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Google is altering the way it rolls out Android updates beginning with Android 16. By accelerating the launch window, it is ready to ship the secure construct a number of months prematurely, and that enables upcoming telephones just like the Pixel 10 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 will run Android 16 out of the field. This was a problem in earlier years as Google used to historically launch the most recent model of Android on the finish of Q3 or early This autumn, with most units debuting within the fall lacking out on the replace.
One other attention-grabbing change is that this would possibly not be the one Android launch in 2025; Google plans to ship one other replace in This autumn (dubbed the minor launch) that features new APIs and options. As well as, Google will proceed providing quarterly updates, and if something, many of the thrilling modifications introduced with Android 16 — just like the Materials 3 Expressive interface and Desktop Mode — will not be out there till the QPR1 construct is obtainable in Q3.
Consequently, the Android 16 replace that is out there immediately does not look any totally different to Android 15; you continue to get a couple of attention-grabbing options, however we’re nicely previous the purpose the place each new launch of Android brings groundbreaking additions. That mentioned, it continues to ship significant modifications to the interface that make a distinction in each day use, and notable privateness tweaks. That is what you’ll want to find out about Android 16.
Lock it down with Superior Safety
Safety continues to play a sizeable function in Android updates, and Google is constructing on that in Android 16 with the introduction of Superior Safety. Dubbed the “simplest safety features,” the suite consists of intrusion logging, theft detection lock, inactivity reboot after 72 hours, offline gadget lock, spam and rip-off safety in Messages, computerized name screening, caller ID and spam throughout the dialer, and a lot extra.
You even get USB safety, whereby the telephone defaults to charging with any new USB connection when the gadget is locked. Google is doubling down on protected looking by imposing HTTPS, and by blocking set up of apps from unknown sources. That is simply some of the strong safety features out there immediately, and the most effective half is that enabling all of those is about as straightforward because it will get — you simply get a single toggle.
Greater than the rest, it is this ease of use that differentiates most Superior Safety. More often than not, there may be noticeable friction in organising further safety safeguards, and that acts as a deterrent. On this case, Google made it extraordinarily easy to safe your telephone, and I am unable to wait to see different manufacturers combine the characteristic of their Android 16 releases.
Delivering much-needed usability options
Foldables are higher than ever, however a continuing situation once I’m utilizing the Pixel 9 Professional Fold or Honor Magic V3 is that textual content scaling is not uniform. There are choose apps that simply do not make the most of the elevated canvas in unfolded mode, and Google is tackling this in Android 16 by mandating textual content scaling throughout gadget sizes.
This makes issues significantly simpler on a foldable, and whereas I am but to see a distinction at this level, that may change with imminent app updates. Most social media apps like Instagram and TikTok already do a superb job on this space, and it is largely sensible residence utilities ( you, Govee) that do not scale nicely on a foldable — that is set to alter.
Declutter your notifications
I get so many notifications over the course of a day that I allow DND simply so I do not get continually disturbed by my telephone. Android does a superb job with DND generally — except you are utilizing a OnePlus telephone — and Google is streamlining issues by grouping all notifications from an app.
This does a great distance in minimizing notification litter, and alongside notification cooldown, it makes a tangible distinction.
Make your battery last more
Google is addressing battery longevity by rolling out a brand new Battery Well being characteristic. Situated throughout the Battery menu within the settings, the web page provides you an indicator relating to the standing of your telephone’s battery, and strategies on what you are able to do to increase the longevity.
The characteristic estimates the cost degree of your telephone battery, and you should use it along side cost restrict — the place it does not cost past 80% — to make sure long-term sturdiness. Annoyingly, this characteristic is simply out there on the Pixel 8a and above, so should you’re utilizing an older Pixel, you miss out on it.
Now everybody can use predictive again gestures (kind of)
Google is making the predictive again gesture extra accessible in Android 16 — it now works with the legacy three-button navigation along with gestures. When you’re on the older navigation system, lengthy urgent the again button reveals a preview of the earlier web page.
After all, this is able to be helpful if the again gesture had a lot utility, however that simply is not the case. Even Chrome does not have the gesture, so it is not notably stunning that the majority customers do not even know one thing like this exists. Google must mandate using this gesture for it to see any type of mainstream use, and earlier than that, it wants so as to add it to its personal providers.
Speaking about gestures, now you can double press the ability button to launch Google Pockets as an alternative of the digicam, must you want to take action. I might have appreciated better customizability in choosing what to launch with the button — similar to what ASUS does on its telephones — however we aren’t at that time but.
Edge to edge mode is now normal
Android 16 mandates edge-to-edge mode, so textual content seems to be cleaner should you want studying long-form content material in your telephone. There is no wasted area or points with alignment, and it makes a much bigger distinction on foldable units.
What I like about this characteristic is that Google is getting Indic languages — Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Tamil, Telugu — in addition to Arabic, Lao, and Thai built-in with this mode, so should you’re utilizing any of those languages in your telephone, you will see a distinction.
Hear the whole lot
Google is making two modifications to raised help customers who’ve listening to aids. When you’re utilizing a Bluetooth LE-based listening to assist, you may change to your telephone’s mic in a loud atmosphere to listen to calls higher. There’s additionally the power to regulate the amount of the listening to assist out of your telephone.
Unlock productiveness with desktop mode
Google is lastly including a desktop mode to Android, and the most effective half is that it’s working carefully with Samsung to take action. Samsung has been the frontrunner on this regard with DeX, and as an alternative of reinventing the wheel, Google is leveraging Samsung’s know-how to deliver it to a wider viewers.
With desktop windowing, you may simply join any Android telephone to a monitor. With most telephones now coming with USB-C 3.2 normal with DisplayPort, it ought to be comparatively easy to attach telephones through USB-C. Google can be bringing the power to customise keyboard shortcuts, and it ought to make extending your telephone display screen to a bigger panel that a lot smoother.
The one caveat is that it’s not out there now; you will want to attend till the QPR1 construct. Whereas that is annoying, at the least Google is not pushing it to subsequent yr — as has been the case with too many options these days.
Get real-time notification updates
I like how iPhones combine Dwell Actions into the digicam cutout, and whereas a couple of Android producers have their very own tackle the characteristic, Google is standardizing it with Dwell Updates. Everytime you ebook a cab or order meals, you will see a real-time notification that modifications primarily based on the standing of that motion.
What’s good to listen to is that the characteristic shall be built-in into Samsung’s Now Bar and OPPO and OnePlus’ Dwell Alerts, so it ought to be seamless — as soon as it goes reside, that’s. Dwell Updates is not out there at launch, and is simply set to roll out someday in Q3.
Coming quickly to a telephone close to you
When you’ve bought a Pixel 6 and above, you may set up Android 16 proper now. Whereas there is not a lot in the way in which of marquee additions, the most recent model of Android brings higher stability and usefulness tweaks, and truthfully, that is what issues extra in each day use.
Like earlier years, will probably be a couple of months earlier than different producers roll out their Android 16 updates. Given the points Samsung had with One UI 7, I do not see the model bringing One UI 8 to Galaxy units anytime quickly. Google is doing its half by making the model out there ahead of earlier than, and most telephones launching this fall ought to run Android 16 as normal.
Yearly Android releases aren’t as thrilling as they was once, and that is as a result of Google is doing a greater job rolling out options over the course of the yr. The upcoming Android 16 QPR1 construct shall be a big launch, bringing with it the largest visible overhaul in three years. The final word purpose with Android 16 is to have it pre-installed on extra units than earlier years, and that by itself is noteworthy.
