There is a lot to complain about about Windows 11, as the community’s reactions regularly show. What the operating system actually does better than many competitors is the window management – not only our author Benjamin thinks, but apparently Google too.
At least in the current beta version of Android 15 for tablets, the company offers a significantly revised form of window management that is strongly reminiscent of the PC operating system from Redmond.
Android tablets: More ways to arrange windows
Which beta version are we talking about? The test version under which the window update can be tried out is called QPR1 Beta 2.
What exactly is new? Instead of only being able to display windows in full screen mode or split vertically in the middle, according to the Google blog post, you can now also:
- Display windows at any size, which can only take up part of the display
- Arrange windows anywhere on the display
- Open and overlap multiple windows at the same time
Of course, these are not functions that are exclusive to Windows. But the way you arrange windows in different sizes reminded us a lot of the Snap Layouts of Windows 11.
Is window management also coming to mobile phones? There is currently no information from Google about this. We therefore initially do not expect that Android 15 will enable a more detailed arrangement of windows on the smartphone than before.
When will Android 15 be released? According to leaks, Android 15 will be released on October 15, 2024. Google itself has not yet announced an official date. As usual, Google’s own Pixel phones are likely to access the update first, before other manufacturers such as Samsung and Xiaomi deliver their own versions of the new software.