Google’s Android 16 Gets Multitasking Boost That Looks Very Familiar to OPPO Users

Google’s latest Android 16 beta is introducing a revamped multitasking experience, and if it looks a little familiar to OPPO fans – that’s no coincidence. A new 90:10 split-screen layout, which allows one app to dominate most of the screen while another peeks in from the side, is getting people talking – including OPPO itself.

This new layout bears a striking resemblance to OPPO’s own ‘Boundless View’ feature, first seen on the OPPO Find N3 in 2023 and later included in the Find X8 series with ColorOS 15. Similarly, OnePlus Open users will recognize this as the ‘Open Canvas’ feature

. Both versions let users keep an app partially off-screen and switch between apps by tapping the visible edge – offering a fluid, less-clunky alternative to traditional multitasking.

Google’s take, spotted in Android 16 beta builds (including Samsung’s One UI 8 beta), keeps one app taking up 90% of the screen while the second app stays on the side – ready for a quick tap-and-switch. Though it’s not yet available on Pixel devices, future updates could change that.

After a wave of speculation, OPPO issued a statement clarifying its position. While an OPPO exec had hinted at a possible collaboration, the company officially stated it was not directly involved in Android 16’s development. Instead, it said Google’s new feature “draws inspiration” from Boundless View and expressed appreciation for the nod.

“Boundless View is a productivity-enhancing feature that changes how users multitask on foldables and large-screen phones,” OPPO explained. “We’re pleased to see Google recognizing its value.”

Regardless of who did it first, the real winners here are users – especially those using large-screen Androids and foldables, where multitasking can now feel smoother and more flexible. And rather than claim ownership, OPPO appears to be celebrating shared progress in UI innovation.