Android 16 is here, but not everything has been revealed yet. Some of the biggest new features remain behind the scenes, ready to arrive in a future update. And Google has just set the date for this highly anticipated second round.
The rollout of Android 16 has started well on Pixel smartphones, with several new features already visible to users. We find in particular more practical live notifications, an improved multi-window mode on tablets, as well as a reinforced security function called Advanced Protection. The system gains in clarity and efficiency on many points. However, despite this official launch, certain major features remain absent from this first version.
Among them, the new design Material 3 Expressive, already seen in the beta versions, promises a complete visual overhaul of Android. A more rounded interface, dynamic animations, blur effects, new icons and more advanced customization options are on the program. Another highly anticipated new feature: desktop mode, which transforms the smartphone environment into an interface close to a computer, with several windows displayed simultaneously. But for now, none of this is available in the current version.
Desktop mode and Material 3 Expressive are coming in September with Android 16 QPR1
Google has confirmed that these two features will be integrated into Android 16 QPR1, a major update currently in testing. According to information reported by Android Authority, the rollout is scheduled for September 3, 2025, with a source code release expected as early as August 20. These dates remain indicative and may change, as the company has not yet made them official. Curious users can already test parts of the new design and desktop mode via the Android 16 QPR1 beta on compatible Pixel devices. This is an early release that already shows the aesthetic direction Android is taking for the coming months.
At launch, desktop mode will remain limited to Android tablets and disabled by default. You'll need to go through developer options to manually enable it. This limitation suggests that Google wants to further refine this feature before a possible wider rollout. As for Material 3 Expressive, its integration into smartphones from other brands will take time. Most manufacturers often wait several months, or even the next major version of their overlay, to adopt the new visual features. Its arrival on non-Pixel models could therefore not take place until 2026.
0 Comments