Android 7: visual style and key interface changes

The visual style of the operating system Android 7, known under the code name Nougat, has become a landmark stage in the evolution of Google's mobile design. Although at first glance the system may seem similar to the previous version Marshmallow, an attentive user will immediately notice many improvements aimed at improving ergonomics and multitasking.

The developers did not focus on a radical change in appearance, but on polishing existing elements. Material Design. This manifested itself in smoother animations, redesigned settings icons, and a completely new approach to managing notifications. It was in this version that the system began to look more “mature” and functional, offering tools that were previously available only to third-party launchers.

For those who are moving from older versions, the interface may seem unusual due to the shift in emphasis to the quick settings panel. Brightness, flashlight, and airplane mode controls are now more intuitive, and visual noise in the status bar has been significantly reduced. Let's take a closer look at exactly what this system looks like and what elements determine its unique appearance.

The evolution of the notification panel and quick settings

The most noticeable change that catches your eye immediately after updating to Android 7concerns the top curtain. In previous versions, quick settings and notifications were divided into different screens or tabs, which required unnecessary swipes. Now everything is combined into a single, easily scrollable feed.

Quick settings tiles have become more compact and are placed in a grid. The first time you swipe down, you see five main buttons, and when you open the shade again or swipe right, a full grid with additional switches opens up. This solution saves space on the screen and makes access to functions instantaneous.

• 🔵 Settings tiles can now be dragged and rearranged, creating an individual usage profile.
• 🔵 A long press on a tile (for example, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth) immediately opens the corresponding settings menu, bypassing the main Settings application.
• 🔵 A button for editing the grid has appeared, allowing you to add or remove unnecessary switches from quick access.

Visually, the shadows under the tiles have become softer, and active elements are highlighted with a more saturated accent color, which depends on the system theme chosen by the user. This grouping of controls has become the standard for all subsequent versions of Android, having proven its effectiveness in everyday use.

Split screen mode (Multi-Window)

One of the main visual features Android 7 has become native support for split screen. Until this point, the multitasking function was the prerogative of manufacturers like Samsung or LGwho implemented their own solutions. In the stock version of Google, this function looks laconic and works systematically.

To activate this mode, the user needs to open the recent applications menu and click on the title of the window of the running app. The screen is divided into two parts: upper and lower. A dividing strip appears between them, which can be dragged, changing the proportions of the occupied space.

⚠️ Attention: Not all applications support split-screen mode. If the application is not adapted, you will see a message stating that it may not work correctly in this mode, or the system simply will not allow you to launch it in the second window.

Visually, the separator has a dark or light color depending on the content of the applications, ensuring the readability of the interface. The bottom of the screen, where a second app launches, retains the familiar navigation bar, allowing you to quickly minimize windows or return to the home screen without closing running tasks.

Keyboard design and input field Gboard

Along with the system update, users received an updated virtual keyboard, which later became known as Gboard. The appearance of the keys has become flatter, the volumetric frames characteristic of earlier versions have disappeared Android Keyboard. This made typing more comfortable and visually easier.

Particular attention was paid to the hint line above the keyboard. Now it displays not only word options, but also buttons for quickly inserting emoji, accessing language settings and the search button Google. The keyboard's color scheme automatically matches the theme of the active application, creating a sense of consistency in the interface.

Multilingual input functionality has been integrated directly into the spacebar design. The name of the language is now displayed on the key itself, which allows you to instantly understand which layout is currently active without looking into the settings. This small but important change has improved the user experience for those who frequently switch between languages.

Display settings and font size

The long-awaited feature of changing the font size and density of interface elements without having to get Android 7 the long-awaited function of changing the font size and density of interface elements has finally appeared without the need to obtain root accessis finally here. Previously, users had to use third-party applications or edit system files to make the text larger.

The new slider in the menu Settings → Screen → Font size allows you to flexibly adjust the readability of the text. When you change the position of the slider, the system shows a preview of how headings and body text will look in different applications. This is especially important for users with low vision.

Parameter	Description of the effect on the interface	Where to find the setting
Size font	Changes the height of letters in menus and applications	Settings → Screen
Size of elements	Changes the scale of buttons and icons (DPI density)	Settings → Screen → Image size
Dark theme (experimental)	Inverts the colors of system menus to save energy	Quick settings panel (hidden)

Also in this version, it is possible to adjust the size of the displayed elements (“density” of the interface). This allows you to make buttons and icons larger on smartphones with high screen resolutions, where standard elements may appear too small.

Hidden dark theme

In Android 7 Nougat there was a hidden system dark theme. To activate it, you had to hold down the gear icon in the quick settings panel for a few seconds, after which a new “System UI Tuner” item appeared in the settings menu.

Battery and status bar indicators

Visual changes also affected the status bar at the top of the screen. The battery indicator began to display the charge percentage inside the icon itself, rather than next to it, which saved horizontal space. This solution looks more neat and modern.

Notification icons in the status bar are now grouped more logically. If you receive multiple notifications from the same app, they can be combined into a single icon, preventing the top bar from becoming cluttered. When you click on such a group, the user sees a list of all events from this source.

The color of the icons in the status bar has become strictly monochrome (white or black depending on the background), which corresponds to the principles Material Design. Multi-colored icons, which were sometimes found in custom firmware, are replaced here with strict silhouettes, which improves the overall readability of the interface in bright light.

⚠️ Attention: The status bar interface may differ on smartphones from different manufacturers (Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung), as they often modify the top panel with their own shells (MIUI, EMUI, TouchWiz), even if the base is Android 7.

Lock screen and notifications

The lock screen Android 7 has undergone significant changes in the direction of information content. Notifications are now displayed directly on the lock screen, and the user can interact with them without unlocking the device. This includes the ability to respond to messages or perform actions provided by the application.

Visually, notifications appear as cards with a slight shadow that you can swipe left or right to delete. Important notifications (such as calls or alarms) are placed at the top of the list and can be prioritized, drawing the user's attention.

• 🔒 Direct access to the camera: swiping left on the lock screen instantly launches the camera application, even if the device is locked.
• 🔒 Smart lock: the system may not require you to enter a password if you are nearby trusted device (for example, Android Wear watch or car system).
• 🔒 Hiding sensitive content: notification content can be hidden by displaying only the application icon until unlocked.

The unlocking animation has become smoother. When you enter the correct password or place your finger on the scanner, notification cards elegantly fly away to the sides, giving access to the desktop. This creates a feeling of lightness and responsiveness of the system.

Frequently asked questions about the Android 7 interface

Is it possible to change application icons in Android 7 without installing a launcher?

Change using standard system tools the shape or style of application icons is not possible. Android 7 does not have a built-in theme store or icon editor. To change the appearance of the icons, you need to install a third-party launcher, for example Nova Launcher or Apex Launcherthat support icon packs.

Why doesn't split-screen work on my phone with Android 7?

The split-screen function depends not only on the version of the operating system, but also on device screen size. On smartphones with a diagonal of less than 6 inches, this function can be disabled by the manufacturer or limited by software, since in a small space two windows will be unreadable.

How to return the old style of the notification panel as in Android 6?

It is impossible to return the old separate style of the notification panel using standard settings. The system architecture has been changed. The only way is to use specialized modules for Xposed Framework (Root access is required), but this can lead to unstable operation of the system.

Where can I find the dark theme in the settings?

In the standard version Android 7 the dark theme is hidden. It can be activated through the “System UI Tuner”, which is activated by long pressing the gear in the curtain. However, even after enabling, the theme does not work in all applications and is considered an experimental feature.

Does the new interface affect the speed of the smartphone?

Visual changes, such as new animations and multitasking mode, require a little more resources RAM and the processor. On high-end devices, the difference is not noticeable, but on budget smartphones with 1-2 GB of RAM, the transition to Android 7 can feel like a slight slowdown in the interface.