Samsung Expands One UI 9 Edge Panel Controls With More Blur and Color Options

Q: With Android 17's 'Bubbles,' has Google truly matched Samsung's multitasking, or does the classic side panel still reign supreme?

No. Android 17’s Bubbles improve Pixel multitasking, but they do not fully match Samsung’s classic side panel. Google’s new Bubbles give Pixel users something they long lacked: fast access to floating apps without leaving the current screen. Long-pressing an app to open it as a bubble is useful for quick tasks such as replying in Slack, checking Gmail, or glancing at YouTube, and the system can keep several apps readily available. On larger screens, the bubble bar makes that workflow cleaner. But Bubbles solve a narrower problem. They are mainly about keeping a small set of active apps floating and within reach. They are not a true side drawer, and reports indicate they remain more limited in scope, with caps on how many apps can stay bubbled and less persistence and flexibility than Samsung’s system. Samsung’s Edge Panel still offers the broader multitasking toolkit. It works as a persistent, swipe-out taskbar from almost any screen, can hold apps, recent apps, contacts, clipboard tools, weather, and other shortcuts, and lets users drag apps directly into split-screen or pop-up windows. With Good Lock, Samsung adds even deeper customization, including app pairs and expanded panel behavior. So Google has narrowed the gap for Pixel users, especially for floating-window multitasking. But if the standard is overall versatility, customization, and one-stop access to apps and tools, the classic side panel still reigns supreme.

3 articles · Updated · Android Central · Jul 11

One UI 9 will add new Edge Panel customization tools, letting Samsung users change backgrounds, colors, corner radius and blur effects through an updated Home Up module.
The new controls were shown by an Android 17 user, indicating the feature is tied to Samsung's Good Lock customization suite rather than the default settings alone.
Samsung already lets Galaxy users place the Edge Panel handle, adjust its size and transparency, and add apps, contacts, clipboard, weather and other panels for multitasking.
The wider pitch is productivity on standard phones: Samsung, Motorola and OnePlus offer sidebar-style app access, while Google Pixel still lacks a built-in equivalent.