#Android 16
19 Stories
Android 16 Screen-Off Fingerprint Feature Expands to Older Google Pixel Phones
Abubakar Mohammed
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Android 16 Beta 3 update didn't bring any major changes, but it enables the screen-off fingerprint feature on other Pixels. The Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock option in the Fingerprint Unlock settings menu allows users to unlock the phone with the screen off. This means, unlike previously where users had to tap to wake up the screen and then use the fingerprint to unlock, they can now just press on the fingerprint sensor region to unlock the phone.
Google Pixels Get a Massive GPU Performance Boost with Android 16 Beta 3
Abubakar Mohammed
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Earlier today, reports of Pixels gaining massive improvements in GPU benchmarks piled up on the r/pixel_phones subreddit. Users are reporting an almost 25% to 60% increase in GeekBench 6 GPU tests on all Tensor-powered Pixels. Out of all the devices, the Google Pixel 7a seems to have gained the most performance, almost doubling the compute score. Android expert Mishaal Rahman believes it's due to the latest ARM Mali GPU drivers that Google is shipping with Android 16 Beta 3. With Google bumping the Mali GPU Kernel driver version to r52p0, which was released in October last year.
Android 16 Beta 3 Is Here with Battery Health, Outline Text, and a New Easter Egg
Abubakar Mohammed
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Android 16 Beta 3 is now rolling out to all Pixel 6 and above devices and fixes a few issues with the previous builds. The update also incorporates the latest March security patch, and the changelog highlights fixes for issues such as battery drain, outdated At a Glance information, performance, and Bluetooth pairing. Besides, it brings a few new features like Auracast support for Pixel 9 series, Outline text, which makes the text easier to read, and Local Network Protection, alongside an easter egg teasing Android 16's Live Activities.
In an FAQ published on the Android Developers Blog, Google has confirmed that lock screen widgets are coming to AOSP for tablets and smartphones after Android 16 QPR1. For those wondering when the update will hit AOSP, it's scheduled for late Summer 2025, which probably means sometime in September this year. Android expert Mishaal Rahman enabled Lock Screen Widgets on his device. The widgets can be accessed by swiping right on the lock screen, just like on the Pixel Tablet.
The latest Android 16 Beta 2 update reveals a potential battery health feature, allowing users to view their battery's current capacity compared to a new one. The feature will be available in Settings > Battery > Battery health, and also includes options for charging optimization and recalibrating battery measurements.
While enthusiasts were expecting big UI improvements like the revamped Quick Settings panel to hit Android 16, that's unfortunately not the case. Android 16 Beta 2 brings a few features but they are mostly minor like a switch user widget, changes to the measurement system, and double press power button to open Wallet.
We have compiled all the new features, updates, and changes that we have seen in the latest Android 16 Beta 2. This includes features like Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock, Notification Cooldown, Bluetooth Audio sharing, and a revamped settings page.
Android 16 Beta 1 Arrives on Google Pixel Devices, Here’s What’s New
Anshuman Jain
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Google has dropped the Android 16 Beta 1 update, and this brings several new changes like force app resizeability will be enabled by default for tablets, support for live updates, Samsung's APV codec and predictive back gesture in third party apps.
Android 16 Could Borrow This Ingenious OxygenOS Feature for Better Multitasking
Anshuman Jain
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The upcoming Android 16 update may bring an improved multitasking experience, with a 90:10 ratio in split screen mode, similar to OnePlus' Open Canvas feature. This would allow users to enlarge one app and keep another open, making it easier to use on smaller devices and focus on a single app.
This New Android 16 Feature Lets You Unlock Your Pixel 9 Faster
Abubakar Mohammed
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Google has added an option in Android 15 DP 2 to unlock using their Pixel 9's fingerprint sensor even when the screen is off. There's a new toggle on the Fingerprint Unlock page "Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock" with the description "Use Fingerprint Unlock even when the screen is off."
Android 16 Developer Preview 2 Released for Pixel Phones: Here’s Everything New
Anshuman Jain
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Google is rolling out the second Developer Preview for Android 16, and it is available for Pixel 6 and above devices. The update brings along minor improvements that are mainly targeted towards Pixel devices like the ability to unlock the phone with the screen off, and enhanced Now Playing feature. It also includes several under the hood improvements.
Android 16’s New API Will Make Your Night Mode Photos Look Much Better
Anshuman Jain
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The upcoming Android 16 update will introduce a Night Mode Indicator API, allowing apps to detect ambient light situations and adjust their camera settings accordingly. This feature will improve low-light photo quality in apps like Instagram and Snapchat, with three distinct values for different lighting conditions.
Android 16 May Help Tame Your Notification Chaos with Gmail-Style Categories
Abubakar Mohammed
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Bundled Notifications on Android will silence and group notifications with similar themes will for a quieter and cleaner experience. Notifications will be categorized just like Gmail categorizes emails across — Promotions, Social, and Recommendations.
Pixel 6 & 6 Pro May Get Android 16 Update Despite End of Support
Abubakar Mohammed
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The Pixel 6 is eligible for Android 16 Developer Preview 1, which could mean that the phone might be eligible for Android 16 update which is rumored to come out in June next year.
How to Install Android 16 Developer Preview on Your Pixel Phone
Abubakar Mohammed
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Android 16 Developer Preview 1 is finally here but doesn't bring many features. However, if you're still interested in trying it out, use the Android Flash Tool and follow to guide to manually install Android 16 DP1 on your Pixel.
Android 16 Release Date Has Already Leaked and It’s Much Earlier than We Thought
Abubakar Mohammed
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The release date for Android 16 is set to be June 3, 2025. This time, Android 16 will be released on the same day on both AOSP and Pixels, unlike Android 15, which rolled out much later after hitting AOSP. The development also means the next flagship from Google - the Pixel 10, will come with Android 16 out of the box.
In the upcoming Android 16, Google could introduce resizable toggles and a separate page for notifications, similar to iOS. The quick settings panel will be able to fit more toggles, up to 16, with resizable tiles. The final version of the QS panel in Android 16 is subject to change, as Google has previously removed features in beta versions.
Android 16, codenamed "Baklava" breaks Google's more than a decade long desert-naming tradition. This change is due to Google's trunk stable project, which started with Android 14 QPR 2 and used 'A' as the first build ID. This new naming scheme may indicate a shift in Android's development direction. The official version will still be denoted by a number.
Android 16’s Quick Settings Could Be a Step Backward and Here’s Why
Abubakar Mohammed
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Google has already started working on Android 16, and one of the first major changes the giant is planning is a complete revamp of Android's notification and Quick Settings panel. Some of the major changes is in the layout, edit panel, and the way of accessing the panel, alongside a new light mode.