After a number of months of testing, Android 15 made it to secure launch, and the replace is now rolling out to eligible Pixel units. Google showcased dozens of latest options within the beta testing section, however like earlier years, not all options made it to the secure construct. Both they don’t seem to be totally prepared, or Google determined to carry again options till later releases.
This was the case with the predictive again gesture, which confirmed up initially within the Android 13 beta however is simply rolling out extensively with Android 15. Whereas Android 16 continues to be a number of months away — the preliminary preview builds ought to go stay on the finish of February 2025 — we all know an honest quantity concerning the subsequent model of Android.
Which units will get Android 16?
Android 16 will make its solution to extra units than simply about some other Android model. With most manufacturers now providing no less than three Android OS updates to their finances and mid-range telephones, Android 16 can be out there to most units launched within the final two years. Funds telephones have been ignored for a lot too lengthy, and the truth that they are going to get long-term updates is a giant deal.
In relation to Google’s personal units, all Pixels beginning with the Pixel 7 sequence will have the ability to swap to Android 16. That leaves out the Pixel 6, 6 Professional, and all older Pixels, however these units will proceed to get characteristic updates and safety patches. With Google now guaranteeing seven years of software program updates — even on the mid-range Pixel 8a — updates aren’t going to be an issue sooner or later.
What’s Android 16’s inside codename?
Google used dessert names with Android variations prior to now, and whereas it does not achieve this any longer — that ended with Android 10 — it nonetheless maintains inside codenames. Android 15 was Vanilla Ice Cream, and with Android 16, you’d assume Google to go together with a dessert that begins with the letter W, like waffle.
As a substitute, Android 16 has an inside codename dubbed Baklava. Google is altering the way it’s assigning the codenames for Android releases, and whereas it is nonetheless sustaining dessert-based monikers, it successfully began over.
New options coming to Android 16
Notification cooldown turns down the noise
Notification cooldown is a superb new characteristic that lowers the amount of incoming notifications while you get successive notifications from throughout the identical app. So in case you’re in a bunch chat and begin getting fixed notifications, your telephone robotically lowers the amount of subsequent notifications.
What’s nice is which you can choose this setting for simply conversations, or all apps. As somebody who does not like getting many notification alerts (I exploit DND many of the day), it is a nice new addition, and one which I’ll use to good impact.
An precise desktop mode
Samsung has DeX mode on its high-end units, however the model is an outlier on this regard, and most Android units do not have a desktop mode. That will change with Android 16; later Android 15 beta builds had a desktop mode with app home windows, and whereas it is not out there within the secure construct, it is clear that Google is engaged on enabling a desktop mode in Android.
Samsung’s characteristic continues to be significantly better; the model has been tweaking DeX for practically half a decade now, and it’s a mature platform. That stated, I am very excited to see a local desktop mode make its solution to Android 16.
Restrict charging to 80%
This characteristic was out there within the Android 15 beta, however there isn’t any point out of it within the secure launch. The charging optimization mode is within the Android 15 QPR1 construct, so Google will possible roll it out with that replace, or push it to the broader Android 16 launch.
Because the title suggests, the characteristic permits you to restrict the battery to 80%, prolonging its longevity significantly. Whereas a number of producers have this characteristic in their very own pores and skin, it makes to see it baked into Android natively.
Audio sharing must be simpler in Android 16
One other new characteristic that confirmed up in preliminary Android 15 betas however is not out there within the secure launch is the flexibility to solid music to a number of Bluetooth units on the identical time. The Audio sharing sub-menu is situated throughout the Related units web page, and it helps you to solid music to a couple of Bluetooth machine at a time. I actually needed to see this characteristic in Android 15, however given how buggy it was, it is clear that Google is pushing it to subsequent yr.
Android 16 is coming quickly
We do not have to attend too lengthy to get an preliminary preview into Android 16. Google normally rolls out a dev preview in Q1, and whereas the early builds are buggy and do not have a lot in the best way of latest options, they act as the muse for additional testing.
Google hasn’t modified its beta program in practically a decade, and that is unlikely to be the case subsequent yr. Meaning we must always get the general public beta builds round Could, with a secure launch in This fall. In fact, that is all conjecture at this level, and we’ll know extra as soon as Google begins rolling out preview builds of Android 16.
