A day after Apple announced the operating system overhaul in WWDC 2025, Google launched its own set of major software upgrade for the phone.
Since Tuesday, a new release of Android 16 is rolling out for Google’s Pixel smartphone lineup, group chat in RCS, AI-Inumed edited suggestions in Google photos and support for corporate badges in Google Wallet. The release focuses on better accessibility support and better customization for messaging and contacts.
Apart from Android 16, Google also announced an upgrade as a part of its regular feature update for eligible pixel phones, “pixel drop”.
Android 16 improvement
Android 16 now has a real-time update and new content of Google 3 expressive design language on lock screen is iOS-Style Live notifications. There are new abilities to theft and scams with an updated advanced security mode to maintain security and privacy for public figures.
Android 16 also adds support to Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio device so that you can use them instead of your phone mike for better call quality. You can also control the volume on your device from your phone with new country control.
Later this year, the desktop-style winding support on Android 16 Android Tablet will be available, Google says. The company planned to introduce you to custom keyboard shortcuts so that you can define action to find an app through your combination of hotkeys.
For other supported release of Android 16 and Android, Google is making an update to Google messages that add the RCS group chat support. You will be able to select custom icons and muted information for a specific chat for a specified period.
Android 16 also brings forced groups for forced to reduce HDR screenshot, adaptive fresh rate, and notification drawer to reduce chaos.
Google Photo has an array of new features in Android 16 and other supported releases. Soon the app will be able to suggest editing tools such as eraes, moves, or “remagins” for parts of the image.
Other android 16 reforms include the capacity of preferred equipment in the Google Home App and the ability to pay for public transit using Google Wallets on Wear OS devices, so you do not need to take out your phone.
Pixel June features
With the new version of Android 16, Google is rolling its latest set of monthly pixel feature upgrade.
A new “Pixel VIPS” widget lets you see the conversation with the favorite in your contact list. This shows you your last call and message with the person, which involves anyone you receive from WhatsApp, and updates such as birthdays and places choose to share them.
Pixel phones are also receiving more detailed captions for video content, including livestream. You will see the caption that describes whether someone is whispering, taking yawning, or cleaning his throat, for example.
Somewhere else, you can create a custom sticker using the text prompt directly from Google’s Gboard keyboard. Google is adding support for the AI-managed summary in the recorder apps in French and German. And users in Australia will get Android’s emergency SOS satellite connectivity facility.
The Google Pixel 8A and new Pixel devices (but not pixels 8 and 8 Pro) are adding a battery health indicator for users, and Pixel 5 and later devices are getting a new accessibility facility through the magnifier app. You can use the magnifier to explain what you are looking at, and the app will then highlight the item if there is a match and reacts to you through Haaptics.
Enterprise Android users are also getting updates, including the ability to store their corporate badges in the Google Wallet. What is more, they can use Google’s Gemini Chatbot app to summarize the content on Android in Google Docs app, achieve insight and translate the text. Finally, Google is increasing chrome on the handling of Android of PDFS with looking documents linked.
Pixel drop updates of June start rolling out on Tuesday.
