29 Sept 2025
This review explores the beta version of Android 16, detailing its new design elements, enhanced animations, and significant feature updates. Based on real-world experiences on a Pixel 6, the discussion covers what users can expect from this upcoming release.
The beta version of Android 16 was installed on a Pixel 6, and this review discusses the expected user experience under these conditions.
Android 16 introduces a new design philosophy called Material Tri-Expressive, characterized by a double-colored interface and smoother animations. Notifications have been redesigned for better appearance and functionality, featuring a 'snappy mode' with haptics upon swiping.
The notification section on Android 16 offers significant improvements over previous versions, including larger text and icons, and a more customizable Control Center bar. This enhanced notification management is considered superior to the current iPhone notification system. However, extensive visual customization options, such as changing themes or icon styles, are viewed as less practical or personally engaging for all users.
Many features introduced in Android 16, such as advanced customization options, dynamic effects, and smart wallpapers, have long been present in Samsung's One UI. Samsung's efforts in enhancing Android's user interface and features are noted as extensive, with some of its innovations, like Quick Touch and DeX, being adopted or directly referenced in Android 16, effectively replacing Google's own solutions.
Android 16 introduces a 'Live Update' feature, similar to iOS's Live Activities, providing dynamic notifications for real-time information such as taxi status, food delivery updates, and navigation directions. This feature is considered highly useful for displaying live information directly on the device.
Android 16 includes a desktop mode, directly utilizing Samsung's DeX technology. The practical utility of this feature for the average user, who might connect their phone to a monitor with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, is questioned due to perceived limited adoption.
The camera in Android 16 gains advanced software features, including support for new video formats and more precise color and light settings. These enhancements allow for greater control over white balance, saturation, and exposure, alongside combined exposure modes like Hybrid AI, and support for HR images.
Android 16 significantly upgrades its security with an 'Advanced Protection' mode. This includes features that prevent phone shutdown without owner verification (fingerprint, Face ID, password), detect suspicious calls and messages, offer automatic theft lock, and prevent connections to unsafe networks. Additionally, a factory reset requires the original owner's verification to complete, a feature praised for its robust anti-theft capabilities.
The status bar icons for WiFi and battery have been visually aligned. The battery percentage is now displayed inside the battery icon, similar to iOS, though some users find this implementation to be less clear or potentially buggy due to visibility issues, especially when the battery level is low.
Gemini officially replaces Google Assistant as the integrated AI assistant in Android 16. It offers a wide range of advanced features, including simultaneous translation, page sharing, and extensive question-answering capabilities. This integration is highlighted as a significant game-changer for the Android user experience. There are also indications that iOS 19 may offer options to integrate Gemini or other chatbots, allowing users in the European Union to disable or replace Siri.
ChatGPT Plus will be freely accessible to all Emirati citizens, following the launch of the largest OpenAI data center outside the US in the UAE. This benefit is exclusive to citizens, a minority of the UAE's total resident population.
The final version of Android 16 is scheduled for release in June 2020 (likely a typo, implying a near-future release from context) starting with Pixel phones, followed by flagship devices from Samsung (with One UI 8), Xiaomi, and OnePlus in subsequent months.
Gemini, integrated as the phone's assistant and replacing Google Assistant, offers a truly game-changing artificial intelligence experience on Android.
| Feature Area | Key Insight |
|---|---|
| Design & User Interface | Material Tri-Expressive design with smoother animations and redesigned, haptic-enabled notifications for a more refined experience. |
| Notification System | Significantly improved notification management and a more customizable Control Center, surpassing previous Android and current iOS implementations. |
| Desktop Mode | Integration of Samsung DeX for a desktop experience, though its practical utility for general users remains a subject of debate. |
| Artificial Intelligence | Gemini replaces Google Assistant, serving as an advanced, deeply integrated AI assistant that offers a wide range of powerful new functionalities. |
| Security & Protection | Advanced Protection mode prevents unauthorized phone shutdown, detects suspicious activity, automatically locks for theft, and requires original owner verification for factory resets. |
| Live Updates | Introduction of dynamic notifications (Live Update) providing real-time information for services like navigation, food delivery, and ride-sharing, akin to iOS Live Activities. |
