Google is speeding up its Android release cycle. The company released Android 16’s Developer Preview in November 2024 and its beta version in January 2025. This rapid development puts Android 16 on track to launch in Q2 2025, beating the usual August release timeline.
Several smartphone brands are already testing Android 16. Google’s Pixel series leads the pack with 13 models participating, including the Pixel 9 series and some older devices like the Pixel 6. Xiaomi and OnePlus are also on board with their flagship devices – the Xiaomi 15 and 14T Pro, and the OnePlus 13.
Android 16’s New Features
The latest Android version brings several exciting features. For instance, Live Updates will display important notifications on the lock screen and status bar, making them harder to miss. This is similar to iOS’s Live Activities feature. Android 16 also enhances user privacy by limiting app access to media files. Apps will only be able to access the images and videos that users choose to upload.
Other notable features include:
- Health Connect, which lets users store their health data in one place
- Deeper integration of Gemini AI
- The return of lock screen widgets, a feature that was removed in Android 5.0 Lollipop back in 2014
