For years, Google launched the most recent model of Android within the third quarter of the yr, often towards the tip of summer time or the start of autumn. Android 16 was as an alternative launched a lot earlier, so it’s already out within the wild. Meaning people with trendy smartphones can count on it sooner reasonably than later.
Normally, you must at all times settle for official updates. Not solely do you get the most recent options, however you additionally get safety updates that preserve your telephone secure. So, should you resolve to take the replace for no different cause, that alone needs to be adequate. Whereas Google I/O 2025, the Android I/O Present, and the developer’s beta gave us a fairly good peek at the way forward for Android, I have been testing out the brand new replace now that it is formally right here.
So, if you wish to get enthusiastic about contemporary, new options, I’ve some cool new stuff to share. When you’re ready to push the replace button, listed below are some options that Google has packed into Android 16 that will assist persuade you to undergo with it.
Materials 3 Expressive
Credit score: Google
Let’s begin with what you’re almost certainly to see first, and that’s Android 16’s new Materials 3 Expressive UI replace. This introduces a bunch of adaptive and responsive UI parts to the OS, from buttons that jiggle once you work together with them to app controls which might be extra colourful and dynamic than their extra static predecessors.
You could find some examples in Google’s video for it, but it surely’s all fairly nicely thought out. It received’t change the performance of something, however by giving every little thing a contemporary coat of paint and a extra accountable nature, it positively makes Android 16 really feel completely different from Android 15, and that’ll grow to be much more obvious as soon as extra apps help the brand new UI.
Adaptive apps make foldables even cooler
Credit score: Google
Talking of apps, Google put some sauce in Android 16 to make these work higher, too. This one received’t be readily obvious but as builders want time to combine it, however the concept is neat. Google calls it Adaptive Apps, and the concept is for app builders to make their apps for quite a lot of display sizes as an alternative of only one. Now that we’re within the period of foldables, a developer making a mobile-only UI for his or her apps is rather more noticeable, and Adaptive Apps fixes that situation.
The concept is fairly easy. Apps would look regular on a typical smartphone show, however would mechanically unfold out over the width of the display should you use them on a pill or a foldable. This solves one of many largest ache factors with bigger shows in that mobile-only apps nonetheless solely perform a technique. Like Materials 3 Expressive, app builders will want a while to get this going, however as soon as they do, it’ll look superior.
Mashable Mild Pace
Dwell replace notifications (and stacked notifications)
Credit score: Google
Certainly one of my favourite issues about Android updates yearly is the enhancements to notifications. For Android 16, there are two. The primary is what Google calls dwell replace notifications, or “constant progress notifications” should you have a look at the API. These notifications offer you real-time notifications that ship fixed updates. This was made for instances like when ordering Doordash and the notification will present you the motive force’s progress while not having to open the app. There are seemingly different use instances as nicely and builders have free rein to make use of it.
The opposite enchancment is auto-grouping notifications. These take notifications from the identical app and stack them up in a single notification so that you don’t need to flick away two, three, or much more notifications from the identical app. This simplifies the notification shade by lowering the entire variety of notifications when the identical app is sending a bunch of them, which I personally can’t wait to see.
Desktop home windows
Credit score: Google
With Android 16, Google launched desktop home windows to the expertise. These will seemingly be used most frequently on bigger screens like computer systems or tablets, but it surely brings Android one step nearer to the opposite OS that makes use of home windows. the one. In any case, this may positively play with Samsung’s DeX mode. It isn’t obtainable but, however shall be later this yr, however folks have been capable of attempt it out with the QPR1 Beta 2 construct earlier this yr.
As well as, bigger shows received extra love from Google. Exterior show help has been improved as a perform of Android 16 truly having an actual desktop mode now. It will make utilizing your gadgets on bigger screens with peripherals like keyboards and mice significantly better, and provides you one more approach to make use of your system otherwise.
Extra safety protections in order for you them
Credit score: Google
Safety is at all times a foremost focus with a significant Android replace, and Android 16 is not any completely different. Google added a couple of new instruments that can assist you keep secure and personal. One is named Id Test, which forces biometrics when accessing particular settings and options outdoors of trusted areas. For instance, in case your telephone is stolen and brought elsewhere, they received’t be capable to entry your password autofill with out your fingerprint.
The opposite large addition is Superior Safety, which principally acts like Home windows Defender. It’s a built-in safety suite that may establish dangerous apps, defend from on-line assaults, and even block spam calls. Lastly, there may be additionally the Security Test characteristic within the Private Security app that permits you to examine in together with your family members should you’re prone to private harm or going someplace by your self.
Higher accessibility, particularly for listening to aids
Credit score: Google
Accessibility additionally received a fairly large increase, which is thrilling for these with impairments. Functionally, the one we predict most individuals will use is the improved help for listening to gadgets within the name app. This provides help for extra listening to system manufacturers and allows you to use LE Audio gadgets extra simply throughout calls.
As well as, you should utilize your Android 16 telephone as a microphone enter on your LEA listening to aids and likewise alter the ambient quantity for LE Audio listening to gadgets, permitting you to handle your listening to system rather more successfully. Android 16 additionally consists of native help for Auracast broadcast audio, which permits Bluetooth LE Audio gadgets to hook up with a number of sources, which generally is a boon for the listening to impaired as nicely.
Credit score: Google
These are simply a number of the highlights of Android 16. We didn’t even point out the app drawer blurring, APV codec help, and the number of enhancements which might be coming to Pixel gadgets, just like the hybrid auto publicity characteristic. It’s not the biggest Android replace we’ve ever seen, but it surely’s received loads of neat stuff to take a look at as quickly as you hit that replace button.
