Google appears to be working on a significant redesign of Android's notification and Quick Settings panels for the upcoming Android 16 release. This information comes from a recent leak discovered by tech enthusiast Mishaal Rahman while exploring the Android 15 QPR beta.
The leaked design showcases a dramatic shift from the current unified panel introduced in Android 12:
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Separated Panels: Notifications and Quick Settings will no longer share the same screen, mimicking the approach seen in some Android forks like Xiaomi's HyperOS.
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Space-Saving Design: The new notification panel only occupies about a quarter of the screen, allowing users to see more of the underlying app.
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Two-Finger Gesture: Accessing Quick Settings will require a two-finger swipe down, a potentially controversial change that may frustrate long-time Android users.
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Improved Quick Settings Layout: The redesigned Quick Settings panel features smaller tiles, allowing more options to be displayed at once. Users can swipe left or right to access additional pages of tiles.
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Enhanced Brightness Control: The brightness slider now includes a text label and displays the current level as you adjust it.
While this overhaul could bring benefits like improved screen real estate usage and more customization options, it also raises concerns:
- The two-finger gesture for Quick Settings may be less intuitive and accessible for some users.
- Separating notifications and Quick Settings could lead to more complex navigation.
- The design is still unfinished, with missing elements and potential light mode issues.
It's important to note that this leak is based on early code, and Google may make significant changes before Android 16's official release. The company seems to be following a trend set by some Android manufacturers and even taking cues from Apple's iOS design philosophy.
As Android 15's release approaches, it will be interesting to see how these potential Android 16 changes evolve and whether they'll be well-received by the Android community.
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