Earlier this month, Google announced the launch of Android 16 earlier on Pixel devices. If you have found Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro (launched in 2021) or subsequent device, you should already have software updates.
However, you do not have many new features, which Google is promoting with this Android upgrade – an upgrade that feels like a placeholder that what is coming later in the year. If you are rebooting your phone after installing Android 16 and looking around to see if you are new, you may be disappointed.
There are some bits of relevant reference: first, Android 16 was launched in the year (June) compared to Android 15 (October), possibly to get well beyond the Google Pixel 10 launch. It seems that most of the major Android 16 updates will come around September or October.
Second, these major Android releases, now more than before, are mainly for pixel phones. Each Android phone manufacturer puts its own spin on the Android code provided by Google, and cannot support every feature – or add additional features that are not found around Google. A UI 8 of Samsung based on Android 16 is the best example.
Further connecting in confusion are additional pixel drops that google regularly push out for your phone and tablet. The most recently came as an Android 16 at the same time, and brought up with features such as Pixel VIP, to give high priority to selected contacts on its device.
Therefore, while Android 16 is not very new for my pixel phone, yet there is much more on the way: here are four major upgrade that I am looking forward.
Material 3 expressive
Material 3 is quite a departure in terms of expressive view.
Credit: Google
Google has already told us about the big design revamps that come in Android 16, “Emotional effects” and “more attractive” and “you feel something feel” and to throw phrases like “you feel something” – really more colors, more curves, and screens that do not look enough as they do in Android 15.
Google has shared with the screenshot, it looks good, but I have not even seen that it is still visible in Google’s own apps or Android Settings menu (it is going to happen in September, according to one, as a, as one Android authority Source). After that, third-party developers will push out their own updates, so it is going to take some time to have everything in the content 3 expressive-IS.
live update
How will live updates work, after all.
Credit: Google
Android may already show real -time information such as timer and uber estimates in frequent information, but live updates on Android 16 will make these information much more major, detailed and interactive – much more like live activities on iOS. Samsung is already ahead on this, now with a bar available in a UI 7.
What do you think so far?
However, I have not seen a single app, taking advantage of the live updates so far. It seems that Android 16 is laying the groundwork only for the feature, and now it is finished for app developers to apply it – I hope that there will be slowly in the coming months.
A full desktop mode
The new desktop mode is now live for tablets.
Credit: Google
Android 16 is very capable on a large screen, which has better management of window management and better management, so it is more desktop. It is an upgrade that is actually live now, but only for Android Tablet – you are not yet able to use it on the external monitor attached to your pixel phone.
We know from Android 16 Betas and Google I/O 2025 that phone functionality support is in the way – so you will be able to use your phone in desktop mode when connected to the monitor – but it is not here yet. This is another area where Samsung is already ahead, with its Samsung Dex Tool.
Notification stacking
How the notification groups are going to see.
Credit: Google
Last declared-but not till now-live-live Android 16 feature is notification stacking, or as “forcibly notification auto-grouping,” It is officially describedIn Android 16 announcement, Google says, “Your information will be automatically placed together to keep things tight and organized.” blog post,
Here too, I am still waiting. Android actually does a good job of grouping information together with the same app, so I am not sure what is going to separate, but is based on the limited number of shared screenshots, it seems that the uniformization will be easier to compact and manage more.
