Android 16 is arriving earlier than expected and is transforming the way we use our mobile phones every day. Real-time notifications, clearer calls, and computer-style multitasking: the update is a game-changer. Here's everything you need to know about this major new version.
Each new version of Android brings its share of adjustments, but some editions stand out more than others. This is the case with Android 16, which is now available on compatible Pixel devices, from the Pixel 6a to the Pixel 9 Pro, including the Pro Fold 9 and the Tablet. Other models will follow in the coming weeks and months. This year, Google has chosen to offer the new features earlier than usual, starting in June.
Android 16 introduces improvements on several fronts. The goal is to simplify the use of smartphones and tablets on a daily basis. One of the key points concerns notifications, with information displayed in real time and better grouped together. Audio also benefits from adjustments for hearing aid users. On the tablet side, multitasking is more flexible, inspired by what we find on computers. 
Android 16 consolidates notifications, facilitates calls and optimizes multitasking on tablets
Among the new features, we find the arrival of “live updates” in notifications. This allows you to follow an order or a journey without opening an application. Android 16 also automatically groups messages from the same app, which makes the display clearer. For people with hearing aids, the system now allows you to switch to the phone's microphone during calls, to hear better in noisy environments. Specific controls are also accessible from the settings.
Tablets running Android 16 gain flexibility thanks to the new desktop-style multi-window mode. It becomes possible to open multiple applications, move them around, or resize them freely. Other features will arrive later this year, such as custom keyboard shortcuts and the taskbar overflow menu. 
Android 16 prepares the arrival of the new Material 3 Expressive design and strengthens security
Google is also preparing the arrival of the Material 3 Expressive design, expected in the next update Android 16 QPR1. This new graphic style changes the overall appearance of the system. The window corners are more rounded, the icons more readable and the multitasking menus are more visual. Quick settings are becoming more flexible, with larger tiles depending on your preferences. The app drawer is also changing layout, as is the home grid. Its rollout is planned for September on compatible Pixel devices.
Android 16 also offers a feature called Advanced Protection, designed for users who are most at risk or who want to strengthen their smartphone's security. It automatically activates several settings with a single tap. It prevents the installation of applications from unknown sources, blocks connections to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, and disables USB transfers to prevent unauthorized access. The Chrome browser has become stricter by requiring the HTTPS protocol and disabling JavaScript, in order to limit the risks associated with booby-trapped web pages. This mode also filters suspicious calls and fraudulent messages. Once enabled, this protection applies without the possibility of changing the settings individually.
Here is a summary of the main new features of Android 16:
- Live notifications (real-time tracking)
- Automatic notification grouping
- Phone microphone usable with hearing aids
- Hearing aid settings integrated into Android
- Free multi-window mode on tablet
- Keyboard shortcuts and taskbar menu (planned later)
- New Material 3 Expressive design (rolling out in September)
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