While many are still waiting for Android 15 to roll out on their smartphones, Google is already testing its next version, Android 16. This mid-season update, a first for the company, brings significant upgrades alongside several under-the-hood changes. With the beta already available for Pixel phones, we have a clear picture of all the new features coming to Android 16. Here’s a list of them:
1. Android 16 Baklava is Here
In October, Google abandoned its long-standing naming scheme and decided to start fresh. The first Android 16 developer preview confirms this change. As shown below, Android 16 is codenamed “Baklava” on the About page. Baklava is a Middle Eastern dessert consisting of layered pastry, chopped nuts, and sweet syrup.
2. Settings Page Gets a Fresh Look
Android 16 also introduces a design overhaul to the Settings page. The updated layout is segmented, making it simpler to find the options you need. Notably, the Google accounts page has been moved to the top, resembling iOS. The About Phone page and System settings in Android 16 are no longer at the bottom; they have been moved above Security & Privacy.
3. Bluetooth Audio Sharing
Bluetooth Audio Sharing has finally arrived with Android 16 (and hopefully, it’s here to stay). This feature allows you to connect multiple Bluetooth headphones simultaneously. However, this feature requires Bluetooth LE-supported earbuds to function properly.
To access this feature, go to Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Audio sharing. You can also scan a QR code to share your current media stream with another device, though this feature is not functioning in the current Android 16 build.
4. Improved Bluetooth Menu
The second developer preview of Android 16 introduces a new Bluetooth menu. You’ll now see a PNG of your connected and saved Bluetooth devices, provided it is available in Google’s database. Tapping on Device details will also reveal a new circular battery indicator around the device itself.
5. Notification Cooldown Makes a Comeback in Android 16
Notification Cooldown first appeared in Android 15 DP1 but was removed in later updates. Now, the feature makes its return in Android 16 DP1, complete with a refined menu that explains how it works. If you don’t recall, Notification Cooldown silences repeated alerts received within a short period, reducing the annoyance of constant notifications.
6. Android 16 Modes Replaces Do Not Disturb
Adopting a ‘Focus’-like approach similar to iOS, Android 16 replaces Do Not Disturb with new Modes. You can still manage DND as before, but now you can create custom modes with unique icons and tailor their behavior to suit your preferences. Whether for bedtime, work, gaming, or weekends, these modes are fully customizable and accessible from quick settings.
7. Live Updates
Android 16 Beta 1 introduces support for live updates, allowing apps to display live notifications for ongoing tasks. For example, you can see a progress bar showing the time remaining until an order arrives at your doorstep. This feature also works for navigation, timers, and other useful tasks. It’s exciting to see Google embrace this trend that many phone makers have been aiming for.
Several phone makers are trying to replicate the live activities feature Apple introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro. OnePlus and Samsung, with their Now bar, are implementing similar features. However, both lack third-party support, which limits their functionality.
8. Darker Media Playback Artwork
A new addition in Android 16 Beta 4 is the darker album art when playing music or video in the background. This is a welcome update, as it not only helps highlight the media controls in the notification but also enhances the lock screen display.
9. Enhanced Now Playing in Android 16
Android 16 introduces a new Enhanced Now Playing option in the Settings menu. It automatically fetches album art for all recognized songs. Additionally, there’s an option to select your default music player, allowing you to play the identified song directly.
10. Gesture Navigation Demo
A new demo option has been added under gesture navigation settings in Android 16. This feature is designed to help new users who struggle with the gesture-based navigation style. It provides a step-by-step guide to help them master the best way to use Android. This feature was introduced with the recent Beta 4 update.
11. Themed Icons No Longer in “Beta”
With the latest Beta 4, Google has officially removed the beta tag from the themed icon toggle. You can now find it in the Wallpapers and Style section, where it had previously been labeled as a beta feature since Android 12. However, no additional changes were observed with this update.
11. APV Codec Support in Android 16
Phone cameras are improving rapidly, and to take full advantage of their capabilities, Android 16 introduces support for the APV codec. APV (Advanced Protection Video), developed by Samsung, offers near-RAW or lossless video quality, ideal for professional-grade post-production.
Google has added support for the APV 422-10 Profile, which includes YUV 422 color sampling, 10-bit encoding, and bitrates of up to 2 Gbps. It also brings support for multi-view video, auxiliary audio, and HDR 10/HDR 10+ content.
12. Screen Off Fingerprint Unlock Feature in Android 16
Android 16 takes full advantage of the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor included with the Pixel 9 series. Google is testing a Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock option in Android 16 DP2, allowing you to unlock your device even when the screen is off. However, you’ll need to enable this feature from the settings. To do so, go to Settings > Security & Privacy > Device unlock > Face & Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock.
13. New Options in App Long Press Menu
Another change in Android 16 Beta 4 is that long-pressing an app’s icon in the recents page now reveals more options than before. There’s a new “Close” option to instantly quit the app, a “Select” option to copy a photo or line of text, and a “Screenshot” option to quickly capture the current screen of the app.
14. Wi-Fi Sharing Gets a New Look
Android 16 also updates the visual appearance of the Wi-Fi sharing QR code. Previously in a simple square, it is now animated and features a more curved design, giving it a more appealing look. While the change seems primarily aesthetic, it’s unclear if there are any practical reasons behind it.
15. Resizable Apps on Tablets and Foldables
With Android 16, Google is becoming stricter with developers by no longer allowing apps to restrict themselves to the same dimensions as a smartphone when used on larger displays. This change aims to resolve the frustrating issue where apps wouldn’t properly resize on tablets or foldables.
Developers will also need to ensure their apps are optimized for the expanded form, though they can opt out if they need more time to make these adjustments.
16. 7-Day Privacy Dashboard
The Privacy Dashboard on Android previously displayed a graph of apps and their accessed permissions over the last 24 hours. With Android 16, this has been expanded to show data for the past 7 days, giving you a better understanding of app behavior. To access this, tap the 3-dots icon at the top right and select “Show 7 days.”
17. Set Default Measurement System
Starting with Android 16, you no longer have to worry about switching between the imperial and metric systems when downloading an app. The OS now includes a native option to set your preferred measurement system. You can find this option under System > Language & region > Measurement system.
18. Set Double-Press Power Button Action
Another new option in this update is the ability to set the default action for double-pressing the power button. Previously, it could only be set to launch the camera app, but now it also allows you to open Google Wallet on Pixel devices. I can see this feature expanding to include more apps, so I could quickly access Snapchat when I need to take a quick Snap.
19. New Profile Switcher Widget in Android 16
Multiple profiles are one of Android’s most underrated features, often underused due to their lack of accessibility. To address this, Android 16 introduces a new “Switch Profile” widget that you can add to your home screen, allowing you to easily switch between your phone’s profiles.
20. App List Shortcut for Home Screen
The App List shortcut opens the app drawer when you long-press the home screen. It’s unclear why this was added, as you can already access the app drawer by simply swiping up instead of long-pressing and selecting the shortcut. This might be a bug or an unfinished feature introduced in Beta 4, which could be removed in the final release.
21. Embedded Photo Picker in Android 16
Android 16 introduces new APIs for the photo picker tool, making it easier for developers to integrate it into their apps. For those unfamiliar, the photo picker is a pop-up menu that allows you to select specific photos or videos for upload, rather than granting access to all your files. Google is also adding a search option to the tool, making it simpler to find your images.
22. Hybrid Auto Exposure Control for Camera Apps
The second Android 16 beta introduces changes to Hybrid Auto exposure control, enabling developers to manually adjust various aspects of camera exposure, along with precise tint and color adjustments for motion photos. Additionally, support for UltraHDR photos in HEIC format is now available.
23. Health Connect App Improvements
If you use Google’s Health Connect app, Android 16 DP1 brings significant improvements. It now allows apps to read and write your medical records in FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) format, a standard for exchanging electronic health records between apps. However, apps will need user permission to access or write medical records in Health Connect.
24. Predictive Back Gesture in More Places
Android 16 will mandate third-party apps to support the predictive back gesture that was introduced in Android 15. Specifically, apps targeting Android 16 will need to include animations for back-to-home, cross-task, and cross-activity gestures. Additionally, the 3-button navigation now supports predictive back gestures, providing a more consistent experience.
25. New APIs in Android 16
Android 16 introduces an API that allows third-party apps to gain more control over your phone’s haptics, ensuring consistent tactile feedback across system settings. Additionally, the Night Mode Indicator API has been integrated, enabling apps like Instagram and Snapchat to adjust to current lighting conditions and capture better night mode photos.
26. Changes to Privacy Sandbox
Finally, Google has introduced a Privacy Sandbox for the Android module. While the company stated that it “incorporates the latest version,” no specific details about the new changes in the Privacy Sandbox have been shared.
These are all the new features in Android 16 so far. As more updates are released, we will continue to update this list with new features and changes to the OS. If you want to check out the features yourself, learn how to install the Android 16 developer preview. What are your thoughts on these Android 16 features? Let us know in the comments below.
