Marking a significant shift from its usual October launch schedule, Google appears to be preparing to release the stable version of Android 16 as early as June.
Basically, this announcement is confirmed through the recent Android Show, where Google had announced the update’s rollout timeline with other key updates.
List Of Google Devices Getting Android 16 Update
It appears that the Android 16 will arrive months earlier unlike its past releases that often coincided with new Pixel phone launches in the fall.
This simply indicates that its beta testing phase should conclude soon.
This update will bring a new set of features and interface updates, starting with Pixel devices.
Please note here that not all Android phones will receive the Android 16 update.
This update would be targeting the newer models, so users should ensure that their devices are compatible before the release.
Below is the list of Google Pixel devices which will be among the first to receive the update.
- Pixel 6, 6 Pro, and 6a
- Pixel 7, 7 Pro, and 7a
- Pixel 8, 8 Pro, and 8a
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, and 9a
Samsung Devices Getting Android 16 Update
Besides Google, Samsung will also be among the early adopters of the Android 16 update, including the Galaxy S25 series, which includes the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Plus, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and Galaxy S25 Edge.
For the unawares, the above-mentioned models are expected to come with a pre-installed Android 16.
Apart from these, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 will also receive the early update.
The other brands including Vivo and Oppo are also likely to offer Android 16 on their newer smartphones, but they may not arrive until later this year.
What To Expect In New Android 16?
This year it is different as Google has separated the Android 16 announcement from the Google I/O event, the move is to focus on the update amid many AI-related announcements at I/O 2025.
Its user interface recently received a redesign under the Material 3 Expressive Design offering custom themes, smoother animations, and larger fonts.
Quick Settings is also revamped as it will support tile resizing, drag-and-drop arrangement, and improved feedback through motion and haptics.
In case of Live Activities, it will provide real-time updates on the lock screen and notification areas.
This is similar to Apple’s feature, showing information such as food delivery and navigation progress.
Moving ahead, its Battery health monitoring will help Android users with battery capacity details that can help in identifying when a replacement might be needed.
When it comes to the Security upgrades, it has a Factory Reset Protection Loop which will prevent stolen phones from being reset and an Advanced Protection Mode with offline locking, USB port blocking, and scam detection.
Lastly, its Google Assistant will be replaced by Gemini AI which is again a smarter assistant designed to offer enhanced AI-powered interactions across Android devices.
