Android 15 may bring hybrid taskbar to Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold،
Remember Android 12L? Google discontinued it in early 2022, finally giving big screens, like the tablets of the day, some love after years of focusing on phones. One major change was the taskbar; it sat there, stuck to the bottom of the screen, promising quick app switching and multitasking. Desktops have been using this feature for years, so it made perfect sense for Android to finally join the party. But this first taskbar turned out to be rather clunky. A stationary bar that took up space at the bottom of the screen whether you needed it or not. Sure, you could hide it temporarily, but by default it was always visible and limited screen real estate on larger screen devices that weren't as big as, say, a 14-inch tablet.
That changed when Android 13 QPR2 arrived last year with a redesigned taskbar that, instead of always being there, was replaced by a pill-shaped bar that appeared after a quick swipe and then disappeared after a few seconds. This new version debuted on Google's Pixel Tablet and Fold, and with Android 14 it has finally reached other big-screen devices.
Old Taskbar vs New Taskbar | Source: Android Authority
The new taskbar is noticeably more user-friendly for most users, but heavy multitaskers may not feel the same way, as it takes more swipes and clicks to get where you want when the taskbar doesn't. is not persistent. However, according to Mishaal Rahman of Android AuthorityGoogle is working on a fix for this in an upcoming version of Android.
As we discovered while browsing the new features in Android 15 Developer Preview 2, the old “always there” taskbar is making a return; However, he has a new trick. Swipe the taskbar up, press and hold on that empty space, and a toggle labeled “Always show taskbar” magically appears. Activate this option and the taskbar returns to its classic appearance. Turn this off and the new floating style returns. It's the best of both worlds, and it depends entirely on user preference.
This is a very encouraging sign of things to come. Android 15, and the possibilities it will bring if adopted by other OEMs is a big win for Android users around the world. The potential for increased customization is exciting, and I can't wait to see how it continues to evolve in the future.
