When Will Android 16 Be Launched?
Google kicked off the Android 16 journey with the primary Developer Preview in November, adopted by a second launch in December. Staying true to its roadmap, the primary Beta replace has now landed for eligible Pixel units through OTA.
With Android 16 coming into the beta section, we’re two extra beta releases earlier than reaching the stability-focused section, with the ultimate construct anticipated in Might or June 2025. Google’s roadmap additionally teases a minor replace—doubtless Android 16.1—slated for the ultimate quarter of 2025.
Google is about to launch two secure Android 16 updates in 2025. First in Q2 2025 and a minor in This fall 2025. / © Google
This rollout is critical sufficient that Google has even crafted an in depth video breaking down the adjustments. In the event you’re able to dive deeper into what’s new, don’t miss it:
What’s Android 16’s Dessert Codename?
Like earlier variations of the working system, Android 16 has an inside codename primarily based on a dessert identify. After Tiramisu, Upside Down Cake, and Vanilla Ice Cream, Google did not trouble in search of desserts with the letters W, X, Y, or Z, and went straight to B for baklava, which is a well-liked pastry in Greece and Turkey. Yummy!
Hmmm, baklava! / © Enez Selvi/Shutterstock
Whereas the developer preview lists the system model as “Baklava”, count on to see Google utilizing solely “Android 16” and “Android 16.1” because the OS branding as we get close to the secure launch, although.
Android 16’s codename is “Baklava”. © nextpit
Count on to see the “Android 16” branding changing the “Baklava” codename. © nextpit
What’s New in Android 16
The primary Android 16 beta brings recent Stay Updates performance and notable system-level enhancements. This launch marks the shift from the Developer Preview to wider testing. It’s now obtainable for Google Pixel units enrolled within the beta program, masking fashions from the Pixel 6 sequence to the Pixel 9 sequence, together with the Pixel Pill. Let’s dive into the standout options customers can discover.
Stay Updates: Dynamic, Actual-Time Notifications
Android 16 introduces Stay Updates, a characteristic harking back to Apple’s Dynamic Island. It brings animated, real-time updates for apps like navigation, supply, and ride-sharing.
These updates seem as customary notification playing cards with an animated strip displaying key particulars comparable to begin and finish factors, ETAs, or progress milestones. When minimized, they revert to plain notification icons on the standing bar, holding your updates seamless but unobtrusive.
APV Codec: A Leap in Video High quality
One other standout in Android 16 Beta is the addition of the Superior Skilled Video (APV) codec. Designed for near-lossless video high quality, APV helps excessive bitrates and resolutions as much as 8K with HDR10/10+ and user-defined metadata. It’s not nearly playback—APV enhances video modifying workflows by enabling parallel encoding and decoding, making it a game-changer for professionals and fanatics alike.
Improved Adaptive Refresh Charge
With Android 16 Developer Preview 2, Google has enhanced true variable refresh price assist. On the developer degree, this enchancment permits extra apps to make the most of the Adaptive Refresh Charge (ARR) characteristic that debuted in late Android 15. For customers, this interprets to raised battery administration when variable refresh charges are enabled.
Enhanced Haptics
Android 16 DP2 introduces new haptic suggestions APIs, enabling builders to outline vibration amplitude and frequency extra exactly. These finer controls enable for creating customized and dynamic vibration patterns. Furthermore, the replace goals to make haptic suggestions extra constant throughout apps and system interactions.
Two-finger double-tap zoom
Within the Accessibility settings, the magnification (zoom) characteristic lists quite a lot of shortcut choices (all the time seen button, gestures, quantity buttons, and so on). New to Android 16 is the choice to amplify the show with a double faucet with two fingers on the display screen.
New shortcut for the magnifier characteristic. © nextpit
Improved assist for bodily keyboards
Uncovered by Android professional Mishaal Rahman, Android 16 introduced a few adjustments to enhance assist for bodily keyboards. The primary is a reorganization of the Settings menu for its accessibility options, and inside it customers will discover the brand new Repeat Keys settings. The choice units a delay earlier than a pressed secret’s registered once more and likewise its repeat price. Each might be particularly welcomed by the pill warriors on the market.
Fingerprint unlock with screen-off
Unique to the Pixel 9 sequence, this modification permits customers to unlock the cellphone with a registered fingerprint with out having to wake the display screen. The caveat is that the change is simply obtainable (a minimum of for now) for the Pixel 9 sequence telephones, in all probability resulting from using an ultrasonic sensor as an alternative of the older optical fingerprint reader within the Pixel 6 by means of 8 fashions.
7 new emojis
Android 16 consists of assist for the brand new emoji ratified with the Unicode 16.0 launch, formally introduced in September 2024. The official checklist of emoji reached 3,790 with this launch and has 164 candidates for the seventeenth model, anticipated in September 2025.
Google Hold is now a system app
The note-taking app Google Hold was a stand-alone app that wanted to be put in by means of the Play Retailer like another app. Beginning with Android 16, Google appears to be imposing the app to be put in by default, with no choice to uninstall Hold until brute forcing it by means of root entry.
Wi-Fi QR code redesign
Not probably the most groundbreaking change to the system, the QR-code display screen for sharing Wi-Fi credentials bought a redesign. Google ditched the plain QR-code for a stylized one, adopting the Materials You colour palette in your cellphone.
A small change within the Wi-Fi QR-Code generator now helps Materials You colour palettes. © nextpit
Reorganized Settings
The Settings app is a conventional weak level when it comes to usability—additionally on iOS and Home windows—with increasing wants and options popping up occasionally, it’s no shock common customers get confused and misplaced in it. Google lately began reordering and shifting issues round within the Settings app.
The Settings app was overhauled through the Android 15 updates, however ought to attain extra telephones beginning with Android 16. © nextpit
The change offers extra space to the search bar, on the identical time it highlights the primary Google account on the cellphone. The change was really rolled out to Pixel telephones with Android 15, however will in all probability attain different AOSP-based distributions (Asus, Motorola, Sony, and so on.) solely on Android 16.
Automated App Resizing for Massive-Display screen Gadgets
Android 16 Beta enhances the expertise for foldables and tablets with computerized app window resizing. Apps now dynamically adapt to suit the display screen dimension, eliminating annoying letterboxing and delivering a smoother, extra immersive interface for large-screen units.
Photograph Picker
Whereas this launch primarily targets builders, a number of noteworthy options and enhancements had been launched. Among the many highlights is the up to date picture picker characteristic, which advantages from new APIs geared toward enhancing app integration for importing photographs and movies. This replace enhances consumer privateness by eradicating extreme permissions whereas streamlining the app interface.
Well being Join and FHIR Help
One other main addition is assist for the FHIR (Quick Healthcare Interoperability Assets) format inside the Well being Join app. This integration might enable customers to handle medical information alongside well being metrics sooner or later. The same characteristic, generally known as Well being Information, exists in Samsung Well being however is at the moment restricted to pick out healthcare suppliers.
Notification Cooldown
Different adjustments embrace the introduction of a Notifications Cooldown characteristic, designed to cut back distractions by minimizing alerts and decreasing notification quantity when a number of notifications are obtained in fast succession.
Notification cooldown guarantees to tame the notification overload. © nextpit
Notification Cooldown was examined through the Android 15 improvement however did not attain the secure launch. © nextpit
Audio Sharing
The Audio Sharing characteristic, initially noticed in Android 15, was additional refined. This performance depends on Bluetooth LE connectivity to allow audio sharing from a single supply system to a number of headphones, basically permitting customers to broadcast audio.
Privateness and Safety Enhancements
The Privateness Dashboard will be capable to show knowledge from the previous 7 days, as an alternative of the present 24-hour restrict. © nextpit
New shortcut for the magnifier characteristic. © nextpit
Predictive Again for Navigation Buttons
Android 16 Beta extends the predictive again gesture performance to the 3-button navigation system. Beforehand unique to gesture navigation, this replace brings the identical intuitive back-navigation preview to customers preferring conventional button-based controls, enhancing usability throughout navigation types.
Redesigned UI
Moreover, a change in quantity management sliders has been noticed within the Android 16 Developer Preview. The up to date design includes a thinner slider with a extra outlined scrubber, shifting away from the earlier giant elliptical model. Nonetheless, it nonetheless will depend on OEMs if they are going to undertake this tweak.
Which Gadgets Help the Android 16 Beta Replace?
Supported on Pixel units from the Pixel 6 sequence to the Pixel 9 sequence.
Consists of compatibility for the Pixel Pill and Pixel Fold.
Improve Prepared: Guarantee your system is enrolled within the beta program for OTA set up.
What do you consider Google releasing Android 16 early? Might this trace at adjustments to Pixel {hardware} launch timing? Share your ideas under!
Details about the primary beta model was added in January 2025.
