If you opt for an Android phone over an iPhone, there are certain features you get as standard as part of Android. Then there are other features specific to certain manufacturers, as each Android phone maker puts its own spin on the software.
Pixel phones, for example, get the Now Playing widget on the home screen and lock screen that works like an instant Shazam. It’ll tell you the name of the song playing in your environment before you’ve even searched for it.
With Samsung phones, one of the best perks isn’t as widely known about or used as it should be. It’s called the Edge Panel, and it works like a customizable shortcut bar that gives you speedy access to the other parts of your phone.
If you own a Galaxy device and have never come across the Edge Panel, or you used it once but have since forgotten about it, here’s what it’s capable of now—and how you can make the most of it to optimize your mobile experience.
How the Edge Panel Works
You can think of the Edge Panel as being a little bit like the Start menu on Windows, or the dock on macOS. It provides something that Android doesn’t have by default, which is a user-configurable launcher for collecting your favorite apps and feature shortcuts.
When it’s enabled, the Edge Panel appears as a faint line along the side of the screen, and you can swipe across it to open the pane. If you don’t see it, head to Settings and choose Display > Edge Panels to turn it on (via the toggle switch) or customize what the panels show (by tapping the menu entry).
There are actually seven different types of panel to choose from, as you’ll see when you start to customize the feature: Apps, People, Tasks, Weather, Tools, Clipboard, and Reminder. You can have just one of them active, or all seven, or something in between (once you’ve got the Edge Panel up, swipe across it to switch between the different types).
Edge Panel gives you access to your favorite apps and shortcuts.Courtesy of David Nield
The names of these panels give you some idea of what they can do. You can use the Apps panel to access the apps you use the most, without having to hunt for them in the main app drawer or having them clutter up your home screen. You can also jump to your most important people on the Contacts panel in the same way.