Your Samsung phone already has something better than Android 17 App Bubbles — here’s how to use it

Android 13 (referred to as Android 17 in the source) adds “App Bubbles,” a lightweight floating‑window feature that lets users pull an app out of the recents list for quick access. Google’s implementation is essentially a single‑size bubble that expands to cover most of the screen when opened, with limited resizing or placement options. Samsung’s One UI already provides a comparable capability called Pop‑Up View, which not only creates a floating bubble but also places the app in a truly independent, resizable window. Users can drag the window anywhere, shrink or enlarge it by pulling a corner, and switch the same bubble to full‑screen or split‑screen mode via icons that appear on the window’s top bar. The feature supports up to five simultaneous bubbles, and it can be invoked through three distinct pathways: the Recents menu, a corner‑swipe gesture, or the Edge Panel. Each method offers a different balance of speed and discoverability, with the swipe gesture highlighted as the fastest once mastered.

The contrast underscores a broader OEM‑versus‑stock Android dynamic that has intensified since Google’s “Pixel‑first” rollout of new UI tricks. Samsung has consistently layered One UI over Android to differentiate its hardware, and Pop‑Up View is a prime example of a value‑added multitasking tool that predates Google’s official offering. While Google’s App Bubbles may appeal to Pixel users seeking a simple, low‑overhead overlay, Samsung’s richer controls cater to power users who need multiple concurrent app windows—something Android’s native UI still lacks. This divergence illustrates how manufacturers can leverage years of UI experimentation to outpace Google’s incremental updates, especially in productivity‑centric features.

Looking ahead, Samsung’s more robust Pop‑Up View could diminish the perceived advantage of Google’s App Bubbles, pressuring Google to either expand its bubble functionality or integrate deeper with OEMs. Developers may need to test both APIs to ensure consistent behavior across devices, which could add overhead but also open opportunities for richer multitasking experiences. Watch for One UI updates that might further extend bubble limits or integrate with Android’s native APIs, and monitor whether Google adopts Samsung’s window‑management conventions in future Android releases.