Operating system Android 7.0 Nougat, released in 2016, became one of the most significant updates in the history of the Google mobile platform. Users upgrading from version 6.0 of Marshmallow immediately notice that visual language has become more mature and functional. The appearance of the system has undergone changes not only in aesthetics, but also in the logic of interaction with controls.
The main feature of how Android 7 looks is the evolution of the concept Material Design. The interface has become cleaner, unnecessary shadows and gradients have disappeared, giving way to flat colors and clearer typography. The notification panel has been completely redesigned, turning into a powerful control center that is now accessible by swiping from top to bottom in any application. This is a fundamental change in the way the user perceives system notifications and quick settings.
For many smartphone owners, switching to this version meant getting to know the real split screen. Visually, it looked like two active windows separated by a moving line, which made it possible to simultaneously watch videos and chat in the messenger. This multitasking became the hallmark of version 7.0 and radically changed the approach to using large displays.
Evolution of the design and notification panel
The first thing that catches your eye when you turn on the device based on Android 7is the redesigned status bar and a notification shade. It now supports cascading display of messages. Instead of each notification taking up the entire width of the screen, they are grouped together to save space. You can expand a group with a swipe to see details, or clear the entire group with one tap.
Quick Settings have also undergone major changes. Now this is not just a list of switches, but a full-fledged grid of tiles. The user can edit the order of buttons, add new ones or remove unnecessary ones. The number of tiles on one screen has increased, which has made managing functions like flashlight, Bluetooth or airplane mode much more convenient.
⚠️ Attention: In some shells from manufacturers (for example, older versions of MIUI or EMUI), the standard design of the Android 7 notification panel can be greatly changed or replaced with a proprietary one solution.
The visual style of the system tray icons has become more monochrome and minimalistic. This was done in order to reduce visual noise and focus the user's attention on the content. Colored icons remained only in the applications themselves, while system indicators became stricter and more concise.
Multitasking and split screen
The Split-screen function has become a key feature of how the workflow looks on Android 7. You can activate it through the recent applications menu. When you long press an application thumbnail, it is fixed at the top of the display, and at the bottom you are prompted to select a second application.
The border between windows is adjustable by the user. You can drag the separator bar, giving more space to the video or, conversely, to the keyboard. This is especially true for devices with a screen diagonal of more than 5.5 inches, where the display area allows you to comfortably work with two tasks at the same time without losing text readability.
- 📱 Support for running two applications in active mode simultaneously.
- 🔄 Quickly switch between windows without minimizing apps.
- 🎨 Adaptive interface that changes depending on the screen orientation.
However, not all applications support this mode out of the box. Developers had to add a special flag to their software manifest. If the application is not optimized, the system will try to run it in compatibility mode, but the result may look sloppy. In such cases, it is better to use the standard display mode.
To quickly activate split screen on some devices, hold down the "Recent applications" (square) button on the navigation bar.
Display settings and font size
In Android 7, Google has added the long-awaited feature of resizing interface elements, which does not depend on third-party launchers. A slider has appeared in the menu Settings → Screen → Image size that allows you to change the scale of the entire system. This affects the size of icons, menu text and buttons.
The font size control has been added separately. Now, visually impaired users can make text larger without enlarging application icons, preserving desktop ergonomics. These settings are applied instantly and affect most system applications and third-party software that supports standard scaling attributes.
| Parameter | Impact on the interface | Where to find |
|---|---|---|
| Image size | Scales everything UI elements (icons, indents) | Settings → Screen |
| Font size | Changes only text content | Settings → Screen |
| Dark theme | Natively absent in Android 7 (only in developer settings) | Settings → For developers |
It is important to note that changing the image size may result in fewer icons fitting on one desktop screen. This is a trade-off between readability and element density. Users are advised to find a balance where the interface looks clear but remains functional.
☑️ Setting up the ideal screen
Quick switch and traffic saving
Another noticeable change in the interface was the appearance of a quick switch for traffic saving mode. A tile has appeared in the notification shade that allows you to limit background data transfer for all applications with one touch. Visually, this was accompanied by the appearance of a special icon in the status bar.
When the mode is activated, applications cannot use the mobile network in the background unless you explicitly allow them to do so in individual settings. This helped to significantly save gigabytes of the tariff plan. The settings interface became more transparent: the system clearly showed which apps consume the most traffic.
The “Data Saving” function also appeared inside the applications themselves, if the developers have implemented the corresponding API. The browser Chrome, for example, could automatically compress images when enabled, which made pages load faster on slow networks. Visually, the user noticed this by the icon of a crossed out data transfer arrow.
⚠️ Attention: When you enable traffic saving, messengers may not send notifications about new messages until you open the application. Set up exceptions for important contacts.
For those who often roam or use limited tariffs, these settings have become a lifesaver. The interface warned about exceeding the limit, allowing you to set strict restrictions under which the mobile data is completely turned off until the next billing period.
Night mode and colors
Although a full-fledged dark theme became standard only in Android 10, in version 7.0 enthusiasts could find the beginnings of a “Night mode”. This feature was initially hidden in the developer menu. It inverted the colors of the interface, making the background dark and the text light, which reduced eye strain in the dark.
To activate this function, you had to click on the "Android Version" item in the menu several times About the phone, and then find the switch in the advanced settings. Visually it looked like a dark gray backing instead of white. However, Google never brought this feature to a stable release in the base firmware, leaving it experimental.
How to enable the hidden night mode
You need to activate the developer mode by clicking 7 times on the build number. Then in the System UI Tuner menu, find the Night Mode item and turn it on. On many devices, this option was cut out by manufacturers.
Nevertheless, the presence of such an option showed the vector of design development. Users appreciated the care for vision, and in subsequent versions of Android, work on dark themes was continued at the system level, without the need to activate hidden menus.
Performance and visual smoothness
Under the hood of Android 7 there was a new compiler ARTthat ensured a smoother interface. Animations for opening applications, minimizing windows, and moving between menus have become faster and more responsive. Visually, this was perceived as the “lightness” of the system, even on devices with average characteristics.
Function Doze (sleep mode) has been improved. Now it worked not only when the phone was lying still, but also when the screen was turned off, even if the device was in a pocket. This was visually manifested in the fact that notification icons appeared in batches when the screen was turned on, and not one at a time in real time, saving battery power.
- ⚡ Accelerated loading of applications thanks to code optimization.
- 🔋 Long-term operation on a single charge in standby mode.
- 🛡️ Protection from overheating under intense load on the processor.
The Vulkan graphics engine, which appeared in this version, allowed games to look better and run more stable. Although this is not the system interface, the overall smoothness of the picture in heavy 3D scenes increased the user's perception of display quality.
ART optimization in Android 7 provided a performance increase of up to 15% compared to previous versions without replacing hardware.
Frequently asked questions about the appearance of Android 7
Is it possible to change icons on Android 7 without third-party apps?
Native support for icon packs appeared only in Android 8. In version 7.0, to change icons you need to use third-party launchers, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, which completely replace the desktop.
Why panel notifications look different on different phones?
Smartphone manufacturers (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) often modify the Android shell. They can change the location of the switches, the design of the curtain and the logic of the notifications, overlaying their corporate style on top of the basic Google interface.
How to return the classic look of the quick access panel?
In Android 7, the tile design is fixed in a grid. It is impossible to return the old list without obtaining root access and using Xposed Framework modules, which is not recommended for ordinary users due to the risk of system instability.
Is there a dark theme for the entire system in Android 7?
There is no official global dark theme in the stable version of Android 7. There is only a hidden experimental night mode that is unstable. Full support for the dark theme appeared in Android 10.