Samsung has been one of the last major Android OEMs using traditional on-screen navigation buttons, but recent reports suggest that this might change. In a surprising development, two news reports have emerged that hint at Samsung’s possible shift towards gesture-based navigation.
The first report from SammyGuru shows that Samsung’s One UI 8.5 setup flow now gives users the option to choose between screen buttons or swipe gestures when booting up a new phone. While this is not a new feature, it marks an interesting shift in how users can navigate their devices.
Meanwhile, Android Authority spotted dormant code in the latest Google Pixel update that mimics Samsung’s layout when using button navigation. This has sparked speculation that Google might be nudging Samsung to adopt gesture-based navigation or vice versa.
These reports paint a promising picture for Android fragmentation, with more customization options potentially on the horizon. With Samsung’s huge sales figures and most other Android OEMs having joined Google in defaulting to swipe-based gestures years ago, it wouldn’t be surprising if Samsung eventually follows suit.
Source: https://www.androidpolice.com/google-samsung-button-gesture-navigation-options