This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
Android 16 quietly introduced one of the smartest multitasking upgrades in years: the new 90:10 split-screen layout.
The idea was not original — OnePlus was the first to showcase it with the Open Canvas concept in its phones. Basically, you can have one app take up 90% of your screen, while the second app takes up just 10%. Tap on the small one and they switch places. Elegant, clever and potentially game-changing.
And yet… I keep forgetting this even exists. Which led me to a bigger question: If multitasking on phones keeps getting better, why do so few people actually use it?
And why do even power users default to old habits like switching between apps instead? After a few stints with various Android 16 devices, here’s what I think.
Phones are still single-task devices at their core
Even though today’s phones have big screens and powerful hardware, they’re still mobile device, typically used in busy, distracting environments.
True multitasking requires a lot of focus and attention, but when you use a phone, it’s competing with the whole world around you. When I reach for my phone, I’m usually not sitting still. I’m either walking, in the store or half-watching something.
If I want to get serious work done, I reach for a laptop, which invites multitasking.
The use cases are surprisingly narrow
Samsung and Google love to showcase split-screen multitasking with dramatic examples. Did you know that you could edit documents side-by-side, drag text between apps, or do research while taking notes? Um, who really does that on a phone? And even if a few people do, how often?
The few truly useful cases when you multitask like watching a video while doing something else, or having Maps are already handled quite well by pop-up windows. Android’s 90:10 layout does not offer a huge advantage there. Actually, it’s usually a clunkier alternative.
Split-Screen requires too many steps
So what do I mean by clunky? Well, you have to engage in the following sequence of taps:
opening the Recent apps
press the app icon
selecting “Split Screen”
choosing the second app
adjust the ratio
That’s not easy, it looks like a chore. And that’s exactly why so many people forget it exists. It doesn’t flow naturally and is not evident in the interface. In stark contrast, pop-up windows are easy — switch to a different app, and YouTube will automatically turn into a pop-up. Done! Split-screen multitasking makes sense on a bigger screen that you use when you are idle and not on the move. And it makes even more sense if you have a keyboard with shortcuts to quickly swap between apps.
Recommended For You
But on a traditional phone? It just feels like an experiment to squeeze two tasks into a space that barely fits one.
We just don't multitask on phones
Ultimately, the big problem is that we just don’t do this on a phone. We do jump from one app to another, and we do pick up our phones to write back to someone, and then we are back to deal with life. Or get work done on a bigger screen.
Our phone behavior is fundamentally about switching.
Android 16’s 90:10 multitasking is great on paper and technically really cool. It’s also a perfect point to make to showcase how limited iOS is compared to Android. And it’s also well designed on Android 16. It solves a real problem, but it’s not one of the BIG problems of mobile phone use.
That’s perfectly okay and impressive in its own, but I just realized, we might never use it all that much after all.
Unlimited plans for $15/mo at Mint!
$180
$360
$180 off (50%)
Mint Mobile is also offering an incredible bargain for those seeking unlimited data! The carrier's latest deal lets you grab any unlimited plan for just $15/mo, bringing the 12-month Unlimited plan to $180 instead of $360.
Victor, a seasoned mobile technology expert, has spent over a decade at PhoneArena, exploring the depths of mobile photography and reviewing hundreds of smartphones across Android and iOS ecosystems. His passion for technology, coupled with his extensive knowledge of smartphone cameras and battery life, has positioned him as a leading voice in the mobile tech industry.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: