Google has officially kicked off the Android 16 journey with the release of Developer Preview (DP) builds, giving us an early look at what the next major update to the world’s most popular mobile operating system has in store. These initial releases offer a glimpse into some exciting new features and enhancements, setting the stage for Android 16 to refine and expand the user experience. While it’s still early days, and much more is likely to be revealed in the coming months, here’s a roundup of everything we know so far about Android 16.
Table of contents
- Android 16 codename
- Expected release date
- Confirmed new features
- Leaked features
- What it means for Samsung users
Android 16 codename
Historically, Google used dessert codenames for major Android versions. You might remember Android Nougat (7), Android Oreo (8), and Android Pie (9). However, starting with Android 10, the company dropped the codename from the official branding, though the codenames exist internally. Android 13 was Tiramisu, Android 14 was Upside Down Cake, and Android 15 was Vanilla Ice Cream.
These codenames aren’t selected randomly but in alphabetical order. As such, Android 16’s codename should have started with a “W”. Google could have called it “Waffle,” but it didn’t. Instead, the company has codenamed the next version “Baklava”. This shift is primarily due to changes in the backend Android development process. Google might be looking to realign its dessert-themed codenames starting with Android 16.
Expected release date
Google has officially confirmed that Android 16 will be released in Q2 2025. A more precise timeline isn’t available but we might be looking at a May or June rollout of the stable version. Google usually holds its I/O annual developer conference in May, and that’s a great stage to announce the big update. However, a recent leak revealed the company has set its release for June 3, though no other source has backed up this information. Maybe the conference will be delayed until June, time will tell.
Ahead of the stable Android 16 release, Google will drop multiple developer preview versions and beta builds. Well, it has already launched two DP builds. it is expected to follow up with four public beta releases from January 2025 through April/May 2025 — possibly one each every month until March. The first two beta builds will focus on user feedback on new features and enhancements, while the last two will focus on platform stability.
This is a major shift from the usual timeline of late Q3 or early Q4 release of new Android versions. To look back, the first DP builds for both Android 14 and Android 15 arrived in February. Their stable versions dropped in October and September, respectively. As such, Android 16 is ahead of the schedule by over three months.
However, this isn’t the end of the story. Google plans a second Android 16 release in Q4 2025. It will be a minor release containing feature updates, optimizations, and bug fixes, as well as new developer APIs that do not impact app behavior changes. It’s unclear whether Google will call it Android 16.1, Android 16.5, or simply Android 16.
Confirmed new features
The first Android 16 developer preview didn’t contain much. Google announced three major new features: Embedded Photo Picker, Health Records, and Privacy Sandbox. But the DP2 added more user-facing changes. We have explained those all below.
Embedded photo picker
While Android has long included a photo picker, many apps avoid using it, likely because of its complexity. The current implementation forces the picker to appear in a separate overlay, preventing seamless integration into apps. With Android 16, new APIs allow developers to embed the photo picker directly within their apps, making it feel like a natural part of the app’s interface.
This update aligns with Google’s efforts to restrict unnecessary access to users’ photo libraries. By making the photo picker more accessible and intuitive, Android 16 may encourage developers to adopt it, enhancing user privacy and security. It also gives developers freedom to creatively integrate the photo picker with their app’s design, rather than offer a generic overlay that looks the same across all apps.
Health records
Android 16 brings a significant update to Health Connect, enabling it to read and write Electronic Health Records (EHRs) using the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard. This widely used format ensures compatibility across various healthcare systems and settings, streamlining the exchange of medical records for improved flexibility and convenience.
Given the sensitivity of handling health data, Google is introducing this feature through an early access program, requiring developers to apply for permission before utilizing it. This approach aims to maintain robust data security while encouraging the adoption of FHIR standards in health-related apps.
Privacy Sandbox
Android 16 incorporates the latest version of Privacy Sandbox, continuing Google’s push to improve online advertising while protecting user privacy. It uses anonymized data and processes information on your device to deliver personalized content without tracking you. This approach balances user privacy with the needs of advertisers and complies with changing data privacy rules.
Predictive back updates
The second developer preview allows developers to enable predictive back system animations in gesture navigation. “The system can trigger specific behaviors and play corresponding ahead-of-time animations when the back gesture is invoked,” Google explains.
Richer haptics
Android 16 offers richer haptics across various apps. Developers can “define the amplitude and frequency curves of a haptic effect,” enabling more complex haptic effects.
Adaptive refresh rate
Android 16 introduces new APIs for adaptive refresh rate (ARR). It enables developers to implement ARR more effectively on their apps. ARR helps save the battery by dynamically adjusting the screen refresh rate depending on the usage scenario.
Enhanced security
Google has made Android more secure with additional security features. New security enhancements enable safer Android applications in proximity use cases, such as unlocking a laptop or a vehicle door via your Android-powered device.
Leaked Android 16 features
Google’s Quaretely Platform Release (QPR) updates for Pixel phones introduce new features that eventually roll out to other devices in the next Android update. The beta testing of the first Android 15 QPR update has already begun, offering a preview of what Android 16 has in store for non-Pixel devices.
Before we dive deeper into Android 15 QPR1 Beta builds, let us tell you that Google could remove some features from subsequent builds. They may or may not return later. As such, some features listed here may not make it to Android 16. Moreover, some QPR features are exclusive to Pixels — Google won’t release those with Android 16.
Block old notifications
The second Android 15 QPR1 beta introduced a new feature that automatically blocks old notifications when you boot a device after several days. Notifications more than two weeks old won’t bug you with sound and vibrations. You may get less intrusive alerts, though. This is a helpful feature for those who have multiple Android devices signed in with the same Google account but don’t use them all regularly. They won’t be bombarded with notifications when they turn on the less frequently used device.
Compact notification headers
Android 16 may not bother you with large notification headers on the screen when watching full-screen videos. Google has shrunk the font size and hidden images for compact headers, with a dropdown arrow letting you expand the view. You can still reply from the compact headers.
Bubble stashing
The floating bubbles for messaging apps can be stashed to the side of the screen so they occupy less space. On Android 15 or older, these bubbles are fully visible. While you can hide them completely, there’s no way to partially hide the bubbles.
Notification cooldown
Notification cooldown automatically lowers the volume and minimizes alerts if you receive multiple notifications in quick succession. This can happen when you connect your phone to the internet after some time and you receive several messages or social media notifications at once. Calls and alarms aren’t affected.
Hide sensitive notifications
Android 16 may automatically hide sensitive notifications on the lockscreen. If the system detects sensitive information such as OTPs in a notification, it hides the info, only showing a brief alert.
(Mishaal Rahman/Android Authority)
Desktop mode for tablets
Android tablets can be used in Desktop mode, allowing freeform resizing of app windows. You can run multiple apps simultaneously in freeform windows, resize them, drag them to the side, and switch between them at a click, just like how Windows computers allow you to adjust app windows.
Richer status bar icons for live apps
Android 16 could show additional information for live apps in the status bar. The clock app can show a timer for your next alarm, navigation apps can show the estimated time to your destination, and ride-hailing apps can show your pickup time. It’s mostly an expansion of how the dialer app shows the duration of the ongoing call in the status bar. Google is opening this feature to more apps with Android 16. For example, the screen recorder and screen caster indicator chips in the status bar now show the timer.
Partial recording of multiple apps
Android 15 introduced the ability to partially record your screen, only showing the app you are recording and hiding everything else. However, this feature prevents you from recording multiple apps, as all your touches outside the selected app are automatically hidden. Android 16 could bring a solution. You might be able to switch apps while recording. Screen recording will automatically pause when you move from one app to another until you manually resume it.
Gemini on the lockscreen
Android 16 may let you access Google Gemini from your lockscreen. Google is developing a shortcut to summon the AI assistant directly from the lockscreen.
App bubbles
Android 16 is expected to support bubbles for all apps, not just messaging apps. You can press and hold on any app on the home screen to open it in a floating bubble, similar to your conversations. This lets you open an app on top of another and minimize it to a bubble anytime. With the aforementioned bubble stashing, this feature makes a lot of sense.
Launch voice assistant from the corner
A new swipe gesture in Android 16 will let you launch the default voice assistant by swiping up diagonally from the corner when using three-button navigation. This comes in handy as the long press of the home button is now used to invoke Circle to Search.
On top of these, Google has made several other smaller changes to Android OS, including enhancements for widgets. Since most Android OEMs offer a custom skin, these UI changes may vary depending on the device you use. Samsung’s One UI is already a highly customized Android fork. Android 15-based One UI 7.0 brings more customizations.
What does Android 16 mean to Samsung users?
An early release of Android 16 should bring One UI 8.0 earlier than this year. Samsung took longer than usual to release One UI 7.0 beta. It isn’t expected to begin the stable rollout before the January end, which means the update is delayed by over three months compared to One UI 6.0 last year.
One UI 7.0 Landscape Layout
However, starting next year, Samsung should be back on track. We expect the company to start the One UI 8.0 stable rollout before the end of 2025, with the beta programs opening in the third quarter. There’s still a long way to go. We will regularly update this article to reflect new Android 16 discoveries and Samsung’s One UI 8.0 development plans.
