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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 upfront, 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 difficulty in earlier years as Google used to historically launch the most recent model of Android on the finish of Q3 or early This fall, with most gadgets debuting within the fall lacking out on the replace.
One other attention-grabbing change is that this may not be the one Android launch in 2025; Google plans to ship one other replace in This fall (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 adjustments introduced with Android 16 — just like the Materials 3 Expressive interface and Desktop Mode — will not be accessible till the QPR1 construct is obtainable in Q3.
Consequently, the Android 16 replace that is accessible right this moment does not look any totally different to Android 15; you continue to get a number 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 adjustments to the interface that make a distinction in every day use, and notable privateness tweaks. That is what it is advisable learn 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 “handiest safety features,” the suite contains intrusion logging, theft detection lock, inactivity reboot after 72 hours, offline system lock, spam and rip-off safety in Messages, automated name screening, caller ID and spam inside the dialer, and a lot extra.
You even get USB safety, whereby the cellphone defaults to charging with any new USB connection when the system is locked. Google is doubling down on protected searching by implementing HTTPS, and by blocking set up of apps from unknown sources. That is simply one of the strong safety features accessible right this moment, and one of the best half is that enabling all of those is about as simple 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 cellphone, and I can not wait to see different manufacturers combine the function of their Android 16 releases.
Delivering much-needed usability options
Foldables are higher than ever, however a continuing difficulty after 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 benefit from the elevated canvas in unfolded mode, and Google is tackling this in Android 16 by mandating textual content scaling throughout system 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 (taking a look at you, Govee) that do not scale nicely on a foldable — that is set to vary.
Declutter your notifications
I get so many notifications over the course of a day that I allow DND simply so I do not get always disturbed by my cellphone. Android does a superb job with DND on the whole — except you are utilizing a OnePlus cellphone — and Google is streamlining issues by grouping all notifications from an app.
This does a good distance in minimizing notification muddle, 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 function. Situated inside the Battery menu within the settings, the web page provides you an indicator concerning the standing of your cellphone’s battery, and strategies on what you are able to do to increase the longevity.
The function estimates the cost stage of your cellphone battery, and you need to use it together with cost restrict — the place it does not cost past 80% — to make sure long-term sturdiness. Annoyingly, this function is simply accessible on the Pixel 8a and above, so if you happen to’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. Should you’re on the older navigation system, lengthy urgent the again button exhibits a preview of the earlier web page.
In fact, this may 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 significantly shocking that the majority customers do not even know one thing like this exists. Google must mandate the usage of this gesture for it to see any form of mainstream use, and earlier than that, it wants so as to add it to its personal companies.
Speaking about gestures, now you can double press the facility button to launch Google Wallet as a substitute of the digital camera, do you have to want to take action. I’d have preferred larger customizability in deciding on what to launch with the button — identical 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 if you happen to desire studying long-form content material in your cellphone. There is not any wasted area or points with alignment, and it makes a much bigger distinction on foldable gadgets.
What I like about this function 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 if you happen to’re utilizing any of those languages in your cellphone, you may see a distinction.
Hear every thing
Google is making two adjustments to higher help customers who’ve listening to aids. Should you’re utilizing a Bluetooth LE-based listening to help, you may change to your cellphone’s mic in a loud surroundings to listen to calls higher. There’s additionally the flexibility to regulate the amount of the listening to help out of your cellphone.
Unlock productiveness with desktop mode
Google is lastly including a desktop mode to Android, and one of the best half is that it’s working carefully with Samsung to take action. Samsung has been the frontrunner on this regard with DeX, and as a substitute of reinventing the wheel, Google is leveraging Samsung’s know-how to convey it to a wider viewers.
With desktop windowing, you may simply join any Android cellphone 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 by way of USB-C. Google can also be bringing the flexibility to customise keyboard shortcuts, and it ought to make extending your cellphone display to a bigger panel that a lot smoother.
The one caveat is that it’s not accessible now; you may want to attend till the QPR1 construct. Whereas that is annoying, not less than Google is not pushing it to subsequent 12 months — as has been the case with too many options recently.
Get real-time notification updates
I like how iPhones combine Stay Actions into the digital camera cutout, and whereas a number of Android producers have their very own tackle the function, Google is standardizing it with Stay Updates. Everytime you guide a cab or order meals, you may see a real-time notification that adjustments based mostly on the standing of that motion.
What’s good to listen to is that the function will likely be built-in into Samsung’s Now Bar and OPPO and OnePlus’ Stay Alerts, so it ought to be seamless — as soon as it goes dwell, that’s. Stay Updates is not accessible at launch, and is simply set to roll out someday in Q3.
Coming quickly to a cellphone close to you
Should you’ve acquired 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 actually, that is what issues extra in every day use.
Like earlier years, will probably be a number of months earlier than different producers roll out their Android 16 updates. Given the issues Samsung had with One UI 7, I do not see the model bringing One UI 8 to Galaxy gadgets anytime quickly. Google is doing its half by making the model accessible 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 12 months. The approaching Android 16 QPR1 construct will likely be a big launch, bringing with it the most important visible overhaul in three years. The last word purpose with Android 16 is to have it pre-installed on extra gadgets than earlier years, and that by itself is noteworthy.
