When Will Android 16 Be Launched?
Google rolled out the primary Android 16 Developer Preview in November, adopted by a second launch in December. Whereas there’s no confirmed date for the third installment, it can transition to a beta launch that might be open to public testers.
Android 16 is predicted to undergo three beta releases earlier than getting into the steady part, projected for March. The official launch is anticipated round Could or June 2025. Moreover, Google plans to roll out a minor replace—seemingly Android 16.1—within the last quarter of 2025.
Google is about to launch two steady Android 16 updates in 2025. First in Q2 2025 and a minor in This fall 2025. / © Google
This method is groundbreaking sufficient that Google has even ready a video to elucidate the adjustments intimately. If you happen to’re curious and need to dive deeper, be sure you test it out:
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 searching for 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”, anticipate to see Google utilizing solely “Android 16” and “Android 16.1” because the OS branding as we get close to the steady 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 Android 16 DP2 builds on the primary DP but it surely additionally introduces a brand new vary of thrilling options and enhancements geared toward enhancing consumer expertise, privateness, and gadget performance.
Whereas these updates are geared towards builders, they embody vital adjustments that customers can stay up for within the upcoming Android launch. Right here’s a more in-depth take a look at the important thing options customers can anticipate.
Improved Adaptive Refresh Charge
With Android 16 Developer Preview 2, Google has enhanced true variable refresh fee 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 a wide range of shortcut choices (at all times seen button, gestures, quantity buttons, and many others). New to Android 16 is the choice to enlarge the show with a double faucet with two fingers on the display.
New shortcut for the magnifier characteristic. © nextpit
Improved assist for bodily keyboards
Uncovered by Android knowledgeable 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 key’s registered once more and in addition its repeat fee. Each might be particularly welcomed by the pill warriors on the market.
Fingerprint unlock with screen-off
Unique to the Pixel 9 sequence, this variation permits customers to unlock the telephone with a registered fingerprint with out having to wake the display. The caveat is that the change is simply obtainable (no less than for now) for the Pixel 9 sequence telephones, in all probability on account of the usage of an ultrasonic sensor as an alternative of the older optical fingerprint reader within the Pixel 6 via 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 record of emoji reached 3,790 with this launch and has 164 candidates for the seventeenth model, anticipated in September 2025.
Google Maintain is now a system app
The note-taking app Google Maintain was once a stand-alone app that wanted to be put in via the Play Retailer like every other app. Beginning with Android 16, Google appears to be imposing the app to be put in by default, with no choice to uninstall Maintain except brute forcing it via root entry.
Wi-Fi QR code redesign
Not essentially the most groundbreaking change to the system, the QR-code display 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 telephone.
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 by way of usability—additionally on iOS and Home windows—with increasing wants and options popping up every so often, it’s no shock common customers get confused and misplaced in it. Google just 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 provides more room to the search bar, on the similar time it highlights the principle Google account on the telephone. The change was truly rolled out to Pixel telephones with Android 15, however will in all probability attain different AOSP-based distributions (Asus, Motorola, Sony, and many others) solely on Android 16.
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 photograph picker characteristic, which advantages from new APIs geared toward enhancing app integration for importing pictures 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 Sources) format inside the Well being Join app. This integration may enable customers to handle medical information alongside well being metrics sooner or later. The same characteristic, often known as Well being Data, exists in Samsung Well being however is presently restricted to pick out healthcare suppliers.
Notification Cooldown
Different adjustments embody the introduction of a Notifications Cooldown characteristic, designed to cut back distractions by minimizing alerts and reducing notification quantity when a number of notifications are acquired 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 steady 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 gadget to a number of headphones, primarily 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
Google launched the predictive again gesture as a default characteristic in Android 15, permitting customers to preview the earlier display when performing a again gesture. Within the Android 16 Developer Preview, it seems that this performance may prolong to units utilizing digital navigation buttons (Current, Dwelling, Again).
It stays unclear whether or not this characteristic will make its means into the beta model of Android 16 or be carried out in a later launch.
Stay Actions and Redesigned UI
Google can also be engaged on integrating reside actions into lock and residential screens whereas redesigning the fast settings structure for a extra user-friendly expertise.
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 massive elliptical fashion.
Which Units Help the Android 16 DP2 Replace?
The Android 16 DP2 is now obtainable for the Pixel 9 sequence all the best way to the Pixel 6 sequence, in addition to the Pixel Pill and Pixel Fold. Nonetheless, Google famous that units operating Android 15 QPR (Quarterly Platform Launch) Beta 1 would require a full gadget wipe earlier than putting in the Android 16 firmware.
What are your ideas on Google’s choice to launch Android 16 sooner than normal? Do you assume the steady launch will point out a change within the Pixel {hardware}’s launch timing? Share your opinions within the feedback under!
Article up to date in January 2025 with new options launched with Android 16 DP2 and hidden tweaks discovered within the firmware.
