Google is making strides in enhancing multitasking capabilities on Android smartphones. Recently, the company has been testing a feature known as the ‘Android Bubble Bar,’ which offers a completely new approach compared to the existing split-screen mode. This innovative feature aims to simplify the process of switching between multiple applications. Multitasking on Android devices, especially those with smaller screens, can often lead to frustration.

While most smartphones currently support split-screen functionality allowing two apps to be utilized side-by-side, and bubble features that enable floating windows for certain applications, these methods become cumbersome when trying to work with three or more apps simultaneously. Productivity tends to decline significantly in such scenarios. Recent findings have suggested that Google is poised to introduce a major enhancement in multitasking. Indicators from the Android 16 Beta 4 version reveal that the company is working on a feature that allows any app to be launched in a bubble format from a newly designed bubble bar.

This will surpass current multitasking functionalities, such as split-screen mode, by integrating the ‘Bubble Anything’ feature, which enhances overall user experience. Anticipation surrounds the release of the Android Bubble Bar feature alongside the Android 16 update. Reports suggest that Google is also exploring various bubble categories to facilitate user selection, although this has yet to be confirmed. As for the timeline for Android 16, Google is actively developing this version.

Following the initial developer preview released on November 19, 2024, subsequent previews and beta updates have been introduced. The first official Android 16 Beta launched on January 23, 2025, with the third version following on March 13, 2025. The stable version is expected to be available in early June, bringing enhancements that could significantly improve multitasking on Android devices.