Android 16 is officially here: what’s new, what’s coming soon

The day has arrived! Google has officially announced the launch of Android 16, and it is beginning to roll out to supported Pixel devices starting today. In the announcement, Google highlights that this is the earliest it has launched a major Android release in the last few years, a move designed to get the latest updates onto devices as soon as possible.

This initial stable release of Android 16 is a significant one, laying the foundation for the new Material 3 Expressive design language and introducing a host of helpful new features. Let’s take a look at what’s new right now and what’s just around the corner.

What’s new in today’s Android 16 release

• Streamlined and up-to-date notifications: A standout feature is the new “live updates” for notifications, which will keep you informed in real-time. Instead of constantly opening your food delivery app, you’ll see the status update live on your lock screen or in your notification shade. This is starting with compatible ride-share and food delivery apps, and Google is working with partners like Samsung (for their Now Bar) and OPPO/OnePlus (for Live Alerts) to bring this capability across the ecosystem. Additionally, Android 16 will now “force-group” notifications from a single app to help reduce clutter and keep things organized.
• Clearer calling with hearing devices: This is a big accessibility win. Android 16 now allows users of LE Audio hearing devices to switch to using their phone’s microphone for calls. This is huge for noisy environments, as the hearing aid’s mics are designed to pick up others’ voices, not your own. The update also adds native controls for hearing devices right in Android, making it easier to adjust things like volume.
• Stronger security in a single tap: You can now activate “Advanced Protection” with a single tap. Google describes this as its strongest mobile device protection, enabling a suite of features that protect you from online attacks, harmful apps, unsafe websites, and scam calls.
• Other features: The release also includes other welcome additions like HDR screenshots, adaptive refresh rate, and an identity check feature.

A look at what’s coming later this year

While today’s release is packed with features, it’s also setting the stage for even bigger changes coming later this year. The most exciting of these is enhanced productivity for tablets. Working closely with Samsung, Google has developed “desktop windowing,” a new way to interact with apps on large-screen devices that builds on the foundation of Samsung DeX. This will allow you to open, move, and resize multiple app windows on a single screen, just like on a desktop.

Also on the roadmap for later this year are custom keyboard shortcuts and a taskbar overflow menu for when your taskbar gets full. Further out, Google is even teasing future updates that will allow you to connect tablets and phones to an external display for an expanded desktop experience.

And of course, the big one for many is the design. More Material 3 Expressive design updates are slated to arrive later this year for Android 16 and Wear OS 6 on Pixel devices, bringing the full visual overhaul we’ve been anticipating.

For now, today’s launch delivers a solid and stable new version of Android packed with useful features. It’s great to see it arriving earlier than ever, and we’re just as excited for the major productivity and design updates still to come. If you have a supported Pixel device, keep an eye out for that update notification!