When Will Android 16 Be Launched?
Google kicked off the Android 16 journey with the primary Developer Preview in November, adopted by a second launch in December. Staying true to its roadmap, the primary Beta replace has now landed for eligible Pixel units through OTA.
With Android 16 getting into the beta part, we’re two extra beta releases earlier than reaching the stability-focused part, with the ultimate construct anticipated in Might or June 2025. Google’s roadmap additionally teases a minor replace—doubtless Android 16.1—slated for the ultimate quarter of 2025.
This rollout is important sufficient that Google has even crafted an in depth video breaking down the adjustments. In the event you’re able to dive deeper into what’s new, don’t miss it:
What’s Android 16’s Dessert Codename?
Like earlier variations of the working system, Android 16 has an inside codename based mostly on a dessert identify. After Tiramisu, Upside Down Cake, and Vanilla Ice Cream, Google did not hassle on the lookout 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”, count on 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 primary Android 16 beta brings recent Dwell Updates performance and notable system-level enhancements. This launch marks the shift from the Developer Preview to wider testing. It’s now obtainable for Google Pixel units enrolled within the beta program, masking fashions from the Pixel 6 collection to the Pixel 9 collection, together with the Pixel Pill. Let’s dive into the standout options customers can discover.
Dwell Updates: Dynamic, Actual-Time Notifications
Android 16 introduces Dwell Updates, a function harking back to Apple’s Dynamic Island. It brings animated, real-time updates for apps like navigation, supply, and ride-sharing.
These updates seem as normal notification playing cards with an animated strip displaying key particulars similar to begin and finish factors, ETAs, or progress milestones. When minimized, they revert to straightforward notification icons on the standing bar, maintaining your updates seamless but unobtrusive.
APV Codec: A Leap in Video High quality
One other standout in Android 16 Beta is the addition of the Superior Skilled Video (APV) codec. Designed for near-lossless video high quality, APV helps excessive bitrates and resolutions as much as 8K with HDR10/10+ and user-defined metadata. It’s not nearly playback—APV enhances video enhancing workflows by enabling parallel encoding and decoding, making it a game-changer for professionals and fanatics alike.
Improved Adaptive Refresh Price
With Android 16 Developer Preview 2, Google has enhanced true variable refresh price assist. On the developer stage, this enchancment permits extra apps to make the most of the Adaptive Refresh Price (ARR) function 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 enable 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) function lists a wide range of shortcut choices (all the time seen button, gestures, quantity buttons, and so forth). New to Android 16 is the choice to enlarge the show with a double faucet with two fingers on the display screen.
Improved assist for bodily keyboards
Uncovered by Android professional Mishaal Rahman, Android 16 introduced a few adjustments to enhance assist 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 secret’s registered once more and likewise its repeat price. 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 cellphone with a registered fingerprint with out having to wake the display screen. The caveat is that the change is simply obtainable (no less than for now) for the Pixel 9 collection telephones, most likely resulting from using an ultrasonic sensor as a substitute of the older optical fingerprint reader within the Pixel 6 via 8 fashions.
7 new emojis
Android 16 consists of assist 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 Hold is now a system app
The note-taking app Google Hold was a stand-alone app that wanted to be put in via 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 Hold except brute forcing it via root entry.
Wi-Fi QR code redesign
Not essentially the most groundbreaking change to the system, the QR-code display screen for sharing Wi-Fi credentials obtained a redesign. Google ditched the plain QR-code for a stylized one, adopting the Materials You colour palette in your cellphone.
Reorganized Settings
The Settings app is a standard weak level by way of usability—additionally on iOS and Home windows—with increasing wants and options popping up on occasion, it’s no shock common customers get confused and misplaced in it. Google just lately began reordering and shifting issues round within the Settings app.
The change offers extra space to the search bar, on the identical time it highlights the primary Google account on the cellphone. The change was really rolled out to Pixel telephones with Android 15, however will most likely attain different AOSP-based distributions (Asus, Motorola, Sony, and so forth.) solely on Android 16.
Computerized App Resizing for Massive-Display Gadgets
Android 16 Beta enhances the expertise for foldables and tablets with automated app window resizing. Apps now dynamically adapt to suit the display screen dimension, eliminating annoying letterboxing and delivering a smoother, extra immersive interface for large-screen units.
Photograph Picker
Whereas this launch primarily targets builders, a number of noteworthy options and enhancements had been launched. Among the many highlights is the up to date photograph picker function, which advantages from new APIs aimed toward bettering app integration for importing photographs and movies. This replace enhances consumer privateness by eradicating extreme permissions whereas streamlining the app interface.
Well being Join and FHIR Help
One other main addition is assist for the FHIR (Quick Healthcare Interoperability Assets) format throughout the Well being Join app. This integration might enable customers to handle medical data alongside well being metrics sooner or later. An identical function, generally known as Well being Information, exists in Samsung Well being however is at the moment restricted to pick healthcare suppliers.
Notification Cooldown
Different adjustments embrace the introduction of a Notifications Cooldown function, designed to scale back distractions by minimizing alerts and decreasing notification quantity when a number of notifications are obtained in fast succession.
Audio Sharing
The Audio Sharing function, initially noticed in Android 15, was additional refined. This performance depends on Bluetooth LE connectivity to allow audio sharing from a single supply system 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 info. As well as, a brand new Safety and Permissions Historical past choice allows customers to evaluate app permissions and safety exercise over the previous seven days on the Privateness Dashboard, offering better transparency and management.
Predictive Again for Navigation Buttons
Android 16 Beta extends the predictive again gesture performance to the 3-button navigation system. Beforehand unique to gesture navigation, this replace brings the identical intuitive back-navigation preview to customers preferring conventional button-based controls, enhancing usability throughout navigation kinds.
Redesigned UI
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, shifting away from the earlier massive elliptical fashion. Nevertheless, it nonetheless relies on OEMs if they’ll undertake this tweak.
Which Gadgets Help the Android 16 Beta Replace?
- Supported on Pixel units from the Pixel 6 collection to the Pixel 9 collection.
- Consists of compatibility for the Pixel Pill and Pixel Fold.
Improve Prepared: Guarantee your system is enrolled within the beta program for OTA set up.
What do you consider Google releasing Android 16 early? Might this trace at adjustments to Pixel {hardware} launch timing? Share your ideas beneath!
Details about the primary beta model was added in January 2025.
