Google has started rolling out the stable version of Android 16 to compatible Pixel smartphones. Other smartphones will start receiving the system a little later.
The update brings a number of changes to notifications, camera, security, and features, but does not include the main visual update — the Material 3 Expressive interface and a new desktop mode. They are expected to launch in early September as part of Android 16 QPR1, writes Android Authority.
Android 16 introduces support for Live Updates — interactive notifications with a progress bar, for example, for delivery or taxi. Automatic grouping of notifications from one application has also been implemented. For hearing aid users, LE Audio support and the ability to switch to the smartphone microphone have been added.
The update also expands the functionality of the Google ecosystem: improved group chats in RCS, new AI-based features have been added to Google Photos, an expanded set of stickers in Emoji Kitchen, and the ability to pay for transportation via Wear OS without opening separate applications.
The security menu now integrates protection against malicious apps, scam calls, and dangerous websites. The camera has improved night mode, auto exposure, and white balance, and added support for UltraHDR with HEIC encoding and the professional APV video codec.
The upcoming Material 3 Expressive UI, which was previewed in previous beta builds, will bring new animations, color schemes, updated typography, buttons, a quick settings panel, and background blur. Some of these changes are already available in the Android 16 QPR1 beta, with a full rollout planned for Q3 (25Q3), around September 3.
At that time, Google will launch Desktop Mode. It includes support for connecting to external displays, a taskbar, a windowed interface, multi-session management, mouse dragging between screens, and saving the state of the desktop environment. Currently, the feature is only available in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 for Pixel 8 and later models.
