Google recently released the source code for Android 15, giving developers a sneak peek into new features. However, not all of Google’s updates made it into Android 15, so we might not see some of these changes until Android 16 or later updates.
For Android 16 OS, one major change in the works (revealed by Mishaal Rahman) is a redesign of the notification and Quick Settings panels. The current setup, introduced in Android 12, combines both panels into one. Pulling down the status bar once shows a mix of notifications and Quick Settings tiles, and pulling down again shows more Quick Settings tiles and additional notifications.
It looks like Google is also experimenting with separating these panels in Android 16. In the new design, pulling down the status bar once shows a smaller notifications panel (about a quarter of the screen) without Quick Settings tiles. To access Quick Settings, you’d need to pull down with two fingers. This change might be controversial because it adds an extra step to reach your Quick Settings.
In the new Quick Settings panel, you can swipe left or right to view different pages of tiles. The brightness bar now shows a text label and brightness level, similar to the new volume sliders in Android 15. Most Quick Settings tiles are smaller to fit more on one page.
The redesign is still incomplete. Some features are missing, like the user switcher and power menu, and the design doesn’t handle light mode well yet. The red banner in the screenshots indicates that Google is working on improving the SystemUI, which includes separating its components into distinct “scenes” for better stability.
It’s unclear if this new design will be the final version, but it’s clear Google is planning a big change to the notification and Quick Settings panels.