When Will Android 16 Be Launched?
Google rolled out the primary Android 16 Developer Preview in November, adopted by a second launch in December. Whereas there’s no confirmed date for the third installment, it would transition to a beta launch that shall be open to public testers.
Android 16 is anticipated to undergo three beta releases earlier than coming into the steady section, projected for March. The official launch is anticipated round Might or June 2025. Moreover, Google plans to roll out a minor replace—doubtless Android 16.1—within the remaining quarter of 2025.
This strategy is groundbreaking sufficient that Google has even ready a video to elucidate the modifications intimately. In case you’re curious and wish to dive deeper, you’ll want to test it out:
What’s Android 16’s Dessert Codename?
Like earlier variations of the working system, Android 16 has an inner codename primarily based on a dessert title. After Tiramisu, Upside Down Cake, and Vanilla Ice Cream, Google did not hassle searching for desserts with the letters W, X, Y, or Z, and went straight to B for baklava, which is a well-liked pastry in Greece and Turkey. Yummy!
Whereas the developer preview lists the system model as “Baklava”, anticipate to see Google utilizing solely “Android 16” and “Android 16.1” because the OS branding as we get close to the steady launch, although.
What’s new in Android 16
The Android 16 DP2 builds on the primary DP however it additionally introduces a brand new vary of thrilling options and enhancements geared toward enhancing person expertise, privateness, and machine performance.
Whereas these updates are geared towards builders, they embrace vital modifications that customers can sit up for within the upcoming Android launch. Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the important thing options customers can anticipate.
Improved Adaptive Refresh Charge
With Android 16 Developer Preview 2, Google has enhanced true variable refresh fee help. On the developer stage, this enchancment permits extra apps to make the most of the Adaptive Refresh Charge (ARR) characteristic that debuted in late Android 15. For customers, this interprets to raised battery administration when variable refresh charges are enabled.
Enhanced Haptics
Android 16 DP2 introduces new haptic suggestions APIs, enabling builders to outline vibration amplitude and frequency extra exactly. These finer controls permit for creating customized and dynamic vibration patterns. Furthermore, the replace goals to make haptic suggestions extra constant throughout apps and system interactions.
Two-finger double-tap zoom
Within the Accessibility settings, the magnification (zoom) characteristic lists quite a lot of shortcut choices (at all times seen button, gestures, quantity buttons, and many others). New to Android 16 is the choice to enlarge the show with a double faucet with two fingers on the display.
Improved help for bodily keyboards
Uncovered by Android knowledgeable Mishaal Rahman, Android 16 introduced a few modifications to enhance help for bodily keyboards. The primary is a reorganization of the Settings menu for its accessibility options, and inside it customers will discover the brand new Repeat Keys settings. The choice units a delay earlier than a pressed key’s registered once more and likewise its repeat fee. Each shall be particularly welcomed by the pill warriors on the market.
Fingerprint unlock with screen-off
Unique to the Pixel 9 collection, this transformation permits customers to unlock the telephone with a registered fingerprint with out having to wake the display. The caveat is that the change is simply accessible (at the least for now) for the Pixel 9 collection telephones, most likely on account of using an ultrasonic sensor as a substitute of the older optical fingerprint reader within the Pixel 6 by means of 8 fashions.
7 new emojis
Android 16 contains help for the brand new emoji ratified with the Unicode 16.0 launch, formally introduced in September, 2024. The official checklist of emoji reached 3,790 with this launch and has 164 candidates for the seventeenth model, anticipated in September 2025.
Google Preserve is now a system app
The note-taking app Google Preserve was a stand-alone app that wanted to be put in by means of the Play Retailer like another app. Beginning with Android 16, Google appears to be implementing the app to be put in by default, with no choice to uninstall Preserve until brute forcing it by means of root entry.
Wi-Fi QR code redesign
Not essentially the most groundbreaking change to the system, the QR-code display for sharing Wi-Fi credentials bought a redesign. Google ditched the plain QR-code for a stylized one, adopting the Materials You colour palette in your telephone.
Reorganized Settings
The Settings app is a standard weak level when it comes to usability—additionally on iOS and Home windows—with increasing wants and options popping up now and again, it’s no shock common customers get confused and misplaced in it. Google just lately began reordering and transferring issues round within the Settings app.
The change provides extra space to the search bar, on the similar time it highlights the principle Google account on the telephone. The change was truly rolled out to Pixel telephones with Android 15, however will most likely attain different AOSP-based distributions (Asus, Motorola, Sony, and many others) solely on Android 16.
Photograph Picker
Whereas this launch primarily targets builders, a number of noteworthy options and enhancements have been launched. Among the many highlights is the up to date photograph picker characteristic, which advantages from new APIs geared toward enhancing app integration for importing pictures and movies. This replace enhances person privateness by eradicating extreme permissions whereas streamlining the app interface.
Well being Join and FHIR Assist
One other main addition is help for the FHIR (Quick Healthcare Interoperability Sources) format inside the Well being Join app. This integration may permit customers to handle medical information alongside well being metrics sooner or later. The same characteristic, generally known as Well being Data, exists in Samsung Well being however is at the moment restricted to pick healthcare suppliers.
Notification Cooldown
Different modifications embrace the introduction of a Notifications Cooldown characteristic, designed to scale back distractions by minimizing alerts and reducing notification quantity when a number of notifications are acquired in fast succession.
Audio Sharing
The Audio Sharing characteristic, initially noticed in Android 15, was additional refined. This performance depends on Bluetooth LE connectivity to allow audio sharing from a single supply machine to a number of headphones, primarily permitting customers to broadcast audio.
Privateness and Safety Enhancements
Android 16 additionally introduces a number of privateness and safety enhancements. The newest model of Privateness Sandbox improves knowledge encryption and dealing with of delicate data. As well as, a brand new Safety and Permissions Historical past choice allows customers to assessment app permissions and safety exercise over the previous seven days on the Privateness Dashboard, offering larger transparency and management.
Predictive Again for Navigation Buttons
Google launched the predictive again gesture as a default characteristic in Android 15, permitting customers to preview the earlier display when performing a again gesture. Within the Android 16 Developer Preview, it seems that this performance may prolong to gadgets utilizing digital navigation buttons (Current, House, Again).
It stays unclear whether or not this characteristic will make its manner into the beta model of Android 16 or be carried out in a later launch.
Stay Actions and Redesigned UI
Google can also be engaged on integrating dwell actions into lock and residential screens whereas redesigning the fast settings format for a extra user-friendly expertise.
Moreover, a change in quantity management sliders has been noticed within the Android 16 Developer Preview. The up to date design encompasses a thinner slider with a extra outlined scrubber, transferring away from the earlier massive elliptical type.
Which Units Assist the Android 16 DP2 Replace?
The Android 16 DP2 is now accessible for the Pixel 9 collection all the best way to the Pixel 6 collection, in addition to the Pixel Pill and Pixel Fold. Nevertheless, Google famous that gadgets operating Android 15 QPR (Quarterly Platform Launch) Beta 1 would require a full machine wipe earlier than putting in the Android 16 firmware.
What are your ideas on Google’s determination to launch Android 16 sooner than common? Do you suppose the steady launch will point out a change within the Pixel {hardware}’s launch timing? Share your opinions within the feedback beneath!
Article up to date in January 2025 with new options launched with Android 16 DP2 and hidden tweaks discovered within the firmware.
