Android 16 made me fall again in love with split-screen and app pairs

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With Android 15, Google launched app pairs, or the power to avoid wasting two apps collectively as one icon, and launch them on the similar time in split-screen mode. The function was restricted to tablets at first, nevertheless it quickly expanded to the Pixel 9 Professional Fold and different telephones.

Initially, I believed I'd use this on a regular basis, however I quickly realized that the difficulty was with the multi-window mode itself, and the way it displayed a tiny a part of each apps and made utilizing both of them clunkier. So I forgot about app pairs for some time, till Android 16 got here alongside, and with it, a major enchancment to multi-window and split-screen multitasking on Android.

Do you employ App Pairs on Android? 0 votes

Sure, on a regular basis.

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I attempted them, however they weren't for me.

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No, I do not use them.

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I had no concept this was attainable!

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90:10 split-screen makes app pairs helpful on Android

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="New 90 10 split screen ratio in Android" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="New 90 10 split screen ratio in Android" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/New_90_10_split_screen_ratio_in_Android.jpg"/> Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority

As good because it’s been to have split-screen and multi-window on Android telephones for almost a decade now, the function by no means felt helpful to me due to the way it works and the way small telephone shows are. It primarily splits the display screen in half or in two-thirds to one-third, and retains it like that, which signifies that a minimum of one of many apps is totally hidden every time I open the keyboard. Plus, irrespective of the setup — 50/50 or 70/30 — it felt like I used to be utilizing a compressed model of my apps and never the true deal. It was virtually at all times simpler to modify between full-screen apps than to make use of them on the similar time within the awkward and clunky split-screen mode.

With Android 16, Google introduced a modified split-screen 90:10 mode that virtually maximizes one app and minimizes one other. The principle perk right here is that the 2 apps mechanically change once you faucet on them, so if I've Spotify and Slack open, with Spotify minimized and Slack maximized, I can simply faucet the Spotify window to maximise it and reduce Slack in a single go. This works actually seamlessly.

On a comparatively small 6-inch or 7-inch telephone show, the choice to see extra from every app and the power to modify between each apps in a short time make split-screen much more usable. I can lastly use two apps collectively and never sacrifice display screen property or practicality.

What makes this extra fascinating, although, is saving the app pair as a single icon in an effort to launch them instantly as I intend. This takes away plenty of the guesswork and meaningless tapping to get my two apps launched side-by-side and within the actual ratios I would like. And due to the mix of app pairs and 90:10, I’m lastly utilizing — and loving — multi-window on Android much more.

App pairs are good if in case you have the best use for them

<img class="e_jg" decoding="async" loading="lazy" sizes="(min-width: 64rem) 51.25rem, 80vw" title="android 16 app pairs 1" srcset="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1.jpg 2000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1-64w-36h.jpg 64w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1-1000w-563h.jpg 1000w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1-1920w-1080h.jpg 1920w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1-1536w-864h.jpg 1536w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1-675w-380h.jpg 675w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1-300w-170h.jpg 300w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1-1280w-720h.jpg 1280w, https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1-840w-472h.jpg 840w" alt="android 16 app pairs 1" src="https://www.androidauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/android-16-app-pairs-1.jpg"/> Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

App pairs aren’t for everybody, however if in case you have the correct use case for them, they’re a large productiveness hack. On my Pixel Pill, I’ve been utilizing them for a number of months now to launch Spotify and KS Match, the companion app for my desk strolling treadmill. That approach, every time I wish to stroll whereas working, I faucet one button to get each apps on my display screen, join my treadmill to see my stats, and play my music. This has primarily turn out to be my strolling dashboard.

On my telephone, my favourite use case now entails launching Chrome with Spotify. By placing Spotify as the highest minimized app, and Chrome as the underside expanded app, I can nonetheless see Spotify’s now enjoying bar always, all whereas searching or working. I’ve additionally began getting used to opening Slack and Asana collectively and switching seamlessly between each whereas doing a little on-the-go work for Android Authority. I’m positive I’ll work out extra use circumstances as I'm going, however the mere undeniable fact that I can lastly launch and use two apps collectively on the small display screen of my telephone has been an enormous productiveness increase.

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