that I’d wish 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 function allows you to “select which apps you need to proceed utilizing on the quilt display whenever you shut your cellphone.” That is helpful for whenever you need to provoke one thing whereas utilizing the inside show, like navigation, music playback, or viewing a listing, that you just 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 whenever you’re watching a video or utilizing Google Maps. It will be good if Google added a menu like Samsung’s to manage this habits 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 function Google ought to think about is a toggle to show off dwelling display mirroring. By default, the Pixel Fold syncs the house display format between the quilt and inside screens. In distinction, Samsung allows you to select whether or not you need to try this via Settings > Dwelling display > Cowl display mirroring. I personally hold 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 inside display. Earlier, I discussed that Samsung’s selection of side ratio has some advantages but additionally some downsides. Properly, Samsung solves a few of these downsides via non-compulsory settings you’ll be able to allow on a per-app foundation. For the reason that side ratio of the Galaxy Z Fold 5’s inside show isn’t broad 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. It’s important to flip the Z Fold 5 over to get apps like Discord, Gmail, and YouTube to point out their two-pane layouts.

The Pixel Fold’s inside show, in distinction, has a large sufficient side ratio and by default is in its “panorama” orientation, so that you don’t should flip the cellphone over to get apps to point out their giant screen-optimized UI. Nevertheless, this causes a problem 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 that 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 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. One UI individually has one other menu, Settings > Show > Full display apps, that lets customers power a full display, 16:9, or 4:3 side ratio on apps. 

Google actually wants so as to add a compatibility possibility that lets customers power a selected side ratio on apps moderately than patiently look ahead to builders to optimize their apps for big screens. If Google have been so as to add this, then I believe the app expertise on the Pixel Fold would possibly grow to be higher than on the Galaxy Z Fold 5, however till then, I’ll take a blown-up cellphone UI over a letterboxed one.

Lastly, Samsung’s “flex mode panel” function deserves a shout-out. At present, solely a choose variety of media apps help 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 via 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 help.

Miscellaneous

Right here’s a fast roundup of another options in One UI that I believe Google ought to implement themselves:

Desktop mode help

I may spend all day speaking about Samsung DeX, however this text is already too lengthy. Google is engaged on higher desktop mode help in Android 14, however sadly, the Pixel Fold lacks show output help. 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 allows you to draw a rectangle or oval to pick textual content or photos 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/photos from the recents overview, however I nonetheless assume Samsung’s sensible choose panel is extra helpful since you’ve got more room 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 dwelling display to show off the display. That is helpful when the cellphone is unfolded as a result of it could generally be arduous to achieve the ability button on the aspect (very true for the Pixel Fold with its wider inside show).

Stylus help

One UI has stylus help built-in into the default keyboard and notes apps, so you’ll be able to handwrite, exactly choose, or draw. Google is engaged on bettering stylus help 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 resolution because it’s not straightforward to achieve the highest of the display with one hand. The motive they disabled it’s as a result of one-handed mode isn’t meant for big screens, which doesn’t apply to the Pixel Fold’s cowl display.

I’m effectively conscious that, via numerous Good Lock modules, One UI presents 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, at the least if I need to hold 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 believe Google (and Samsung) ought to look into.

Options for foldables from different OEMs that Google ought to copy

Since I don’t have quite a lot 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 line with Ben, “can power 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. Below Settings > Superior options > Labs > App cut up view, you’ll be able to power 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 inside 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 un