What we know so far about upcoming features

Google switched issues up with Android 15 when it determined to decouple the platform replace from the Pixel 9 sequence. That call gave each the software program and {hardware} their very own respiratory room and unbiased timelines. With the official steady Android 15 replace now out for the Pixel lineup, it’s time to sit up for what Google is cooking up for Android 16. Right here’s what we learn about Android 16 and the options we anticipate to see within the upcoming replace in 2025.

Android 16: Title

Google used to call Android variations with dessert codenames, but it surely strayed away from that custom with the discharge of Android 10, selecting to stay with solely the model quantity for all future releases. Consequently, Android 16 can be identified merely as “Android 16,” with no dessert codename formally used.

Nonetheless, Google nonetheless makes use of the dessert codename internally. Android 16’s inside codename leaked just lately as Baklava. That is attention-grabbing as a result of Android 15’s codename was Vanilla Ice Cream, so that you’d assume Android 16 can be often called one thing that begins with a “W” (“Waffle” would have been a superb one). So why did Google bounce from “V” all the best way again to “B?” It’s a bit sophisticated, but it surely primarily entails massive modifications to Android’s backend.

Android 16 launch timeline

Google has confirmed that Android 16 is coming sooner than ordinary, corroborating our launch date leak. The corporate has formally introduced that the subsequent main launch of Android will launch in Q2 2025. This pertains to Android 16, indicating we might see a launch in April, Might, or June 2025.

Additional, the corporate has additionally talked about its intentions of releasing extra minor updates to the Android OS. For this, Google has deliberate a minor launch in This autumn 2024, i.e., for Android 16, presumably taking the form of Android 16 QPR2.

Google has additionally talked about that it’ll “quickly start the developer preview and beta program for the Q2 main launch”

It is a stark departure from Android’s historical past, as Google normally releases main variations of Android in Q3 or This autumn of every yr. However there was nothing forcing Google to comply with this timeline — the corporate was merely following a launch cadence it had settled in over greater than a decade.

Whereas Google has not but shared any particulars about Android 16, we will begin portray an image of what we’ll get with the subsequent replace, because of Google’s QPR updates.

Google’s QPR updates and what they inform us about future Android releases

The Android platform follows an annual launch schedule, which OEMs and the world at giant have entry to. Google additionally follows a second public launch schedule for its Pixel gadgets within the type of QPR updates. QPR refers to Quarterly Platform Launch, which is an replace monitor the place updates are launched as soon as each three months (quarter). So, we typically get an annual Android platform replace on Pixels, adopted by three QPR releases, after which the subsequent annual Android platform replace.

Whereas the options included within the Android platform replace are closing and obtainable to the world, options launched within the QPR updates can be found to Pixel gadgets till the subsequent Android platform replace incorporates them. Additional, Google additionally runs a separate beta program for the QPRs months upfront.

This provides us conditions the place we will check out new options which might be coming to Android 16 (by checking them out in Android 15 QPR1 betas) earlier than the steady Android 15 replace is even launched! Additional QPR betas give us much more options that may be chalked to the subsequent platform launch.

Because of this, we have now a listing of options which might be coming to approaching Android 15 QPR releases for Pixel gadgets, that are additionally prone to be added to the subsequent Android platform replace, Android 16. Let’s verify them out!

Desktop windowing

We’ve talked about desktop windowing earlier than as a leak, however Google formally launched the characteristic in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 for the Pixel Pill. Google’s announcement doesn’t point out the discharge timeline, however we anticipate to see the characteristic within the wider Android 16 launch.

Desktop windowing permits customers to run a number of apps concurrently and resize app home windows, similar to we’re used to doing on standard desktops.

Google has mounted the taskbar’s place to the underside of the display screen. It will possibly now present operating apps and apps pinned by the person. There’s additionally a brand new header bar, which homes window controls.

Along with the introduced characteristic, there’s a brand new hidden toggle referred to as Allow desktop mode on secondary show, which replaces the previous Drive desktop mode toggle.

Redesigned Settings homepage

Android 15 Beta 3 included clues for a redesigned Settings homepage, however the modifications didn’t go dwell in later betas. The brand new settings structure did go dwell in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, indicating that it’s probably on monitor for an Android 16 launch.

On the left is an instance of how the top-level web page seems on Android 14 and the suitable picture exhibits the brand new structure in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2.

Wealthy Ongoing Notifications

As we discovered from clues inside Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3, Android 16 might introduce Wealthy Ongoing Notifications, a brand new API that lets apps present extra than simply an icon within the standing bar. The API will let apps create chips with their very own textual content and background coloration that dwell within the standing bar, form of like the brand new display screen recording chips (talked about within the later elements of this text). It’s doubtless that tapping these chips will open some form of dialog supplied by the app that exhibits extra details about the continued notification.

For instance, right here’s a gallery that exhibits what the Wealthy Ongoing Notifications API might be used for in Android 16, utilizing mock notifications for varied apps like Uber, the United Airways app, and the Clock.

The characteristic seems impressed by iOS’s Dynamic Island, but it surely predates the characteristic. Android 12 added an API that lets dialer apps present the period of an ongoing name in a standing bar chip a full yr earlier than Apple launched its Dynamic Island characteristic. Android 16 opening up standing bar chips to all apps can be a significant growth of the characteristic.

Blocking previous notifications

Individuals who personal and use a number of Android gadgets can relate to the notification flood that arrives at any time when they boot up the much less continuously used gadget. Proper at boot, after the gadget establishes its web connection, you’ll obtain all notifications that weren’t delivered to this gadget, even if in case you have checked out the notifications out of your different gadget.

Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 modified the best way Android handles these older notifications. The system now rejects notifications which might be greater than two weeks previous. These older notifications will solely present some particulars to let which apps or contacts to check out, however they are going to not provide you with a warning with a sound or vibration, and even present the total notification contents.

Compact heads-up notifications

In case you are bothered by simply how giant the heads-up notifications may be when watching full-screen content material, then Google is engaged on an answer. We noticed clues for compact heads-up notifications in Android 15 Beta 4, and the characteristic grew to become extra extensively obtainable with Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2.

You may see the compact structure within the second set of notifications beneath.

A lot of the textual content within the notification is truncated, and any embedded pictures are hidden by default till you faucet the dropdown arrow to develop them. Nonetheless, the notification icon, notification title, and reply button are nonetheless proven for messaging apps like Telegram.

Notification cooldown

Android 15 Developer Preview 1 included a characteristic referred to as Notification cooldown, positioned at Settings > Notifications. When enabled, this characteristic would progressively decrease the amount of successive notifications coming from the identical app. The characteristic prevents your telephone from going off wildly if you obtain numerous notifications in a short time.

Nonetheless, Google eliminated the characteristic from Android 15 Beta 1. The characteristic has not returned but, however there’s proof inside Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 that it has not been deserted.

Beginning with the modifications, the brand new chips for display screen recording and screencasting offers you a timer proper within the standing bar.

They will even allow you to cease the display screen recording or screencasting session with no need to drag down the standing bar. Tapping on the chip will open a dialog that may allow you to cease the session.

There’s additionally a unique icon now to point when a third-party app requests to document or solid the display screen. The dialog extra prominently asks you whether or not you wish to “share your display screen” slightly than “begin recording or casting.”

The expertise is pretty purposeful, so we’re hoping to see it go dwell for the large platform with Android 16.

Fast Settings modifications: Twin shade design, Classes, Resizing, and extra

Fast Settings is in for an overhaul with Android 16. Beginning off, Google is testing a brand new twin shade design for Android 16 that separates the Fast Settings panels from the notification shade, which we managed to activate in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2.

Flattening the standing bar as soon as nonetheless brings down the notifications panel like earlier than, however the panel now takes up a few quarter of the display screen slightly than the whole factor. Whilst you can’t see any Fast Settings tiles anymore within the new notifications dropdown, you possibly can see the app that’s beneath the panel.

Flattening the standing bar a second time not brings down the Fast Settings panel. As a substitute, the Fast Settings panel is accessed by flattening the standing bar with two fingers.

After pulling the Fast Settings panel down, you possibly can swipe left or proper between pages to see all of your tiles. The brightness bar nonetheless seems on the prime, however now has a textual content label and exhibits the brightness degree as you regulate it, just like the brand new quantity sliders in Android 15. Most Fast Settings tiles have been made smaller so extra of them can match on one web page, which is a welcome change.

Right here’s a video that demonstrates the brand new notification and Fast Settings panels described above:

Flexiglass is the interior codename for the rearchitecting that Google is doing to SystemUI to make it extra steady.

With Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3, we noticed extra modifications. When the in-development Fast Settings panel is enabled, the Fast Settings tiles develop into resizable. You may faucet on any tile whereas within the editor view after which drag the dot left or proper to shrink or develop it. Tiles may be both 1×1 or 2×1 in dimension, permitting you to suit as few as eight or as many as 16 tiles on a single web page. You may resize any tile, even ones supplied by third-party apps, although clearly, not each tile can have a helpful description when it’s expanded.

For comparability, right here’s a picture that exhibits the default Fast Settings structure in Android 15 vs Android 16:

And right here’s a picture that exhibits some extra Fast Settings panel layouts you’ll have the ability to make because of this characteristic:

Right here’s a brief video that demonstrates the way you’ll have the ability to resize Fast Settings tiles in Android 16:

Along with these modifications, the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Fast Settings tiles might as soon as once more develop into one-click toggles. In the event you discover within the screenshots above, the tiles for these two settings aren’t totally stuffed in for background coloration like the opposite tiles have been. That’s for a cause: tapping the icon would toggle the respective setting because it did in Android 14 whereas tapping the remainder of the tile would open the panel because it does in Android 15.

Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1 additionally features a new animation if you long-press on the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Fast Settings tiles.

Alongside, Android 16 will even set up the Fast Settings tiles into classes. We noticed strings inside Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3 that counsel the Fast Settings panel will set up tiles into at most seven completely different classes. These classes embrace Accessibility, Connectivity, Show, Privateness, Supplied by apps, Unknown, and Utilities. They may seem within the Fast Settings editor, just like what you possibly can see beneath:

The system received’t present classes for which you will have already added the obtainable tiles.

Lock display screen widgets

Android used to permit lock display screen widgets in its early days, however the characteristic was eliminated in Android 5.0 Lollipop in 2014. Google has been engaged on bringing again lock display screen widget assist, and Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 lastly provides them for the Pixel Pill.

To entry them, swipe inward from the suitable fringe of the lock display screen. Then, faucet the “customise” card to open the widget editor, the place you possibly can add, take away, or reorder your widgets.

Stash notification bubbles

Google launched the Bubbles API with Android 11 in 2020, permitting messaging apps to open conversations in a floating window. The floating window sits on prime of different apps so you possibly can rapidly see or reply to messages out of your favourite contacts. Once you’re accomplished chatting, you possibly can reduce the floating window, which turns it right into a small, floating icon that you may later faucet to revive the window.

Bubbles are both all the time totally seen or hidden, with no in-between state. We managed to activate a 3rd state in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, known as “stashing.” Bubble stashing allows you to stash these notification bubbles to the aspect of the display screen when they aren’t in use.

Open any app in a floating bubble

Whereas the Bubbles characteristic talked about above is nice, it solely works for dialog notifications and may be opted out, so many apps don’t assist it. Nonetheless, in concept, most Android apps ought to work simply high-quality when positioned inside a floating window. Code inside Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 suggests Google is testing this concept, because it consists of references to a “bubble something” characteristic.

As soon as activated, the Pixel Launcher provides a “bubble” button to the context menu that seems if you press and maintain on any app on the house display screen. Tapping this button opens the app — it doesn’t matter what it’s — in a floating bubble, as you possibly can see beneath.

Right here’s a video demonstrating what Android’s new “bubble something” characteristic mixed with the upcoming bubble bar will appear like on tablets:

Since this alteration was noticed with Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 supposed for Pixel gadgets, it might be integrated into future variations of the Android platform.

Gemini button on the lock display screen

We’ve noticed a flag inside Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 that probably allows one other technique to invoke Gemini, this time via a lock display screen button. This flag controls the presence of a button on the lock display screen that, when tapped, doesn’t do something proper now however might doubtless set off the AI assistant (given the glint icon).

The button is pill-shaped and sits proper beneath the fingerprint reader. It’s bigger than the 2 lock display screen shortcuts on the backside and has a sparkle icon within the center.

Since this alteration was noticed with Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 supposed for Pixel gadgets, it might be integrated into future variations of the Android platform.

Do Not Disturb mode modifications, introduction of Precedence mode, and renaming to Modes

Google is working to supercharge Android’s Do Not Disturb mode with a brand new Precedence mode. We noticed intensive clues inside Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1, indicating that Google is planning to rename the Do Not Disturb mode entry level, tweak its UI, add a brand new Fast Settings tile, and introduce many different customization choices.

The brand new DND mode UI that we activated has new toggles to allow grayscale mode, disable the always-on show, dim the wallpaper, and allow the darkish theme. These 4 choices benefit from the brand new ZenDeviceEffects API.

The scheduling choices from DND mode are being transferred to a customized Precedence Mode. This new Precedence Modes menu allows you to create a totally customized DND mode schedule with its personal title, icon, activation set off, show settings, and notification settings.

There’s additionally a brand new Fast Settings tile for the Precedence Mode, which co-exists alongside the DND mode tile.

With Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, Google modified some behaviors associated to Precedence mode and in addition gave us a deeper look. The Fast Settings tile opens a dialog that permits you to rapidly select which Precedence Modes to allow and tells you what number of are enabled, if any.

The updates to the Precedence Modes menu in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 begins with the brand new intro display screen for the preexisting modes, Occasion and Sleeping. Presently, although, the graphic used for every intro display screen is a placeholder, however Google will doubtless replace these in a future launch. One other change to the menu in QPR1 Beta 2 is the brand new UI for customizing the activation set off and notification settings. As well as, the mode icon now lights up when it’s turned on.

Google has additionally added many new icons to select from when making a customized Precedence Mode. Whilst you can’t add your personal icon, Android now provides 40 icons to select from in QPR1 Beta 2.

In Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3, “Precedence Modes” has been rebranded to only “Modes.” Google additionally added an icon within the standing bar, lock display screen, and AOD to correspond to the present mode that’s enabled, making it a lot simpler to inform at a look.

Google additionally barely tweaked the UI for the dialog that seems if you faucet the Fast Settings tile. Modes at the moment are displayed in a single-column, vertically scrolling record as a substitute of a dual-column record.

One other small tweak is that the Fast Settings tile itself now shows the icon of the primary mode that you simply allow. It additionally exhibits the title of the primary mode however switches to the variety of modes energetic if a couple of is enabled. Talking of which, in the event you ever have a couple of mode enabled, then solely the primary one’s icon will seem on the standing bar, lock display screen, and AOD.

Since this alteration was noticed with Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1, Beta 2, and Beta 3 supposed for Pixel gadgets, it is going to be integrated into future variations of the Android platform.

Extra enhancements to the display screen recording system

Android 16 might enhance the display screen recorder and display screen caster indicator chips. We noticed and activated the change in Android 15 Beta 4.2, however the modifications might arrive on Android 15 in a future QPR launch and, thus, on the broader platform with Android 16. The chips additionally grew to become extra extensively obtainable in QPR1 Beta 2, indicating a possible launch for the QPR replace after which on Android 16.

For one, the brand new chips for display screen recording and screencasting offers you a timer proper within the standing bar.

They will even allow you to cease the display screen recording or screencasting session with no need to drag down the standing bar. Tapping on the chip will open a dialog that may allow you to cease the session.

There’s additionally a unique icon now to point when a third-party app requests to document or solid the display screen. The dialog extra prominently asks you whether or not you wish to “share your display screen” slightly than “begin recording or casting.”

The expertise is pretty purposeful, but it surely stays anybody’s guess when it really arrives. With Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, the system stops display screen shares initiated by third-party apps if you lock the gadget.

App switcher throughout partial display screen sharing

Android 15 introduces a extra personal display screen recording system that permits you to document or solid a single app as a substitute of your whole display screen. Nonetheless, if you have to change the app you might be recording or casting, it’s important to finish the present session and begin a brand new one.

We noticed a flag inside Android 15’s supply code that allows a “job switcher characteristic for partial display screen sharing.” After enabling this flag, if you begin display screen recording or display screen casting an app after which change to a unique app, a brand new notification seems.

This notification informs the person that “sharing pauses if you change apps.” The notification has two buttons: “share this app as a substitute” and “change again.” Tapping “change again” launches the app with which the display screen recording or casting session was began. Tapping “share this app as a substitute” does nothing, although, because it seems the duty switcher characteristic for partial display screen sharing isn’t totally purposeful but. It’s potential that this characteristic might get activated for Android 16.

Android allows you to navigate its UI utilizing keyboard shortcuts. As a result of there are such a lot of keyboard shortcuts obtainable, Android additionally has a devoted menu itemizing them.

To assist make the keyboard shortcut menu simpler to make use of on tablets, Google might add the menu to the aspect navigation rail. We discovered code for this in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, and right here’s what it might appear like:

The redesigned keyboard shortcut menu ought to thus be simpler to make use of on tablets because the shortcut classes can be nearer to the left fringe of the show. For the reason that change was noticed in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 supposed for Pixel gadgets, it might be integrated into future variations of the Android platform.

Touchpad gesture tutorial

We noticed a brand new tutorial for touchpad gestures in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2. Google has created customized animations that designate how a few of Android’s touchpad gestures work. These animations simulate the gesture used to return (swiping left or proper with three fingers), the gesture to go residence (swiping up with three fingers), and the gesture to open the app drawer (urgent the motion key on the keyboard).

It additionally created a notification that seems when the person connects a touchpad for the primary time, inviting them to strive the gestures.

Though Android additionally helps gestures to open the latest apps display screen (swiping up with three fingers, then holding), open the notifications panel (swiping down with three fingers), and change between apps (swiping left or proper with 4 fingers), the tutorial in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 doesn’t point out all of those. It’s doubtless that Google isn’t completed with this tutorial simply but and that it is going to be up to date in a future beta.

For the reason that change was noticed in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 supposed for Pixel gadgets, it might be integrated into future variations of the Android platform.

Enhancements to Superior Safety Mode

Superior Safety Mode gives an additional layer of safety for individuals who have beneficial information of their Google accounts. This system is focused at customers who’re at an elevated threat of getting hacked, like IT admins, journalists, activists, enterprise executives, and politicians. In the event you enroll within the Superior Safety Program, you then’re pressured to make use of a safety key or passkey to signal into your Google account, you’re prevented from downloading recordsdata that Google Chrome marks as dangerous, and also you’re blocked from giving unapproved (by Google) apps entry to your Google account information.

In your Android gadget, Google Play Shield will keep enabled, will block you from putting in apps from outdoors the Google Play Retailer or different preinstalled apps, and can even warn you about apps on the Play Retailer that haven’t been accredited by Google.

Commerce-in mode for ADB

Commerce-ins can take numerous time, partially as a result of each telephone that has been traded in must be inspected. Non-functional gadgets are straightforward to examine since they both have cracks that disqualify them or don’t boot up, however purposeful gadgets should be booted up and run via a sequence of assessments to verify that they’re functioning correctly. To ensure that the assessments to run, the gadget must undergo the setup display screen like a brand-new telephone after which allow ADB debugging, which is buried deep within the Settings menu. Whereas most of those screens may be skipped within the setup, it nonetheless provides up time, however enabling ADB debugging can’t be averted.

Android 16 might add a brand new trade-in mode to ADB, which might enable a really restricted model of ADB to be obtainable to Android gadgets proper on the primary display screen of the setup wizard. This may make it simpler for technicians to run automated diagnostics for gadget inspections.

The setup wizard will allow ADB trade-in mode and can disable it after setup has been accomplished. The technician can use ADB trade-in mode to place the gadget into an “analysis mode” and bypass the setup, however it should additionally pressure a manufacturing unit reset on the subsequent boot. Alternatively, one other command may be run to retrieve diagnostic details about the gadget and see if it passes an attestation problem.

Pixel: Latest apps in taskbar

On Pixel foldables and tablets, the Android taskbar presently exhibits six apps pinned to the dock and two instructed apps. Though the Pixel Launcher suggests apps based mostly in your just lately used apps, they’re additionally based mostly on these you most continuously use and your “routines.”

Within the above video, you possibly can see the 2 instructed apps getting changed with the 2 most just lately used apps.

Since this alteration was noticed with Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 supposed for Pixel gadgets, it might be integrated into future variations of the Android platform. Many Android producers already spotlight just lately used apps within the taskbar, so this alteration will profit the Android platform at giant.

Pixel: Manually set 80% charging restrict

Google Pixel smartphones have an Adaptive Charging characteristic that screens your charging habits and limits charging to 80% till about one hour earlier than the system predicts you’ll unplug your telephone. This characteristic might be up to date so as to add an choice to manually cap charging at 80%.

The characteristic was noticed in Android 15 Beta 42 and rolled out extra extensively with Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2, so it should doubtless attain Pixel gadgets in a future QPR replace or with Android 16.

Smaller modifications

There are many smaller modifications that we anticipate can be obtainable in Android 16, based mostly on leaked options:

• Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 consists of an depth slider for coloration correction settings. This slider allows you to tweak the depth of the colour steadiness modifications throughout the coloration correction modes.
• Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 consists of customizations for the mouse pointer. These embrace a brand new pointer fill fashion selector, a pointer stroke fashion selector, and a pointer scale slider. They are often discovered beneath Settings > System > Touchpad & mouse.
• Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1 and Beta 2 embrace a brand new keyboard switcher button. This button seems as a wireframe globe positioned beneath the keys and to the suitable of the conceal button. The switcher dialog additionally seems extra trendy and is positioned a lot decrease on the display screen to make it simpler to pick out with one hand.
• Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1 included new strings describing a settings web page for exterior shows. Beta 2 included the change for the Exterior Show web page. This web page permits the person to regulate the show decision and rotation of exterior shows which might be related to a Pixel 8 sequence or Pixel 9 sequence gadget.
• Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1 features a new predictive again gesture animation for the keyboard.

These are all of the modifications we anticipate to see within the Android 16 platform replace in 2025. Tell us your favourite upcoming characteristic within the feedback beneath!