Chrome for Android is getting ready to adopt some iOS-inspired animations, which could enhance the user experience with smoother, more fluid interactions. This development aligns with Samsung's ongoing efforts to refine One UI 7, bringing its own iOS-like animations and fluency to Galaxy devices.
iOS-Inspired Animation in Chrome for Android
As Samsung works to introduce iOS-style animations in One UI 7, Chrome for Android is also testing similar visual updates. A recent update to Chrome Canary introduces a new feature called back-forward visual transitions, which enhances the back-and-forward gesture animations in the browser. This change, first spotted by MSPoweruser, offers a more visually appealing and smoother transition when navigating between pages.
The new animation makes the gesture controls look and feel more polished, providing a significantly better experience compared to the current, more basic transitions. By enabling this feature, users can enjoy fluid back-and-forward navigation with a more attractive and dynamic visual effect.
Improved Page Load Times with Back/Forward Cache
Behind the scenes, Chrome's Back/Forward Cache (bfcache) technology is helping to speed up these transitions. The bfcache stores snapshots of web pages, which means that when users go back or forward to a page, it loads instantly without delays, making the experience feel even smoother.
While the new animation feature is currently available for beta testing, there's no official timeline for when it will roll out to the general public. It’s expected to be included in the next major Android update, which could launch in Q2 2025.
One UI 7 Release on the Horizon
Samsung fans are eagerly awaiting the arrival of One UI 7, which is expected to bring similar improvements to the Galaxy ecosystem. The company recently confirmed that the One UI 7 Beta will begin by the end of 2024, with rumors suggesting a mid-December release for the Beta program.
However, the stable version of One UI 7 is still a couple of months away, with the full public rollout likely to coincide with the launch of the Galaxy S25 series in late January 2025. Expect the final, stable version of One UI 7 to be available in February 2025, bringing iOS-inspired animations and enhancements to Samsung Galaxy devices.
With these updates, both Chrome and One UI are set to elevate the Android experience, aligning more closely with iOS’s smooth animations and overall fluency!