Google unveils Android 16, rolling out first to Pixel devices

Google announced Android 16, rolling out first to supported Pixel devices with more phone brands to come later this year. This is the earliest Android has launched a major release in the last few years, which ensures you get the latest updates as soon as possible on your devices, the company said. “Android 16 lays the foundation for our new Material 3 Expressive design, with features that make Android more accessible and easy to use,” said Google. “Waiting for your food delivery to get to your house? Instead of opening your delivery app every 5 minutes, live updates keep you informed in real-time. These live updates are starting with compatible ride-share and food delivery apps. We’re working together with these app partners to bring this capability to the Android ecosystem, including in Samsung’s Now Bar and OPPO and OnePlus’ Live Alerts. We’re also force-grouping notifications that come from a single app to help reduce information overload. Your notifications will automatically be grouped together to keep things looking tight and organized. Android 16 provides significant enhancements for people who use hearing aids . Current LE audio hearing devices use their built-in front-facing mics for audio input. Those mics are designed to pick up the sound of the person you’re speaking to – not the sound of your voice. Now you can switch to using your phone’s microphone for clearer calls in noisy environments. We’re also releasing native control for hearing devices in Android 16 for easier access and a more consistent experience. This means you can now control things like volume on your hearing devices right from your Android phone.”