Gmail for Android gets a big UI improvement on tablets and foldables

Google continues to refine the user experience on larger-screened Android devices, and the latest app to get a significant usability boost is Gmail. Following in the footsteps of Google Keep’s update last year, Gmail for Android tablets and foldables is now rolling out an adjustable, dual-pane layout that brings much-needed flexibility to how you manage your inbox on bigger displays. This enhancement is also making its way to the Google Chat application.

For some time now, Gmail on devices like tablets and foldables has offered a two-pane view, typically showing your inbox or label list on the left and the content of a selected email on the right. While functional, it lacked customization. The new update introduces a simple, vertical divider between these two panes that you can slide left or right.

On my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, for instance, the Gmail app splits things into two relatively equal panes. Being able to widen the email body pane to focus on the content of a specific message, for example, will be incredibly helpful and will likely lead to me checking and responding to more email on the go than I normally do. It’s even possible to make the conversation view nearly full-screen in landscape orientation, something previously only achievable by rotating the device to portrait mode.

This adjustable layout offers a level of control that simply wasn’t there before, making the Gmail experience feel far less constrained on larger screens. 9to5 Google says they’re spotting this improvement rolling out with Gmail for Android version 2025.04.13.x, so keep an eye out for the update if you haven’t received it yet.