Android 15 is poised to bring significant improvements to the desktop mode experience. Let’s delve into the details:


Background:

Android has had a desktop mode since Android 10, but it was primarily designed for developers to test multi-display scenarios.

Google has been working on revamping this desktop mode since late 2022.

The goal is to enhance Android’s desktop capabilities, bridging the gap with macOS and Windows.

Windowing Capabilities:

Android already supports split-screen mode (two apps side by side) since Android 7.0.

However, desktop operating systems handle multiple app windows more elegantly.

Android’s freeform window mode allows more than two app windows, but it lacks polish compared to desktop systems.

Google has been addressing these issues incrementally in recent Android releases.

Recent Improvements:

In the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 2.1 update, a new desktop mode experience was discovered.

Full-screen apps now have a small handle at the top, revealing a menu with options to switch between full-screen, split-screen, or freeform mode.

In freeform mode, apps gain a title bar, allowing users to move and resize windows freely.

The Future:

Android 15 promises further enhancements to window management, making it more user-friendly.

While Android may never fully match desktop OS capabilities, these improvements are a step in the right direction.