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Google releases Android 16, now available for Pixel devices

Google has released Android 16. The update is rolling out to Pixel devices.

Google has streamlined notifications from the same app by grouping them together, instead of cluttering the notification panel with a long list of updates. The new Predictive back feature, which is part of the three button navigation, displays a preview of your previous screen before you go back to it.

 

One of Android 16's major features is Advanced Protection, which can protect users against online attacks, harmful apps, unsafe websites, scam calls and more. Users can toggle the security measures from the Settings > Security & privacy > Advanced Protection.

Android 16 Advanced Data Protection

The update also brings Identity Check, which requires biometrics outside trusted locations to prevent account takeovers.

Android 16 Identity Check

Android 16 brings improvements for people who use hearing aids. Users can switch to the phone's microphone instead of their hearing device's mic for clearer calls in noisy environments. The update also adds native controls for volume from your Android phone. The Recents panel has shortcuts to capture a screenshot, select, and close an app, these options are visible when you long press on an app in the recents page.

Users with a Pixel 8a or newer can check their battery health from the Settings > Battery page. It also has an option called Charging Optimization that can set the battery limit to 80%, or use adaptive charging to prolong the battery life.

Android 16 also brings Live Updates, which are essentially iOS' Live Activities. When you order food, or a ride, or are using a navigation app, updates for these are displayed as a notification on the lock screen. Interestingly, Google hasn't made the feature available for Pixel phones yet, but it has been released to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).

This is the first time Google has released a major version of Android mid-year, the company usually releases updates in September. Google has released the Android 16 source code to AOSP, so OEMs will be able to start working on their own versions. New devices will launch with Android 16 out of the box.

Unfortunately, Android 16 doesn't ship with the Material 3 Expressive redesign, Google says it will release it later this year. Google has also delayed the Android 16’s desktop windowing. Tablets that run on the new OS will be able to open, move and resize multiple app windows in a single screen, just like a desktop. Apple added a similar system as part of the iPadOS 26 update.

Android 16 is available for the following devices

  • Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
  • Pixel 6a
  • Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
  • Pixel 7a
  • Pixel Fold
  • Pixel Tablet
  • Pixel 8 and 8 Pro
  • Pixel 8a
  • Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold
  • Pixel 9a

To check if the update is available on your phone, go to Visit Settings > System > System update and tap on Check for update.

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