I just got my first taste of the new UI and some of the new features in Android P, and I can already say that it leapfrogs what Apple offers in the iPhone X.
It starts with the new Home button, which isn’t really a button. It’s a slash that you can press, but if you swipe up, you’ll see your most recent apps in a card-like format. Below that you’ll see a Google search bar and below that there’s a row of icons for your most-used apps (based on Machine learning).
That sounds like a lot to cram on one recent apps screen, but it looks pretty streamlined and elegant. The iPhone X shows only your most recent apps in its view. Plus, dismissing apps is easier in Android P; you just swipe it away. On Apple’s phone you have to long press the app before you dismiss it, which is a waste of time.
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The recent apps view on Android P is even interactive. You can select text right from within a thumbnail window and look up info or copy it. You can't do that in iOS.
If you swipe up once more from the recent apps view, you’ll see all of your apps, but that’s not all. Toward the top of the screen there will be two Predictive Actions shortcuts. On my demo Android P phone, one of the shortcuts surfaced a favorite contact to call (which you might do at a certain time of day) and a way to navigate directly home using Google Maps. So you don’t even need to open the apps.
Speaking of apps, the new App Slices feature seems pretty handy. Just start searching, and you’ll see some quick actions that pop up. For example, if you search for Lyft, you’ll be able to book a ride home from wherever you are. Or, if you search for Hawaii, you’ll see a shortcut to the Google Photos app with thumbnails of pictures you have taken.
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Other tweaks include a new volume control bar that pops up when you press one of the volume control buttons. From there, you can use a slider but also quickly toggle mute on and off with a button above the slider. The volume buttons will now default to adjusting the media volume settings, and not changing your notification sounds.
There are lots of Android P features that are more subtle but welcome, including Adaptive Battery for saving you juice. Your phone will learn what apps you use most often and cut down on CPU cycles when waking up apps.
Another welcome addition is a better Do Not Disturb mode; you just turn over your phone when you want to be more present, and notifications and calls will silence (except for your most important peeps).
Although it’s in beta, I think it’s safe to say that Android P is looking good so far. It’s more intuitive and also more proactive. Your move, Apple.
Photos Credit: Tom's Guide
