The latest Android 16 update significantly enhances multitasking capabilities — Google introduced a new split-screen mode with a 90/10 ratio.
It is designed for large screens and offers Android device users more multitasking options by allowing the simultaneous use of two applications.
Split-screen mode with a 90/10 ratio
In the 90/10 split mode, one app can occupy 90% of the screen, while the other takes up the remaining 10%. This is useful when you want to focus on one application while keeping another open, such as watching a full-screen video and having a chat window or calculator in the corner.
Switching between the two apps is very easy: just tap on the smaller window, and the apps will swap places. The app in the smaller area expands to cover most of the screen, while the other minimizes. This makes multitasking simple and convenient.
Interestingly, the new 90/10 split mode does not replace the older 70/30 option but complements it. This decision was made based on user feedback. Initially, developers planned to gradually phase out the 70/30 mode.
This feature has been in development since the beginning of this year. It was originally expected to appear in one of the quarterly Android 16 updates. Now, it has been included in the July Android Canary update.
In fact, the 90/10 split screen is already implemented in the Android 16 source code. This means it is part of the official build, not just a test version.
Some Android skins, like Samsung’s One UI 8, already include this feature, and it is quite likely that we will soon see this innovation on Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco devices.