It doesn't seem that long ago that Android 15 was making waves. That's even more true if you're a Samsung user like me and only got the update a month or two ago. The Android 15 update was odd since it didn't launch alongside the Pixel 9 series, as it normally would. In fact, some Vivo devices got the update first.
This year, things are happening a lot differently. We already knew that Android 16 was slated to arrive a lot earlier than usual, and now, that's panned out. The new Android OS is here and available for Google Pixel devices, four months earlier than last year. Let's talk about the big new features that this version brings to the table.
Android 16 Lands With a Few New Features to Improve User Experience
If you're expecting Android 16 to be the kind of update that comes with a fresh coat of paint and all sorts of new bells and whistles, then you will be disappointed (sort of). Android 16 will bring Material 3 Expressive, but just not right now. You'll need to wait for the QPR1 release.
| Android Version | Pixel Availability Date |
| Android 16 | June 10th, 2025 |
| Android 15 | October 15th, 2024 |
| Android 14 | October 4th, 2023 |
| Android 13 | October 6th, 2022 |
But that aside, it does bring a few features that should make Android a little safer and more convenient, and the best part is it is bringing all of that ahead of the usual schedule. A little unrelated: will this count as the second major OS update in the Pixel 9 support window, considering they launched with Android 14? We can debate that in the comments. Anyway, let's move on to the features.
Live Updates and Grouped Notifications
There are several Android apps that need to inform you of the progress of an activity. Think of ridesharing or delivery apps. Android 16 now has Live Updates, a native notification type that will let you check on progress at a glance.
On top of that, your notifications should now be a lot cleaner. Instead of letting one app have five separate notifications, as long as they come from the same app, they will now be grouped, making things a lot cleaner.
Native Control and Enhancements for Hearing Aids
Android supports hearing aids and devices, but with Android 16, that support improves significantly. You might not need this, but there are likely millions of people who do. Users who use hearing aids will now be able to:
- Switch to the phone's microphone during calls, instead of the front-facing mics on the hearing device.
- Set the default microphone for phone calls.
- Control hearing device settings like individual volume and presets.
Advanced Protection for Better Security
Android 16 comes with a new set of security features, packed into a new suite of settings called Advanced Protection. This will protect you from an array of digital risks, whether they're coming from online, websites you visit, apps on your phone, or scam calls.
Desktop Windowing on Android Tablets
If you have an Android tablet, there's a good chance that you use it to get some work done here and there. Android 16 is going to take some inspiration from Samsung DeX and give you the ability to window your applications.
What that means is that you won't be limited to split-screen when multitasking. Instead, you can open several app windows and adjust the window size as you please, as if you were using a computer. This feature isn't here just yet, but will roll out later this year. Plus, with support for custom keyboard shortcuts, working on your tablet will certainly be more productive.
Which Google Pixel Devices Are Getting the Update?
Now that you know what the update is bringing, the next question is which phones will the update be brought to? For now, it is limited to Google's devices, but other phones should start to see the update in the coming months.
- Pixel 6 series
- Pixel 7 series
- Pixel 8 series
- Pixel 9 series
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel Tablet
