Google is set to revolutionize the browsing experience on Android with the rollout of Chrome 135, which introduces an edge-to-edge design that maximizes screen real estate. Here’s what you need to know about this significant update.
What is Edge-to-Edge Design?
The edge-to-edge feature allows applications to span the entire width and height of the display, drawing behind the Android system bars. For Chrome on Android, this means extending the viewport into the gesture navigation bar area, creating a more immersive and seamless viewing experience[1][3][5].
Key Features of Chrome 135
Dynamic Bottom Bar – “The Chin”
One of the standout features of Chrome 135 is the introduction of a dynamic bottom bar, affectionately referred to as “the chin.” This bar overlays the gesture navigation bar area and dynamically retracts as you scroll down a webpage. This behavior ensures that web content can be drawn up to the bottom edge of the device, enhancing the overall visual appeal and usability of the browser[2][3][5].
Expanded Viewport
Prior to Chrome 135, the viewport was confined between the top status bar and the bottom gesture navigation bar. With the new update, the viewport can now extend into the gesture navigation bar area, allowing web content to fill the entire screen when the address bar and “the chin” are retracted[1][3][5].
User Experience Improvements
When scrolling, the gesture handle will appear over web content, providing a more fluid and immersive interaction. On initial page load or when scrolling back up, the background of the navigation bar remains visible, maintaining a clear distinction between the web content and the device’s bottom edge[2][4][5].
Compatibility and Rollout
This update is initially targeting small-screen devices, with support for large-screen devices such as tablets to follow in future releases. The edge-to-edge design is specifically designed for devices using gesture navigation and does not apply to the classic three-button navigation system[4][5].
Practical Applications for Developers
For web developers, this change means that content might occasionally be obscured by the gesture navigation bar. To mitigate this, developers can opt-in to the edge-to-edge design by using the viewport meta tag with the viewport-fit key set to cover. This ensures that the viewport extends to the bottom edge by default without the need for “the chin”[3].
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, viewport-fit=cover" />
Testing and Feedback
For those eager to try out the edge-to-edge design before its public release, several Chrome feature flags can be enabled through chrome://flags. This includes flags such as EdgeToEdgeBottomChin, DrawCutOutEdgeToEdge, and DynamicSafeAreaInsetsOnScroll. Google encourages feedback on the new implementation through the Chromium bug tracker[3].
Conclusion
The edge-to-edge design in Chrome 135 marks a significant step towards a more immersive and modern browsing experience on Android. With its dynamic bottom bar and expanded viewport, Chrome is aligning with the evolving standards of Android app design, ensuring users get the most out of their screen real estate. As this feature rolls out, users and developers alike will benefit from a cleaner, more fluid interaction with web content.