Google officially abandoned the delicious names of the desserts for Android years ago with Android 10, but still uses them internally. Android 15 was vanilla ice cream and Android 16 is in Baklava code.
When will Android 16 arrive for your phone?
The official release date for Android 16 is June 10th. This release is first of the usual (the release of last year was September) and Google has already planned another “minor” release, perhaps Android 16.1, in the last quarter of 2025. The preview of the Android 16 developers was released for the first time in November 2024, and Google dropped the Beta versions in January, in February, March and April 2025.
Google’s Pixel phones always get the new Android version first, but Android 16 is also coming to select devices from Honor, Iqoo, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, Vivo and Xiaomi in the coming months. Check the website, the forums or social media of the phone manufacturer to learn when (if ever), Android 16 are expected.
How to download and install Android 16
People with a Google Pixel phone (pixel 6 and more recent) can download Android 16 going to Settings > System > Software updates > System update and touching Check the update.
If you can’t wait, you may be able to install Android 16 Beta. These pre-report versions allow developers to test the next version of the Google mobile operating system, know the new features and prepare their apps or games to work properly. They also give the first users the opportunity to take a look.
The beta versions are more stable than the previews of the developers, but some bugs are probably and there are some circles to jump to install them, so it is not recommended for everyone. If you want to try it, you need a Supported partner device (including the phones selected by Honor, Oppo, OnePlus and Xiaomi) and you must enroll in the Android beta program. Most of the people who register will receive Beta Ota updates (over-the-air) without deleting their phones, but you cannot give up the beta program without restoring the factory. Make sure to perform the backup of your Android phone first.
Updates usually appear automatically, but you can always check if you have the latest version in Settings > System > System update touching Check the update. Do you want to get off the beta and go back to Android 15? Go to Google Beta Android pageScroll down to find your device and press Opt out. This will delete all the data saved locally, so you will lose everything you have not backup. You should get a prompt to return to the previous version.
Best Android Functions 16
These are the characteristics and improvements arriving in Android 16 of which we are most enthusiastic. You can know more Google developer siteAnd be sure to read our interview with Google’s head Android on his hopes for the platform.
Real -time updates
Google is introducing real -time monitoring into Android notifications for services, such as delivery and navigation. Instead of having to open the relevant app, you will see updates in real time in the notification they show when your Uber arrives or which turn take after if you are traveling somewhere using the indications. These live updates will be the main notification and will also appear on the always omnicurgot display, so you can see at a glance when your food will arrive through an app like Doordash. Lower up to expand the notification and you will see a progress and rapid connections to actions, such as the option to call or send messages to the driver.
Similar to live activities in Apple’s iOS, real -time updates can be implemented slightly different from each manufacturer. Apparently Samsung plans to launch live updates in his bar now that it is located in the lower part of the lock screen, while OnePlus will integrate them in his existing live warning system.
Advanced protection methods
This new extra-suited mode in Android 16 is for people at risk, such as public figures, journalists and activists, who need extra protection for their digital life. Google’s advanced protection already exists for Google accounts, but now it extends to Android 16, imposing difficult safety settings on apps and services to protect your data. It includes memory controls to block exploit, USB protection and guards against unsafe websites and calls and spam messages. A subsequent version will add a detection of intrusions while maintaining an permanent end-to-to-to-de-de end-to-end register in the cloud, which can be shared and analyzed by a security expert if there is a problem.
Detection of food scam
Unfortunately, fraud is a great deal. Most people saw a scam on their phone at some point, disguised as a technical support, a prize or a encryption investment opportunity. Google is using artificial intelligence on the device to identify the texts of the scam with the scam detection function in Google’s messages. It works locally on the device, so no content of messages is shared and shows a pop-up warning to people when she discovers a suspicious scam, warning them of risk and offering the opportunity to report and block the swindler. Some authorizations will also be blocked during calls, so scammers can no longer guide people through the process to download a harmful app.
Medical records
Health Connect allows several health apps, physical fitness and well -being to share the data that cover your health in certain categories (activity, body measurement, cycle monitoring, nutrition, sleep and vital). Google is now adding support for electronic medical records (Ehrs) using the Fhir (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard widely used by health care providers. It is not clear exactly how it will work or what data will include, but it could simplify the sharing of medical records.
Auracast transmission support
Like one of the most recent Bluetooth functionality, Auracast allows audio streaming to hearing aids and other devices supported in public spaces. Several people can use it to connect to the same audio flow simultaneously and obtain audio from televisions in public spaces such as the gym, for example, or the flow audio directly to the hearing aids in a public concert. Android 16 supports the transmission, so you can go to Settings > Connected devices > Audio sharing And choose to share the audio from the device with nearby devices that support Bluetooth the audio, which includes Auracast.
Best support for larger screens
While some apps limit the downsizing and orientation to the screen, Google is removing this default capacity in Android 16. Each app should now adapt to different screen size and relationships, including tablets and folding phones. Google also wants the developers to guarantee that the content of the app is displayed by Edge on Edge.
Hide sensitive notifications
Google is drawing up the contents in sensitive notifications, such as one -off password (OTP), when it detects the potential risk that someone else will see the notification. This could be if you are not connected to your Wi-Fi home and you haven’t unlocked the phone for a while.
More readable text
For people with poor vision and a reduced sensitivity to the contrast, Google is detecting text that could be a problem and by drawing a box of high contrast colors below it to ensure that the text is as readable as possible.
Features of Le Audio acoustic appliances
There are a pair of new remarkable features for people who use Bluetooth acoustic devices with Android 16. First of all, it is the option to pass between the microphones incorporated into the hearing aids and the microphone on the phone for voice calls. The second is the ability to regulate the volume of environmental sound collected by the microphones of the acoustic device. Both could prove to be useful in noisy environments with a lot of background noise.
Improved camera for professional photographers
Google is pushing a series of small camera improvements in Android 16 for passionate photographers. There is a hybrid automatic exposure, which allows an automatic and manual ISO balance and exposure control, precise color temperature adjustments, better support for night mode for apps and support for Ultra HDR images in the Heic file format. Google is also adding the Codec Advanced Professional Video (APV) for superior quality video recording and post-elaboration.
Window apps
Have you ever wanted Android to be more similar to Windows? The support for the desktop window, which allows you to perform more apps simultaneously, is in progress. Multitaskers will be able to resize Windows and the new functionality will work perfectly with the divided screen (just like the new iPados 26!). Google is also adding the support of the connected display, so you can connect a display outside your Android device and discover the joys of a double screen configuration. Currently part of the preview of the developers, this will not arrive on your Android tablet until the end of the year.
Fresh design
The latest evolution of Google’s Android design language is 3 expressive material. Although it is not a complete revision, it is giving Android a lifting with new animations, better tactile feedback, more dynamic color themes, impact characters and more chances to customize your Android device. Google did her homework, drawing on 46 studies with over 18,000 participants to make changes to the approval of people of all ages.
Before being too excited, the 3 expressive material will not be part of the June version, instead of launching first on Pixel phones, by the end of the year, and then on other Android devices. Impatient people can take a look to register for the Android beta program.
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