Android users can enhance their multitasking efficiency by enabling the side panel feature, which provides quick access to frequently used apps and tools on most non-folding smartphones.

Key Points

• The side panel, also known as Edge Panel or Sidebar, allows users to swipe from the screen edge to launch apps or trigger split-screen mode.
• Samsung, Motorola, and OnePlus devices include this feature natively, though it remains notably absent from Google Pixel smartphones.
• Samsung users can further customize their experience using the Good Lock app and the Home Up module for advanced layout and design options.
• Beyond app shortcuts, these panels can host widgets for weather, contacts, clipboard history, and navigation tools.
• Future updates, such as the rumored One UI 9, are expected to introduce additional visual customization like adjustable blur effects and corner radii.

Why it Matters

Utilizing a side panel significantly streamlines mobile navigation by reducing the need to return to the home screen to switch between applications. This feature offers a practical solution for power users who rely on multitasking, though its absence on Pixel devices remains a point of contention for many Android enthusiasts.