Android 16, the subsequent technology of the Android working system, is lastly right here. The replace is anticipated to have a broader rollout within the coming months. What’s fascinating is that this marks one of many earliest launches of the Android OS by Google in recent times. Android 15 was launched on October 24, 2024. And now, lower than a yr later, we’ve got the fast-tracked Android 16 OS. The replace brings a whole lot of new delicate options and likewise streamlines already current ones to supply a extra mature Android OS expertise. Nonetheless, don’t anticipate main modifications to UI, and so forth., however it does add a number of new customization choices.
Just like final yr, there isn’t a dessert title assigned to the Android 16 OS. Nonetheless, internally it’s referred to as Baklava, a well-known dessert with its origin from Turkey, Greece, and the Center East. Because the replace brings a bunch of latest purposeful updates, we’ve got compiled a listing of all the brand new options that you will see in Android 16, and likewise the checklist of eligible units. Let’s soar proper into it.
Android 16: Eligible Units
For now, the Android 16 replace is stay for Google Pixel units. Particularly, Pixel 6 or newer Pixel telephones are already choosing up the Android 16 replace. This additionally applies to all Pixel tablets that launched alongside or after the Pixel 6 and 6 Professional are eligible for the Android 16 replace. So, if in case you have a Pixel machine, something from 2021 or newer, it’s all set to be upgraded to Android 16.
Right here’s the checklist:
- Pixel 6, 6 Professional,
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7, 7 Professional,
- Pixel 7a
- Pixel 8, 8 Professional,
- Pixel 8a
- Pixel 9, 9 Professional, 9 Professional XL, 9 Professional Fold,
- Pixel 9a
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel Pill
You may verify for the Android 16 replace in your supported machine by heading over to Settings > System > Software program replace after which observe the on-screen steps to finish the set up.
As for different units are involved, for the time being, Samsung is at the moment testing the One UI 8 based mostly on Android 16 on its Galaxy S25 collection telephones. This additionally hints that the subsequent model that’s in line to obtain the Android 16 replace ought to be Samsung. However there are probabilities that another model, out of the blue, will roll out the Android 16 replace.
Android 16: New Options
Right here is the checklist of all of the modifications that the Android 16 replace brings:
Stay updates
Actual-time monitoring is coming to Android. Supported apps will provide stay updates in your notifications, protecting you recent about all modifications in actual time. This might turn out to be useful for apps akin to meals supply or navigation. This negates the necessity to open the app each time you wish to see the replace. The actual-time stay updates would be the topmost notification in your Android 16 machine’s notifications panel. You’re going to get a progress bar, together with fast buttons to name or message the agent.
Notification Auto Grouping
Receiving a number of notifications from a single app that’s making your notifications panel cluttered? Not anymore. Android 16 now mechanically teams notifications from one app to maintain issues clear and tidy. This additionally makes it simpler to seek out what you want from a particular app. As an illustration, if in case you have a number of parcels incoming from a single app, then you may develop the notifications for that app and discover the main points concerning the incoming parcel in that house.
Predictive Again Animation
While you use gesture navigation in your Android machine, a preview of the earlier display is proven once you return utilizing the again gesture. That wasn’t attainable when utilizing navigation buttons. However with Android 16, a preview of the earlier display will even be proven in three-button navigation.
Haptic Sliders and Adaptive Refresh Price
One thing already obtainable on different OEMs, Android 16 brings an adaptive refresh fee to Pixel telephones, which mechanically adjusts the refresh fee based mostly on the content material you’re viewing. Additionally, it is possible for you to to exactly change quantity or brightness with haptic sliders.
Desktop-like Multi-tasking on Android Tablets
Android 16 brings improved multitasking options for tablets. You’ll now be capable of open, transfer, or resize home windows just like a desktop in your pill. Plus, Android 16 additionally provides the choice to group apps collectively for simpler entry.
Customized Keyboard Shortcuts
Android 16 additionally brings the choice to have a number of customized keyboard shortcuts. This permits for the short launching of apps or shortcuts, that solely improve your productiveness on an enormous display. To entry this function, it’s good to head over to Settings > System > Keyboard > Bodily keyboard > View keyboard shortcuts. You will notice a brand new “Customise” button on units with shows bigger than 600dp.
Cellphone as Mic Enter
Android 16 makes it attainable so that you can use your smartphone as a microphone enter machine for different units, particularly LE Audio listening to units, supplying you with the absolute best audio expertise even in noisy environments. The brand new working system additionally provides the aptitude for LE listening to units to vary the quantity of ambient sound.
Identification Examine
Google has additionally enhanced the safety of Android telephones with Android 16. The id verify function asks for biometric entry choices, akin to altering or including biometric knowledge. Because of this merely gaining access to your telephone’s PIN or passcode gained’t let anybody change or take away your biometric knowledge.
Superior Safety Mode
Should you assume your machine wants an additional layer of safety from spam, on-line assaults, and dangerous or dangerous purposes, then Google has added the Superior Safety Mode function to safeguard your knowledge from such threats. You may flip this function on by heading over to Settings > Safety & privateness > Superior Safety. Turning this function on prompts a number of security measures that may additionally defend you from dangerous web sites, rip-off calls, and messages.
Commerce-in Mode
There’s now a devoted Commerce-in Mode (solely obtainable on a wiped machine for privateness) that enables others to entry key machine particulars when promoting your telephone.
HDR Screenshots
Android 16 now helps you to protect the standard of your HDR pictures even in screenshots. Now you can take a screenshot of your HDR picture, then reserve it, edit it, or share it in its authentic high quality.
Adaptive Android Apps
Android 16 additionally makes certain that each inch of your machine, be it a foldable or a pill is used when utilizing an Android app. Beginning with Android 16, Google will now power Android apps to be adaptive and stretch throughout all corners to view the app in full view.
Digicam Options
There are a number of new Digicam options that Android 16 introduces for Pixel units. This consists of exact shade and temperature, apt for pro-photographers and videographers. There’s additionally a Hybrid Digicam Publicity function that allows you to manually tweak sure features of the publicity whereas letting auto-exposure deal with different metrics. Extremely-HDR photos are additionally supported within the HEIC file format. The replace additionally introduces the Superior Skilled Video (APV) codec that enables for skilled video recording and post-production.
UI Modifications
Numerous delicate UI modifications are additionally launched with Android 16 OS. The Materials You design has been refined, and the brand new software program lays the groundwork for Materials 3 Expressive. Additionally, everytime you flip in your telephone, the perimeters of your show will glow when the house display is preparing to be used. The brand new Android 16 brand can also be added, which has a sq. form together with NASA-style patches. Additionally, you will discover hints of the Baklava glyph with slightly Bugdroid.
The icons are extra round and match higher into the aesthetics of Android 16 UI modifications. Darker colours at the moment are utilized throughout the varied UI parts, which is extra evident contained in the Settings menu. The split-screen menu can also be upgraded.
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