Forward of Google I/O 2025, the corporate gave us a teaser of what Android 16 will deliver at a brand new occasion dubbed “The Android Show.” However should you thought Google would spill all of the juicy particulars early, nicely… not fairly.
In a particular Android I/O version on Tuesday, Google confirmed what virtually everybody already knew: Android 16 is getting a UI glow-up known as Materials 3 Expressive. Past that, the presentation pivoted arduous into Gemini AI — totally on gadgets apart from your telephone or laptop computer — and doubled as a glorified promo reel for the Galaxy S25 Edge and different latest Android-powered {hardware}.
Try the brand new homescreens for Android 16 and WearOS.
Credit score: Google
Was it underwhelming? Sort of. However to offer credit score the place it’s due: Materials 3 Expressive is fairly rattling handsome. What we noticed throughout the stream regarded bouncy, fluid, and unapologetically vibrant, like if Company Memphis artwork stopped making an attempt so arduous to be quirky and simply leaned into the enjoyable.
Fingers crossed we get extra particulars throughout the massive I/O keynote on Could 20.
Mashable Mild Pace
This is what we find out about Android 16
The brand new Android 16 UI will probably be extra colourful and animated.
Credit score: Google
The one actual characteristic price getting mildly enthusiastic about? Display-off fingerprint unlock is lastly coming to older Pixels. As soon as unique to the Pixel 9 in early developer builds, this slick unlock technique now works all the way in which again to the Pixel 6, together with the 6a, 7, and eight collection. No extra tapping the display screen simply to scan your finger.
Proper now, this biometric characteristic is just reside on Android 16 Beta 3. And if this replace is any indication, Android 16 isn’t aiming to reinvent the wheel. It’s extra about smoothing out the experience — tweaks, polish, and quality-of-life upgrades that quietly patch up the friction factors left behind by Android 15.
The total model is slated to land someday earlier than the tip of June, based on Google.
What else is completely different with Android 16 vs. Android 15? Listed below are a number of the further adjustments we find out about to this point:
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A brand new look courtesy of Materials 3 Expressive UI updates
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New accessibility options for instruments reminiscent of TalkBack
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Digicam enhancements reminiscent of improved temperature/tint changes, new hybrid auto-exposure modes, additional assist for UltraHDR photographs
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Photograph picker enhancements for apps that use this characteristic
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Third-party apps will be capable of disable AI writing instruments
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Higher night-mode detection in picture/video apps
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Auracast broadcast audio assist for suitable listening to aids (particularly for Pixel 9 gadgets)
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Improved textual content distinction
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Extra Gemini options, although particulars are scarce to this point
