What you have to know
- After Google launched its second Android 16 Developer Preview, a discovery was made a few new “screen-off fingerprint unlock.”
- As soon as toggled, the characteristic lets customers unlock their gadgets with out turning the show on first; nevertheless, it appears restricted to the Pixel 9 collection.
- Android 16 Developer Preview 2 brings enhancements to battery life and different areas of efficiency.
- Android 16 is predicted to reach in Q2 2025, however a beta is alleged to start in January.
Google continues to push forward with Android 16, however a current discovery reveals a brand new characteristic for its current flagships.
The newest Developer Preview for the subsequent main OS is right here and Mishaal Rahman (Android Authority) discovered a brand new fingerprint operate for Pixels. In line with Rahman, the brand new “Display screen-off Fingerprint Unlock” appears restricted to the Pixel 9, 9 Professional, and 9 Professional XL. The characteristic exists inside the Pixel settings for Fingerprint Unlock particularly underneath the “System Unlock” web page.
Opening this brings up the usual fingerprint credentials, resembling which fingers you have got on file for unlock.
Nonetheless, underneath the “when utilizing fingerprint unlock” line, Google has added the screen-off utilization toggle in Android 16 DP 2. The corporate’s on-device description reads, “use fingerprint unlock even when the display screen is off.”
Rahman supplied a short demo of this characteristic. When toggled on, customers can place their thumb or finger on their show (when it is off) to unlock their machine. Upon touching, the machine’s lock display screen briefly reveals to verify the print earlier than opening the app you final left open or your house display screen.
What’s extra, it appears customers should place their print (roughly) within the space of the lock display screen’s in-display fingerprint scanner. It is not clear if the machine will choose up your biometrics in case you’re inserting your thumb/index finger elsewhere on the machine contemplating the scanner is positioned lower-middle on the display screen.
Rahman provides that this characteristic might be unique to the Pixel 9 attributable to its addition of an ultrasonic scanner. This can be a piece of expertise Samsung popped into its Galaxy S24 Extremely, too.
The primary Android 16 Developer Preview arrived in November and testers are starting to unravel their second serving to. Whereas the first iteration supplied a glimpse into new options and APIs for Android 16, the second preview gives battery life and efficiency enhancements for gadgets. Google highlighted its enchancment of “adaptive refresh charges,” stating this could support gadgets with battery life and enhance visuals for apps.
Background duties in Android 16 are getting a rework, too, with the corporate detailing how energetic apps acquire stronger precedence. Moreover, “outdated strategies for prioritizing duties” have been retired on this subsequent OS model.
Google’s earlier testing of the subsequent Android OS is jarring, but it surely mentioned as a lot throughout its way forward for SDK Launch announcement. Android 16 is looking at a Q2 2025 launch and, in accordance with its timeline, that might occur someday after April 2025. The primary Android 15 beta is slated for January.
