Android 16, covering its release, key features, and who’s eligible:
📅 Release & Eligibility
Android 16 (codename Baklava) officially arrived on June 10, 2025, via OTA for Google Pixel 6/6a and newer, alongside its AOSP source drop . Following Pixel, a wider rollout is underway to flagships from Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, vivo and more . Notable Pixel compatibility includes Pixel 6–9 series, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet .
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✨ What’s New
1. Live Updates & Smarter Notifications
Live, persistent notifications for ride‑shares, deliveries, and navigation (e.g., Blinkit, Zepto, Uber), instantly visible on lock screen, status bar, and OEM overlay like Samsung’s Now Bar .
Auto-grouping streamlines notification clutter .
2. Material 3 Expressive UI (Layground)
Foundations for dynamic theming, refined animations, rich color palette, haptic sliders, and Quick Settings improvements now, with full rollout later in 2025 .
3. Multitasking & Desktop Mode
Windowed multitasking support for large-screen devices (tablets/foldables/external displays), including multi‑window movement, resizing and keyboard shortcuts—modeled after DeX .
4. Accessibility & Hearing Aid Enhancements
LE Audio hearing aid improvements: select the phone mic for calls and adjust volume directly .
High‑contrast “outline text” improves readability .
5. Privacy & Security
Advanced Protection mode: blocks harmful apps/websites, scam calls, USB lockdown, offline lock, Factory Reset Protection loop .
Under‑the‑hood privacy enhancements: anti‑scam, intent‑redirection defense, Privacy Sandbox, and selective media picker .
6. Developer & Media Upgrades
Support for night‑scene camera, Ultra‑HDR, HEIC, AGSL filters, profiling APIs, JobScheduler improvements, 16 KB page‑size adoption, adaptive refresh rate, and predictive back (even with three‑button navigation) .
Health Connect integration supports FHIR-based EHR records .
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🛠 How to Get Android 16
Pixel: Go to Settings → System → System Update and check for OTA .
Non-Pixel: Watch for vendor timelines—Samsung One UI 8 and others expected mid‑late 2025 .
Developers: Android 16 SDK/API level 36 is available; a polished Material 3 Expressive SDK update is set for Q3–Q4 2025 .
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This major release marks the earliest Android debut in recent years, delivering enhanced real-time engagement, productivity, security, and accessibility—while laying the groundwork for a more expressive, AI-integrated future.
Would you like a closer look at any element—such as the Live Updates roadmap, desktop mode, or developer tools?
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