Android 16 Is Officially Out Now: Checkout New Features, Supported Devices And How To Install It On Your Device?

Google has started rolling out Android 16, which now comes on the Pixel devices. Although the dessert themed naming tradition is long gone, Android 16 still hides a sweet secret—its internal codename is “Baklava”. Aside from the name, we now have more productivity, usability, and security improvements that upgrade Android even more.

In this article we will list down the most important features Android 16 brings, like the Live Updates system, improved notification handling, augmented security measures, and more powerful desktop modes for tablets. Moreover, as Android 16 is officially out, we will also mention the supported devices list and how to install Android 16 on your smartphone. Let's take a good look at Android 16 and how it can improve your mobility, along with everything else it has to offer.

Key Features of Android 16

1. Live Updates: Real-Time Info Without Distraction

An important change in Android 16 is Live Updates which is an active notification feature like Apple’s Live Activities. This feature provides information in real time for:

• Ride-sharing apps
• Food delivery platforms
• Navigation tools

You no longer have to check your phone repeatedly. Live Updates display vital information on the lock screen or notification panel. During the first phase, basic increment update features such as time of arrival, and delivery progress will be supported. Future builds may allow for advanced progress indicators directly in the status bar.

2. Notification Cooldown: Say Goodbye to Notification Overload

An app bombarding you with constant alerts can be incredibly annoying. With Notification Cooldown, Android 16 automatically lowers the alert volume for the same app within a short period of time to mitigate clutter. This achieves:

• Fewer distractions
• A quieter user experience
• Cleaner notification management

You can toggle this feature under Settings > Notifications, but it’s enabled by default on Pixel devices starting with the March 2025 Feature Drop.

3. Smarter Notification Grouping

With Android 16, Google now has stricter rules dealing with the clutter that notifications create by enforcing automatic grouping of notifications from the same application. This means developers can no longer bypass this rule which results in:

• Notifications from one app are bundled together
• Users get a streamlined view
• Details are just a tap away when needed
• This small but impactful update contributes to a less chaotic notification tray.
• Desktop Mode for Tablets: A PC-Like Android Experience

With Android 16, Google introduced new desktop modes aimed at competing with Samsung DeX for other large-screen devices and tablets. It also comes with a native functionality such as window resizing, allowing users to freely resize app windows just like on a PC, split-screen multitasking (running and viewing multiple apps side by side), and enhanced task switching and layout control.

These features improves productivity for power users and makes Android tablets more viable for work and multitasking.

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Advanced Protection Mode: Simplified Mobile Security

As cyber threats continue to develop, Android 16 introduces new security features with an Advanced Protection Mode. This mode simplifies mobile security by combining layers of protection into one toggle, including:

• Theft Detection Lock
• USB Port Restrictions
• Google Play Protect Scanning
• Intrusion Logging
• Automatic Reboot After Inactivity
• Memory Tagging for Malware Prevention

The goal is to offer enterprise-grade protection without making users jump through technical hoops.

Android 16: Feature Summary Table