Android 16’s Stable Release Is Coming Soon

Android 16, the upcoming significant update for Google’s mobile operating system, has achieved platform stability. With all the essential enhancements now finalized, Google has provided a glimpse into its public rollout timeline.

During a press conference for The Android Show prior to the Google I/O developers conference, a Google official announced that the stable version of Android 16 is set to arrive on Pixel phones in June, accompanied by a revamped visual design.

While the full design overhaul featuring the new Material 3 Expressive elements won’t arrive all at once, as Google’s applications will progressively adapt the design in the coming months, a beta version of Android 16 will be available later this month. This will offer users an early look at the upcoming changes.

According to Google, Material 3 Expressive represents the company’s most extensively researched update to its design framework since its inception in 2014. It introduces a vibrant new UI that incorporates bolder colors and several modifications to elements like app bars, button configurations, and navigation bars, among others.

Alongside the June launch for Pixel devices, Google also shared that Android 16 will reach Samsung phones later this summer, starting likely with a beta program for One UI 8, which has already been detected undergoing tests on Samsung’s flagship models.

What’s new in Android 16?

In terms of features, Android 16 brings a variety of impressive updates. Photography enthusiasts will benefit from new temperature and tint adjustment tools for enhanced grading capabilities in the camera app, along with a hybrid auto-exposure system. The update will also support the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, facilitating high-quality video recordings.

“Android 16 introduces the ability for users with LE Audio hearing aids to seamlessly switch between the microphones on the hearing aids and their phone’s microphone during voice calls,” states Google. Importantly, it will also support the Wi-Fi 6 802.11az standard, enhancing security and scalability.

The Live Updates feature in Android 16 manifests a streamlined approach to notifications, covering ongoing tasks such as navigation and food delivery. Moreover, “apps” (previously referred to as extensions) will play a key role in Android 16, allowing the Gemini assistant to function across various applications.

Currently, it supports Google’s suite of applications like Docs, Drive, Gmail, and Maps, as well as a select group of third-party apps such as Spotify, with more expected to join later in the year. I’m currently testing the latest beta version on my Pixel 9 and will provide updates on the design and functionality changes as final adjustments start to roll out in the coming weeks.