Pixel users could soon enjoy a long-requested improvement. Android 16 is quietly preparing a new feature already available on Samsung and OnePlus. Here's what could soon change.
For several years, many Android smartphones have offered practical gestures to control the screen. On Samsung or OnePlus devices, for example, it is possible to turn it off with a simple double tap. A simple but effective function, which Pixel owners are nevertheless missing. Until now, only double-tap activation was available by default. This forced users to look for alternative solutions via third-party applications or specific modules.
With Android 16, Google finally seems determined to fill this gap on its own devices. According to a report from Android Authority, the latest beta version of the system hides a new function that allows you to turn off the screen with a double tap. This option is not yet officially enabled in the settings, but some developers have managed to force it using specific tools. This discovery shows that the company is actively preparing an improvement that Pixel users have been waiting for for several years. Android 16 brings double-tap screen-off functionality to Pixel phones. There is still uncertainty about exactly how this new gesture will be implemented. It is unclear whether the double tap will be limited to empty areas of the home screen, only on the lock screen, or available everywhere. On Samsung Galaxy phones, for example, this gesture offers great flexibility; it works on both the lock screen and the home screen. If Google follows this pattern, it would make using the Pixel even more enjoyable, especially on recent models like the Pixel 8, Pixel 9, and Pixel 9 Pro.
Unfortunately, everything indicates that this feature will not be present from the official launch of Android 16 in June. According to specialists, it should be added during the first quarterly update planned for the fall. Other new features are also expected to arrive at the same time, including improvements to the lock screen, new features related to parental controls via Family Link, and perhaps other surprises intended to make this version of the OS richer over the months. Pixel users will therefore have to wait a little longer before fully enjoying all the promised new features.
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