Earlier this month, Google introduced the launch of Android 16, obtainable first on Pixel units. If you happen to’ve bought a Pixel 6 or a Pixel 6 Professional (launched in 2021) or a later system, you must have already got the software program replace.
What you will not have, nevertheless, are most of the new options that Google has been selling with this Android improve—an improve that appears like a placeholder for what’s coming later within the yr. If you happen to’re rebooting your cellphone after putting in Android 16 and searching round to see what’s new, you may be disillusioned.
There are a few bits of related context: First, Android 16 was launched a lot earlier within the yr (June) than Android 15 (October), most likely to get effectively forward of the Google Pixel 10 launch. It appears to be like as if a lot of the main Android 16 updates will arrive round September or October.
Second, these main Android releases are, now greater than ever, primarily for Pixel telephones. Each Android cellphone maker places its personal spin on the Android code Google gives, and should not assist each function—or add further options Google hasn’t bought round to. Samsung’s One UI 8, primarily based on Android 16, is one of the best instance.
Additional including to the confusion are the extra Pixel Drops that Google frequently pushes out for its personal telephones and tablets. The latest one arrived concurrently Android 16, and introduced with it options comparable to Pixel VIPs, for giving chosen contacts a better precedence in your system.
So, whereas Android 16 does not deliver a lot that is new to my Pixel cellphone proper now, there’s loads nonetheless on the way in which: Listed below are 4 key upgrades I am wanting ahead to.
Materials 3 Expressive
Materials 3 Expressive is kind of a departure by way of visuals.
Credit score: Google
Google has already informed us in regards to the huge design revamp that is coming to Android 16, throwing round phrases like “emotional impression” and “extra partaking” and “makes you are feeling one thing”—which in actuality means extra colour, extra curves, and screens that do not look fairly as spartan as they do in Android 15.
From the screenshots Google has shared, it appears to be like good, however I have never even seen it seem in Google’s personal apps or the Android settings menus but (that is due in September, as per an Android Authority supply). After that, third-party builders will push their very own updates out, so it is going to take some time for every part to be Materials 3 Expressive-ized.
Stay Updates
How Stay Updates will work, ultimately.
Credit score: Google
Android can already present actual time data like timers and Uber estimates in persistent notifications, however Stay Updates on Android 16 will make these notifications rather more distinguished, detailed, and interactive—so much like Stay Actions on iOS. Samsung is already forward on this, with the Now Bar obtainable in One UI 7.
What do you suppose to date?
Nonetheless, I have never seen a single app make the most of Stay Updates to date. It appears Android 16 is just laying the groundwork for the function, and it is now over to app builders to get it applied—one thing I count on will occur step by step over the approaching months.
A full desktop mode
The brand new desktop mode is reside now for tablets.
Credit score: Google
Android 16 is rather more succesful on larger screens, with higher administration of window resizing and grouping, so it is extra desktop-like. That is an improve that’s really reside now, however just for Android tablets—you are not going to have the ability to use it but on an exterior monitor related to your Pixel cellphone.
We all know from the Android 16 betas and Google I/O 2025 that the cellphone performance assist is on the way in which—so you can use your cellphone in desktop mode when related to a monitor—nevertheless it’s not right here but. That is one other space the place Samsung is already forward, with its Samsung DeX device.
Notification stacking
How notification teams are going to look.
Credit score: Google
The ultimate announced-but-not-yet-live Android 16 function is notification stacking, or “compelled notification auto-grouping,” as it is formally described. “Your notifications will routinely be grouped collectively to maintain issues wanting tight and arranged,” says Google within the Android 16 announcement weblog publish.
Right here, too, I am nonetheless ready. Android really already does a good job of grouping collectively notifications from the identical app, so I am not precisely positive what is going on to be completely different, however primarily based from the restricted variety of screenshots which have been shared, it appears to be like as if the grouping might be extra compact and simpler to handle.
