One other yr, one other model of Google’s cellular working system. Android 16 brings a complete new look (Apple additionally simply introduced a redesign in iOS 26), extra customization choices, some chunky safety enhancements, and some welcome accessibility enhancements. Android 16 is rolling out to pick units immediately—these are the brand new options that caught our eye.
Google formally ditched the scrumptious dessert names for Android years in the past with Android 10, but it surely nonetheless makes use of them internally. Android 15 was Vanilla Ice Cream, and Android 16 is codenamed Baklava.
When Is Android 16 Arriving for Your Cellphone?
The official launch date for Android 16 is June 10. This launch is sooner than standard (final yr’s launch was September), and Google has already scheduled one other “minor” launch, possibly Android 16.1, for the final quarter of 2025. The developer preview of Android 16 was launched in November 2024, and Google dropped beta releases in January, February, March, and April.
Google’s Pixel telephones at all times get the brand new Android model first, however Android 16 can be coming to pick units from Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Vivo, and Xiaomi within the coming months. Examine your cellphone producer’s web site, boards, or social media to be taught when (if ever) to anticipate Android 16.
Easy methods to Obtain and Set up Android 16
People with a Google Pixel cellphone (Pixel 6 and newer) can obtain Android 16 by going to Settings > System > Software program updates > System replace and tapping Examine for replace.
If you cannot wait, you might be able to set up the Android 16 Beta. These prerelease variations allow builders to check the forthcoming model of Google’s cellular working system, be taught in regards to the new options, and put together their apps or video games to work correctly. Additionally they give early adopters the possibility to get a sneak peek.
Beta releases are extra steady than developer previews, however some bugs are seemingly, and there are a number of hoops to leap by to put in them, so it’s not really helpful for everybody. If you wish to strive it, you want a supported accomplice gadget (together with choose telephones from Honor, Oppo, OnePlus, and Xiaomi), and you have to join the Android Beta Program. Most folk who join will get the beta updates over the air with out wiping their telephones, however you’ll be able to’t choose out of the beta program with out manufacturing facility resetting your cellphone. Be sure you again up your Android cellphone first.
Updates often pop up mechanically, however you’ll be able to at all times examine whether or not you might have the newest model in Settings > System > System replace by tapping Examine for replace. Need to get off the beta and return to Android 15? Go to Google’s Android Beta web page, scroll down to seek out your gadget, and hit Decide out. This may wipe all regionally saved information, so you will lose something you haven’t backed up. It is best to get a immediate to return to the older model.
Prime Android 16 Options
These are the options and enhancements coming in Android 16 we’re most enthusiastic about. You may be taught extra at Google’s developer web site, and ensure to learn our interview with Google’s Android chief about his hopes for the platform.
Reside Updates
Google is introducing real-time monitoring into your Android notifications for providers, like meals supply and navigation. As a substitute of getting to open up the related app, you’ll see reside updates within the notification displaying when your Uber will arrive or what flip to take subsequent for those who’re touring someplace utilizing instructions. These Reside Updates would be the high notification and in addition seem on the At all times-on Show, so you’ll be able to see at a look when your meals will arrive through an app like DoorDash. Pull right down to increase the notification, and also you’ll see a progress bar and fast hyperlinks to actions, reminiscent of the choice to name or message the motive force.
Much like Reside Actions in Apple’s iOS, Reside Updates could also be carried out barely in another way by every producer. Samsung apparently plans to roll Reside Updates into its Now Bar that sits on the backside of the lock display, whereas OnePlus will combine them into its present Reside Alerts system.
Superior Safety Mode
This new extra-secure mode in Android 16 is for at-risk of us, like public figures, journalists, and activists, who want additional safety for his or her digital lives. Google’s Superior Safety already exists for Google accounts however now extends to Android 16, imposing robust safety settings on apps and providers to maintain your information protected. It contains checks on reminiscence to dam exploits, USB safety, and guards towards unsafe web sites and spam calls and messages. A later launch will add intrusion detection by preserving a everlasting end-to-end encrypted log out of your gadget within the cloud, which may be shared and analyzed by a safety skilled for those who suspect there’s an issue.
AI-Powered Rip-off Detection
Sadly, fraud is large enterprise. Most folk have seen a rip-off on their cellphone in some unspecified time in the future, whether or not disguised as tech assist, a prize, or a crypto funding alternative. Google is utilizing on-device AI to identify rip-off texts with the Rip-off Detection function in Google Messages. It runs regionally on-device, so no message content material is shared, and reveals a pop-up warning to of us when it discovers a suspected rip-off, warning them of the chance and providing the chance to report and block the scammer. Some permissions will even be blocked throughout cellphone calls, so scammers can now not stroll folks by the method to sideload a malicious app.
Medical Data
Well being Join permits completely different well being, health, and wellbeing apps to share information protecting your well being in sure classes (Exercise, Physique Measurement, Cycle Monitoring, Diet, Sleep, and Vitals). Google is now including assist for Digital Well being Data (EHRs) utilizing the Quick Healthcare Interoperability Assets customary broadly utilized by well being care suppliers. It’s unclear precisely how it will work or what information it’s going to embrace, however it might make sharing well being data simpler.
Auracast Broadcast Assist
As one of many latest Bluetooth options, Auracast permits audio streaming to listening to aids and different supported units in public areas. A number of folks can use it to hook up with the identical audio stream concurrently and get audio from TVs in public areas just like the gymnasium, for instance, or stream audio on to listening to aids at a public live performance. Android 16 helps broadcasting, so you’ll be able to go to Settings > Linked units > Audio sharing and select to share audio out of your gadget with close by units that assist Bluetooth LE Audio, which incorporates Auracast.
Higher Assist for Larger Screens
Whereas some apps limit resizing and display orientation, Google is eradicating this default functionality in Android 16. Each app ought to now adapt to completely different display sizes and side ratios, together with tablets and folding telephones. Google additionally needs builders to make sure that app content material is displayed edge to edge.
Cover Delicate Notifications
Google is redacting content material in delicate notifications, reminiscent of one-time passwords, when it detects the potential danger of another person seeing the notification. This may be in case you are not linked to your property Wi-Fi and haven’t unlocked your cellphone shortly.
Extra Legible Textual content
For people with low imaginative and prescient and decreased distinction sensitivity, Google is detecting textual content that may be a problem and drawing a high-contrast colour field beneath it to make sure the textual content is as legible as attainable.
LE Audio Listening to Aids Options
There are a few notable new options for folk utilizing Bluetooth LE Audio listening to aids with Android 16. First is the choice to change between the built-in microphones on the listening to aids and the microphone in your cellphone for voice calls. Second is the power to regulate the ambient sound quantity picked up by your listening to assist’s microphones. Each may show useful in noisy environments with loads of background noise.
Enhanced Digicam for Professional Photographers
Google is pushing a bunch of small digital camera enhancements in Android 16 for eager photographers. There’s hybrid auto publicity, permitting a steadiness of automated and handbook ISO and publicity management, exact colour temperature and tint changes, higher evening mode assist for apps, and assist for Extremely HDR pictures within the HEIC file format. Google can be including the Superior Skilled Video codec for higher-quality video recording and post-processing.
Windowing Apps
Have you ever ever wished Android was extra like Home windows? Assist for desktop windowing, enabling you to run a number of apps concurrently, is within the works. Multitaskers will be capable to resize home windows, and the brand new function will work seamlessly with break up display (similar to the brand new iPadOS 26). Google can be including linked show assist, so you’ll be able to connect an exterior show to your Android gadget and uncover the fun of a dual-screen setup. At the moment a part of the developer preview, this may not come to your Android pill till later this yr.
Contemporary Design
The most recent evolution of Google’s Android design language is Materials 3 Expressive. Whereas it’s not an entire overhaul, it’s giving Android a facelift with recent new animations, higher haptic suggestions, extra dynamic colour themes, impactful fonts, and extra possibilities to personalize your Android gadget. Google has finished its homework, drawing on 46 research with greater than 18,000 contributors to make modifications that individuals of all ages authorised.
Earlier than you get too excited, Materials 3 Expressive received’t be a part of the June launch, as an alternative rolling out on Pixel telephones first, later this yr, after which on different Android units. Impatient of us could get a peek by signing up for the Android Beta Program.
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