Last year marked a significant shift for me as I transitioned from a Samsung device to the Pixel 10 Pro after six years. While my affection for the Pixel remains steadfast, there are features from my Samsung experience that I find myself longing for. One of the standout features I miss is the pop-up windows, which have been replaced by Google’s innovative app bubbles in the Android 17 Beta 3. The introduction of this feature has brought a wave of excitement, although it has not come without its share of frustrations.
App bubbles are my favorite new Android feature
As the name implies, an app bubble is a movable and collapsible interface element that encapsulates an application. For those familiar with Android’s chat bubbles, the concept of app bubbles will feel quite intuitive. Android 17 allows users to launch any app on their device in a compact window that can be easily dismissed or summoned without interrupting the current task. This feature proves invaluable in various scenarios, such as accessing notes or shopping lists while browsing, or seamlessly switching between apps for tasks like copying and pasting.
Personally, I find myself utilizing app bubbles most frequently while enjoying media content. The ability to keep my music or podcast app open as a bubble and dismiss it effortlessly has been a game changer, reminiscent of my experience with Samsung’s One UI. Although it may seem minor, this functionality has been a part of my mobile routine since 2019 with my Galaxy S10 Plus, making its presence on the Pixel a significant enhancement for me.
Unfortunately, they’re far from perfect
However, despite their appeal, app bubbles are not without their drawbacks. Currently, the only method to open an app in a bubble within Android 17 Beta 3 involves navigating to the home screen or app drawer, long-pressing the app icon, and selecting the bubble icon. This process necessitates leaving the app you are currently using, which diminishes the convenience that app bubbles are meant to provide.
In contrast, Samsung’s One UI offers a multitude of ways to launch pop-up windows, including options from the overview screen, swiping down notifications, and utilizing the Edge Panel. The singular method of accessing app bubbles in Android 17 adds unnecessary friction to the user experience, making it easier to overlook this feature altogether. Moreover, the transition from a bubbled app back to full-screen mode can be cumbersome. For instance, if YouTube Music is open as a bubble and you wish to return to the full app, dismissing the bubble will stop the music entirely. To avoid this, users must minimize the bubble, navigate back to the home screen, and tap the app icon again, which interrupts the flow of use.
Additionally, app bubbles lack the flexibility of resizing or separating from one another, preventing users from having multiple bubbles on the screen simultaneously or adjusting their size to maintain visibility of important content in the main app.
Samsung’s pop-up windows, on the other hand, allow for resizing, repositioning, and easy access alongside other windows. They also integrate seamlessly into the overview screen, enabling full-screen access with a simple tap, while dismissing a pop-up merely sends it to the background, allowing it to continue running.
Despite these critiques, I remain optimistic about Google’s efforts with app bubbles. This feature stands out as my favorite addition to recent Android updates, prompting my participation in the Android 17 Beta. While it is essential to acknowledge its imperfections, I believe that constructive feedback will be key to enhancing the functionality of app bubbles as the testing phase progresses.
