After what felt like an eternity, Android 16 has officially arrived! Rolling out first to Pixel devices starting from the Pixel 6 and newer, the rest of the Android ecosystem will see this update later in the year. While this isn’t the massive Material You expressive UI overhaul many were hoping for, Android 16 brings a solid set of refinements, new features, and security enhancements that are definitely worth exploring. Plus, alongside this update, Google has also released the June Pixel Drop, packed with exciting new goodies for Pixel users.
Table of Contents
- 🚀 Android 16 Launch and What to Expect
- 🕒 Live Updates and Notification Improvements
- 🎧 Accessibility and Hearing Aid Enhancements
- 🔒 Advanced Protection and Security Features
- 📸 Hidden Gems: HDR Screenshots, Edge-to-Edge Display, and More
- ✨ Pixel Drop June Update: More Features for Pixel Users
- 🔮 Looking Ahead: Material You Expressive and What’s Next
- ❓ FAQ
- 📣 Your Thoughts?
🚀 Android 16 Launch and What to Expect
If you own a Pixel 6 or newer, keep an eye out for the OTA update as it should be arriving any minute now. However, it’s important to set your expectations: this release isn’t the big Material You expressive UI refresh many anticipated, nor does it include desktop mode. According to trusted sources, those features are slated for a later rollout, particularly the Material You expressive update expected around early September.
While it may feel more like an Android 15.5 update than a full Android 16 overhaul, there are still several useful additions and improvements to discover. And if Android 16 alone isn’t enough, the June Pixel Drop adds even more features to enhance your Pixel experience.
🕒 Live Updates and Notification Improvements
One of the standout features arriving with Android 16 is live updates. This long-awaited capability allows certain notifications, like progress bars, to update in real-time. However, persistent lock screen notifications with live updates are still in the works and haven’t been rolled out yet. Currently, live updates behave like regular notifications with a progress bar attached, but Google plans to expand this functionality later this year, including availability on the always-on display and a tappable status bar card.
Excitingly, Google is also collaborating with major Android manufacturers such as Samsung, Oppo, Xiaomi, Vivo, and OnePlus to bring live updates to their devices later this year.
Android 16 also introduces forced grouping of notifications from the same app to reduce clutter and keep your notification shade more organized. You’ll still see the classic notification banner with a count indicating how many notifications are grouped together, but now the OS enforces this grouping automatically for all apps.
🎧 Accessibility and Hearing Aid Enhancements
Google has made notable strides in accessibility with Android 16, especially for Pixel users who rely on hearing aids. Previously, hearing devices used their built-in microphones for audio input during calls, but now you can switch to your phone’s microphone. This change significantly improves call clarity in noisy environments by better capturing your voice.
Additionally, Android 16 allows native control of hearing devices directly from your phone, streamlining the user experience for those with hearing aids.
🔒 Advanced Protection and Security Features
Security remains a major focus for Google in Android 16. A new Advanced Protection toggle is now available directly in settings, offering a suite of robust defenses against threats from apps, websites, and scam calls.
Once enabled, this mode:
- Disables sideloading of apps to prevent unauthorized installations
- Avoids connecting to less secure 2G networks
- Requires a phone restart to activate
Later this year, the feature will add the ability to automatically restart your phone if it has been locked for three days, further enhancing device security.
While not flashy, these updates are vital for protecting your privacy and keeping your phone safe.
📸 Hidden Gems: HDR Screenshots, Edge-to-Edge Display, and More
Google’s official blog post on Android 16 doesn’t cover everything, so here are some lesser-known but valuable additions:
- HDR Screenshots: Screenshots of HDR content will now save with HDR metadata embedded, preserving vibrant colors and brightness when viewed in the Photos app.
- Mandatory Edge-to-Edge Display: Apps can no longer opt out of edge-to-edge display, ensuring a more immersive full-screen experience, especially on foldable devices.
- Predictive Back Gesture: Enabled by default for three-button navigation, this feature previews where the back action will take you before completing it, such as switching to another app.
- AV1 Video Codec Support: Higher quality video recording with less battery drain, reduced compression, and smaller file sizes for 4K videos on supported devices.
- Seven New Emojis: Including face with bags under eyes, fingerprint, leafless tree, root vegetable, harp, shovel, splatter, and a new flag from Unicode 16.0.
- Double Press Power Button for Wallet: Swap your power button double press gesture from camera to Google Wallet for quick access to payments.
- Notification Cooldown: If an app sends many notifications in a short period, Android 16 will reduce the notification sound volume and minimize alerts for up to 60 seconds. Important contacts are exempt.
- Anti-Scam Call Feature: Prevents scammers from tricking you into changing settings or enabling sideloading permissions during phone calls.
✨ Pixel Drop June Update: More Features for Pixel Users
Alongside Android 16, Google’s June Pixel Drop brings a bunch of new perks and improvements exclusive to Pixel devices:
- Pixel VIPs Widget: A new home screen widget that lets you pin up to four favorite contacts for quick access. It shows recent calls and messages, even from WhatsApp, and VIP contacts can bypass Do Not Disturb.
- Sticker Creation in Gboard: Create and send stickers directly from Gboard without switching apps. Backgrounds are automatically removed from photos for easy sticker creation.
- Expressive Captions: Live captions now capture emotion by capitalizing and elongating words, perfect for shouting commentators or dramatic moments.
- RCS Group Chat Customization: Name your group chats, set custom icons (from your device or suggested by Google), and mute groups temporarily instead of indefinitely.
- Safety Check Timer Extension: Extend ongoing safety checks by custom increments without starting a new check, ideal for longer runs or stops.
- Express Transit on Pixel Watch: Tap-to-pay for public transport without unlocking your watch or opening Google Wallet, similar to Apple’s Express Transit.
- Emoji Kitchen Expansions: More sticker combinations are now possible in Gboard for creative or quirky expressions.
- Regional Pixel Features: Satellite SOS is rolling out in new countries like Australia; Recorder app gains AI summaries in French and German; ClearVoice support arrives for Pixel 8; Camera Education offers visual guides inside the camera app; and Pixel phones now show battery health information on supported models (Pixel 8a and newer, excluding Pixel 8 and 8 Pro).
🔮 Looking Ahead: Material You Expressive and What’s Next
While Android 16 focuses more on refinement and foundational improvements, the big Material You expressive UI refresh is still on the horizon, expected sometime in Q3 this year. Google has sprinkled a few Material You expressive elements into this update, but the full visual overhaul and features like desktop mode will arrive later.
So, if you’re feeling a bit underwhelmed by Android 16, don’t worry — the best is yet to come.
❓ FAQ
Q: Which devices are getting Android 16 first?
A: Android 16 is rolling out first to Pixel 6 and newer devices. Other Android phones will receive the update later this year.
Q: Does Android 16 include the Material You expressive UI overhaul?
A: No, the full Material You expressive update is expected to come later in Q3 2024. Android 16 includes some smaller UI refinements but not the big overhaul.
Q: What is the new Advanced Protection feature?
A: Advanced Protection is a security mode you can enable in settings that offers robust defenses against malware, scam calls, disables sideloading, and avoids insecure 2G networks.
Q: Can I use live updates on my lock screen now?
A: Not yet. Live updates currently show as regular notifications with progress bars. Persistent live updates on the lock screen and always-on display will come later this year.
Q: What’s new with Pixel devices in the June Pixel Drop?
A: The Pixel Drop includes the Pixel VIPs widget, improved sticker creation in Gboard, expressive captions, RCS group chat customization, Safety Check timer extensions, Express Transit on Pixel Watch, and several regional feature rollouts.
Q: Are the new emojis available on all Android 16 devices?
A: Yes, Android 16 includes seven new emojis from Unicode 16.0 that are available once you update.
📣 Your Thoughts?
Android 16 may not be the flashy, groundbreaking update some expected, but it lays important groundwork for the future and improves many day-to-day experiences. What do you think of the update? Are you satisfied with these refinements, or were you hoping for more? Let us know in the comments below!
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