As we wait for stable One UI 8, Google releases stable Android 16

[Jenith]

As we wait for Samsung to release the stable One UI 8.0 update for Galaxy devices, Google has released the stable Android 16 update for Pixel phones and tablets.

The software update brings lots of new and improved features. Now that Android 16's stable source code is available in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), Samsung could release the stable One UI 8 update next month with its next foldable phones.

Android 16 released: New and improved features​

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Google announced a few hours ago that it has released the stable Android 16 update for compatible Pixel phones and tablets.

The update brings new features like Live Updates, notifications autogrouping, Samsung DeX-like Desktop Mode, HDR screenshots, better support for adaptive refresh rate, improved taskbar for foldable phones and tablets, better support for Auracast-enabled earbuds and hearing aids, stronger security, and improved battery life.

• • Live Updates: Similar to Apple's Live Activities feature, Live Updates on Android 16 shows updates for ongoing activites and notifications, such the current status of your food delivery or cab.
    
    These types of notifications are currently compatible with maps and navigation apps, food delivery apps, and ride hailing apps. Support for more types of apps will be added in the future.
    
    Live Updates will work with Samsung's Now Bar, which appears on the lock screen, notifications screen, and in the status bar. Google is also working with OnePlus, OPPO, and Xiaomi to make this feature work on their phones.
  • Notifications autogrouping: When multiple notifications are received in an app in a short period of time (a few seconds), they are autogrouped to reduce the clutter from your phone's or tablet's notifications area.
  • Desktop Mode: Google developed Desktop Mode with Samsung's help. Similar to Samsung DeX, it offers a desktop-like UI with freeform windows and side-by-side multitasking.
    
    You can open multiple windows of the same app. It can be accessed directly on a tablet's screen, but to use it from a phone (and foldable), you need to connect it to an external display. It will be available in the third quarter of this year.
  • Custom keyboard shortcuts: Android 16 is better for workflows that require an external keyboard, as it allows you to set custom keyboard shortcuts on tablets when they are paired with a keyboard.
  • HDR screenshots: Capturing screenshots of HDR photos or videos is now better. The screenshot will contain HDR gainmap so that bright and dark areas of the image are displayed in their actual form.
  • Improved taskbar for foldables and tablets: When the taskbar on your foldable phone or tablet is full because too many apps are open, a separate overflow will appear to help you find the app window you need.
  • Better auracast support for earbuds and hearing aids: Generally, LE Audio-compatible hearing aids use front-facing microphones so that you can hear the person you are talking to clearly. But on a phone running Android 16, you can use the phone's microphone to hear yourself clearly while using hearing aids.
  • Stronger security with one tap: With the new Device Protection feature in Android 16, you can enable multiple safeguard options with just one tap. It protects you from sideloading harmful apps, online attacks, and from spam calls and messages.
  • Identity check: Android 16 requires you to enter your biometrics when you try to access critical settings. So, if someone shoulder sniffs your PIN or password and then tries to use your phone after stealing or snatching it, they won't be able to change critical security settings on your phone, as the device needs your registered biometrics to make those changes.
  • Predictive back animations: When you click the back button or use the back gesture to go back to the previous screen, the device shows you a preview of the screen you are going back to. This way, you always know which screen you are going back to.
  • Improved animations and longer battery life: Android 16 makes some under-the-hood changes to improve the smoothness while gaming, scrolling, and animations.
    
    Moerover, adaptive refresh rate automatically adjusts the screen's refresh rate based on the content on the screen. When things are static, it reduces the refresh rate to save power, and when you are scrolling or the content on the screen is moving, it increases the refresh rate.

Most of the features listed above will come in one form or the other to devices compatible with the One UI 8.0 update, if they are not present in One UI already. You can view all the important changes and improvements One UI 8 brings in our video below.

The Material 3 Expressive UI design language that Google showcased at Google I/O 2025 a few days ago is not present in this release of Android 16, and it will come in the third quarter of this year with a minor software update.

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