Android 16 launched: Top 10 features
By Divya Bhati
Android 16 adds real-time tracking for services like food delivery and navigation, showing updates directly in the notification drawer and always-on display.
Live Updates in Notifications
This mode enables deeper device-level security including memory exploit checks, USB restrictions, spam protection, and cloud-based encrypted logs.
Advanced Protection Mode
The on-device AI in Google Messages will now detect and warn users about potential scam texts, while also blocking risky permissions during suspicious phone calls.
AI-Powered Scam Detection
Building on Health Connect, Android 16 adds support for medical records using the FHIR standard, allowing users to easily share health data with trusted apps and providers.
Medical records
Android 16 also adds support for Auracast, letting users stream audio to multiple Bluetooth LE Audio-compatible devices.
Auracast Audio Sharing
Android 16 removes all the default restriction on resizing across apps supporting dynamic resizing, edge-to-edge content, and orientation flexibility, making it much friendlier for tablets and foldables.
Big screen support
If your phone suspects someone else might be watching (e.g., you're on public Wi-Fi or haven't unlocked recently), the Android 16 new update will hide sensitive info like OTPs in notifications.
Sensitive notifications
Text with poor contrast is now highlighted with high-contrast colour boxes, improving readability for users with low vision or contrast sensitivity.
Accessibility Upgrades
Android 16 Also introduces hybrid auto exposure, manual ISO and white balance tweaks, Ultra HDR in HEIC format, and a professional video codec for finer control.
Camera controls
Later this year, Pixel phones will receive an updated Android look with smoother animations, improved haptics, vibrant colour themes, and a fresh font system.
Design refresh
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