Kerry Wan/ZDNET
Android 16 is officially here, and Google has some big upgrades on the way.
Instead of releasing a new OS and a new phone lineup at the same time, Google is making the same move it did with Android 15 and giving both software and hardware their time to shine.
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This is the earliest Google has launched a major Android release in a while (for comparison, Android 15 was released on Oct. 15, 2024, and Android 14 was released on Oct. 4, 2023).
Here's a look at four of the biggest upgrades in Android 16. All of these features will drop for Pixel devices first, including models as old as the Pixel 6 and 7 series, and other devices later in the year.
1. Streamlined updates and lock screen app updates:
Don't want to unlock your phone every time you check to see when your late-night food order is arriving? Feeling uneasy in a new city and want to make sure your ride-share is close? Streamlined app updates give you the ability to see real-time updates from your lock screen. Google says it's working with app partners to bring this capability to Android, including in Samsung's Now Bar and OnePlus' Live Alerts.
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Google says it's also automatically grouping notifications that come from a single app to make sure you don't get information overload.
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