All New Features in Android 16 So Far

What to know

• Android 16's timeline is out, along with its first two Developer Previews.
• Android 16 could revive several features that were part of the Android 15 testing phases but didn't quite make such as Bluetooth Audio Sharing and Notification cooldown.
• Several new features are also in the works, such as App Bubbles, Modes, an embedded Photo Picker, note-taking from the lock screen, an enhanced Now Playing, and possibly even Lock screen widgets.
• Android 16 is codenamed Baklava, and is expected to arrive earlier than usual, with a release date set for June 3.

Android 15 is yet to arrive on most people's Android devices. And already Google has released the developer preview of Android 16 for eligible devices. As always, Google has provided a timeline for the release of Android 16's developer previews and betas and when it's expected to reach platform stability (there's also a leaked released date). Here's a look at every new major feature on Android 16.

UPDATE: Android 16's Developer Preview 2 is now live!

New Android 16 features

All that's new and exclusive to Android 16 will become confirmed over the course of the next few months. But there are some changes that are already expected to arrive on your Android device with Android 16. For starters, the official codename for Android 16 is "Baklava".

Are the rest of the features as scrumptious as the Android 16 codename? Here's a quick look at all of them.

DND 'Modes'

Do Not Disturb is getting another revamp. Android 16 will see the DND page renamed to 'Modes'. Modes will include the regular Do Not Disturb mode that you can manage as before. But there's also the option to '+ Create your own mode'.

As the name suggests, the option will let you create a new mode and customize its settings the way you see fit. This includes setting a schedule, choosing who can interrupt you (people, apps, alarms, etc.) and even the display settings. The latter is another new sub-setting that will let you adjust the display options such as Grayscale, Keep the screen dark, Dim the wallpaper, and enable dark theme.

You'll also be able to choose from over 40 icons for your custom Mode, which is nice. Additionally, these modes will become available in the Quick Settings panel as well (along with their main settings menu).

Embedded photo picker

Android 16 could also get a better photo picker that will not only make it easier to select the media you want to upload to an app but also solve a major privacy issue.

An embedded photo picker is basically a pop-up menu that comes up whenever you're uploading photos and videos to an app. This pop up allows you to pick specific media files rather than giving the app access to all your files.

Bluetooth Audio Sharing

Bluetooth Audio Sharing lets you listen to audio on multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously. Often simply referred to as 'Audio Sharing', the feature will make it easy for users to share their audio with others and allow them to listen to your media alongside you.

Enable 'Audio Sharing' from Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences. Listeners will require Bluetooth LE (Low Energy)-supported audio headphones to be able to use audio sharing.

It's been an eagerly anticipated feature on Android since it was first introduced in Android 15's Developer Preview. But unfortunately, it didn't see the light of day in the final version. Now that the feature has been almost a year in development, there's hope that it should finally arrive on Android 16.

App bubbles

Floating bubbles already let you open conversations from messaging apps, and view messages on top of whatever app you're on. But the feature has only been available for messaging apps thus far and developers have had the option to opt out of the feature (which they've often done). On Android 16, however, it looks like the bubble interface might cast a much wider net.

Not only will developers be unable to opt out of the bubble interface, but folks over at Android Authority were able to launch apps in bubbles as well (in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2). Although it's not implemented in this early developer preview, we expect it to appear in subsequent releases, and ultimately bring the multitasking App Bubbles feature to Android 16.

Note-taking shortcut on lock screen

With the Developer Preview 2, Google is also bringing a note-taking shortcut to the lock screen. While Google Keep is being turned into a system app (that cannot be uninstalled), Google is adding the ability to take a quick note from the lock screen shortcut. The feature doesn't work yet but it looks like it will be functional very soon.

2-finger Double Tap magnification shortcut

Android 16's Developer Preview 2 has also introduced the 2-finger double tap gesture that will magnify the screen. There is already an accessibility gesture and button, volume key, and triple tap shortcuts for this behavior. And soon quickly double-tapping with 2 fingers will also let you magnify the screen.

Enhance Now Playing

One of the best Pixel features is finally getting an update with Android 16's DP2 as well. Thanks to a new 'Enhance Now Playing' sub-feature, your Pixel device will display the album art of the recognized song as well. Earlier, Google also rolled out the ability choose the default music player when you decide to play the identified song.

'Enhance Now Playing' setting (disabled by default) will be available from the same Now Playing settings page.

Notification cooldown

Notification cooldown is one of the more intelligent features on Android. It automatically quietens notification volume when you receive too many notifications in a short period of time. This does not affect calls, alarms, and priority conversations. But it can come in quite handy if you're turning on your device after a long time and don't want to be flooded by missed notifications.

Notification cooldown is another one of those A15 features that didn't ultimately make it. But its return in Android 16's Developer Preview 1 bodes well for the feature.

Health Connect App improvements

Google's bringing some important updates for the Health Connect app. With support for certain health records, Android 16 will allow the Health Connect app to read and write Electronic Health Records in the FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources) standard that doctors and healthcare providers generally use.

Apps will require user permission to read and write medical records in the Health Connect app. Google has also limited the feature to an early access program so that developers have to apply for access before they can work with it.

Lock screen widgets

Android users have longed for lock screen widgets since they were removed in Android 5 (for no reason whatsoever). And it could be that Android 16 might finally bring them back. However, there is a catch.

Lock screen widgets are intended for tablets only (at least currently). It doesn't look like Google's going to bring them to phones, though there's no denying that Android users the world over would love to see widgets on their lock screens once again.

7-day data in Privacy Dashboard

Privacy Dashboard - where lets you see which apps have accessed which permissions on your device - is getting a new time frame. Currently, the feature only gives you data for the past 24 hours. On Android 16, however, you'll see a 'Show 7 days' option as well, allowing you to effectively get a broader view of permission access on your device.

Fingerprint Unlock even when the screen is off

Pixel devices with ultrasonic fingerprint sensors will allow fingerprint unlocking when the screen is off. It's a convenient little addition that removes that extra step of first turning on the screen and then unlocking the device with your fingerprint.

The feature will require always-on display to be turned on. It's also disabled by default so you'll need to change the two settings in order to use it.

Other smaller changes

Apart from the aforementioned features, there are a few surface level cosmetic changes being applied to Android 16 as well. These include the following:

• A redesigned icon for the 'Now Playing' song identification feature.
• A new look for the 'Settings Page' (with the 'Google' accounts option at the top).
• More compact heads-up notifications.
• New screen recording and screen casting chips.
• A dual-shade design separating Quick Settings panel from the notification shade.
• New Quick Settings panel layouts.
• Quick settings clumped into categories.
• Gemini button on the lock screen.
• Rich ongoing notifications.

Android 16 release timeline

The earlier than expected release is quite surprising. But Google has already confirmed the timeline on Android developers blog.

The release timeline shows that the next major release could well happen in Q2 2025. Android 16 is expected to reach platform stability by March-April, we're well ahead of the usual schedule. Although an exact date isn't provided, leaks suggest Android 16 has a release date of June 3.