Android 16 Is Getting a Facelift, and Gemini Is Rolling Onto More Google Platforms

Google I/O is connected May 20, but nan annual developer conference will beryllium truthful jam-packed pinch announcements that Google is opening nan valve to merchandise immoderate news early. Today, during a virtual arena dubbed The Android Show, nan institution showed disconnected respective features coming to nan Android 16, starting pinch a caller redesign.

Here's everything caller coming to Google's mobile operating system. Some of these features will get first on Pixel phones later this summer—presumably Google's Pixel 10 series—but astir will beryllium a portion of nan large yearly Android update, which is expected to get earlier than accustomed this year, successful June.

Also beryllium judge to publication our overviews of nan usage of on-device artificial intelligence to powerfulness Android's caller scam discovery features, and Android's caller lockdown mode.

Fresh Face

Android is getting a facelift pinch a caller creation connection called Material 3 Expressive, and nan accent this clip is connected personalization.

The past awesome redesign was 4 years ago erstwhile Material 3 debuted. That said, Google says this isn't “Material 4," and Material 3 Expressive isn't a caller type of nan system. Expressive is nan “most researched update," done 46 studies pinch much than 18,000 participants.

Google claims nan expressive connection radiated passim nan operating strategy is preferred by group of each ages, scoring precocious connected attributes for illustration playfulness, energy, creativity, and friendliness. Crucially, Google claims that “users are much apt to move to products that usage M3 Expressive components and techniques.” That's important erstwhile recent surveys person shown that 87 percent of teens ain iPhones pinch nary plans to switch.

There are caller animations that will consciousness much responsive, for illustration really swiping a notification distant from nan notification drawer will consciousness springy pinch haptic feedback, and nan notifications supra and beneath will respond to that action. You tin expect subtle animation changes erstwhile you disregard an app successful nan Recents menu, play astir pinch nan measurement slider, aliases moreover erstwhile you bring down nan speedy settings shade—you'll spot a blur effect complete your location screen.

Fonts and typography are much emphasized, and Android 16 has much move colour themes, giving you much power complete nan operating system's look, moreover successful supported apps. Much of it is functional too—Google's letting you compression much settings into nan Quick Settings drawer, truthful you tin quickly entree devices for illustration nan Flashlight aliases Do Not Disturb mode.

Android 16 besides takes a cue from Apple's Live Activities features, pinning ongoing notifications from apps for illustration DoorDash, Uber, aliases Google Maps connected nan fastener surface truthful you don't person to support hopping into nan app to check. They'll enactment connected nan surface moreover erstwhile nan telephone goes into standby mode.