Another year, another version of Google’s mobile operating system. Android 16 brings a whole new look (Apple also just announced a redesign in iOS 26), more customization options, some chunky security enhancements, and a few welcome accessibility improvements. Android 16 is rolling out to select devices today—these are the new features that caught our eye.
Google officially ditched the delicious dessert names for Android years ago with Android 10, but it still uses them internally. Android 15 was Vanilla Ice Cream, and Android 16 is codenamed Baklava.
When Is Android 16 Arriving for Your Phone?
The official release date for Android 16 is June 10. This release is earlier than usual (last year’s release was September), and Google has already scheduled another “minor” release, maybe Android 16.1, for the last quarter of 2025. The developer preview of Android 16 was first released in November 2024, and Google dropped beta releases in January, 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 your phone manufacturer’s website, forums, or social media to learn when (if ever) to expect Android 16.
How to Download and Install Android 16
Folks with a Google Pixel phone (Pixel 6 and newer) can download Android 16 by going to Settings > System > Software updates > System update and tapping Check for update.
If you can’t wait, you may be able to install the Android 16 Beta. These pre-release versions enable developers to test the forthcoming version of Google’s mobile operating system, learn about the new features, and prepare their apps or games to work properly. They also give early adopters the chance to get a sneak peek.
Beta releases are more stable than developer previews, but some bugs are likely, and there are a few hoops to jump through to install them, so it’s not recommended for everyone. If you want to try it, you need a supported partner device (including select phones from Honor, Oppo, OnePlus, and Xiaomi), and you must sign up for the Android Beta Program. Most folks who sign up will get the beta updates OTA (over-the-air) without wiping their phones, but you can’t opt out of the beta program without factory resetting your phone. Make sure you back up your Android phone first.
Updates usually pop up automatically, but you can always check whether you have the latest version in Settings > System > System update by tapping Check for update. Want to get off the beta and go back to Android 15? Go to Google’s Android Beta page, scroll down to find your device, and hit Opt out. This will wipe all locally saved data, so you’ll lose anything you haven’t backed up. You should get a prompt to return to the older version.
Top Android 16 Features
These are the features and improvements coming in Android 16 we’re most excited about. You can learn more at Google’s developer site, and make sure to read our interview with Google’s Android chief about his hopes for the platform.
Live Updates
Google is introducing real-time tracking into your Android notifications for services, like food delivery and navigation. Instead of having to open up the relevant app, you’ll see live updates in the notification showing when your Uber will arrive or what turn to take next if you’re traveling somewhere using directions. These Live Updates will be the top notification and also appear on the Always-on Display, so you can see at a glance when your food will arrive via an app like DoorDash. Pull down to expand the notification, and you’ll see a progress bar and quick links to actions, such as the option to call or message the driver.
Similar to Live Activities in Apple’s iOS, Live Updates may be implemented slightly differently by each manufacturer. Samsung apparently plans to roll Live Updates into its Now Bar that sits at the bottom of the lock screen, while OnePlus will integrate them into its existing Live Alerts system.
Advanced Protection Mode
This new extra-secure mode in Android 16 is for at-risk folks, like public figures, journalists, and activists, who need extra protection for their digital lives. Google’s Advanced Protection already exists for Google accounts, but now extends to Android 16, imposing tough security settings on apps and services to keep your data safe. It includes checks on memory to block exploits, USB protection, and guards against unsafe websites and spam calls and messages. A later release will add intrusion detection by keeping a permanent end-to-end encrypted log from your device in the cloud, which can be shared and analyzed by a security expert if you suspect there’s a problem.
AI-Powered Scam Detection
Sadly, fraud is big business. Most folks have seen a scam on their phone at some point, whether disguised as tech support, a prize, or a crypto investment opportunity. Google is using on-device AI to spot scam texts with the Scam Detection feature in Google Messages. It runs locally on-device, so no message content is shared, and shows a pop-up warning to folks when it discovers a suspected scam, warning them of the risk and offering the opportunity to report and block the scammer. Some permissions will also be blocked during phone calls, so scammers can no longer walk people through the process to sideload a malicious app.
Medical Records
Health Connect enables different health, fitness, and wellbeing apps to share data covering your health in certain categories (Activity, Body Measurement, Cycle Tracking, Nutrition, Sleep, and Vitals). Google is now adding support for Electronic Health Records (EHRs) using the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard widely used by healthcare providers. It’s unclear exactly how this will work or what data it will include, but it may make sharing health records easier.
Auracast Broadcast Support
As one of the newest Bluetooth features, Auracast enables audio streaming to hearing aids and other supported devices in public spaces. Several people can use it to connect to the same audio stream simultaneously and get audio from TVs in public spaces like the gym, for example, or stream audio directly to hearing aids at a public concert. Android 16 supports broadcasting, so you can go to Settings > Connected devices > Audio sharing and choose to share audio from your device with nearby devices that support Bluetooth LE Audio, which includes Auracast.
Better Support for Bigger Screens
While some apps restrict resizing and screen orientation, Google is removing this default capability in Android 16. Every app should now adapt to different screen sizes and aspect ratios, including tablets and folding phones. Google also wants developers to ensure that app content is displayed edge to edge.
Hide Sensitive Notifications
Google is redacting content in sensitive notifications, such as One-Time Passwords (OTPs), when it detects the potential risk of someone else seeing the notification. This might be if you are not connected to your home Wi-Fi and haven’t unlocked your phone in a while.
More Legible Text
For folks with low vision and reduced contrast sensitivity, Google is detecting text that might be an issue and drawing a high-contrast color box underneath it to ensure the text is as legible as possible.
LE Audio Hearing Aids Features
There are a couple of notable new features for folks using Bluetooth LE Audio hearing aids with Android 16. First is the option to switch between the built-in microphones on the hearing aids and the microphone on your phone for voice calls. Second is the ability to adjust the ambient sound volume picked up by your hearing aid’s microphones. Both could prove helpful in noisy environments with a lot of background noise.
Enhanced Camera for Pro Photographers
Google is pushing a host of small camera improvements in Android 16 for keen photographers. There’s hybrid auto exposure, allowing a balance of automatic and manual ISO and exposure control, precise color temperature and tint adjustments, better night mode support for apps, and support for Ultra HDR images in the HEIC file format. Google is also adding the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec for higher-quality video recording and post-processing.
Windowing Apps
Have you ever wished Android was more like Windows? Support for desktop windowing, enabling you to run multiple apps simultaneously, is in the works. Multitaskers will be able to resize windows, and the new feature will work seamlessly with split screen (just like the new iPadOS 26!). Google is also adding connected display support, so you can attach an external display to your Android device and discover the joys of a dual screen setup. Currently part of the developer preview, this won’t come to your Android tablet until later this year.
Fresh Design
The latest evolution of Google’s Android design language is Material 3 Expressive. While it’s not a complete overhaul, it is giving Android a facelift with fresh new animations, better haptic feedback, more dynamic color themes, impactful fonts, and more chances to personalize your Android device. Google has done its homework, drawing on 46 studies with more than 18,000 participants to make changes that people of all ages approved.
Before you get too excited, Material 3 Expressive won’t be part of the June release, instead rolling out on Pixel phones first, later this year, and then on other Android devices. Impatient folks may get a sneak peek by signing up for the Android Beta Program.
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