Android 16 Update: When Will Your Smartphone Get It?

Release of Android 16

Android 16 has officially been released. Following its beta launch in January 2025, the latest operating system update is now being rolled out to compatible devices. Android 16 introduces several new features to enhance your device experience, including:

• Dynamic Notifications: Compatible apps can now display real-time updates directly on your home screen, such as delivery services or ride-sharing statuses. These updates refresh automatically without needing to open the app. Additionally, notifications from the same app are now automatically grouped into a single card.
• Enhanced Protection: This new security feature allows users to activate a suite of protections with a single gesture, designed to thwart sophisticated attacks, block malicious apps, restrict access to sensitive data, and filter suspicious calls or websites.
• Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts: Users can now create their own key combinations to perform actions or quickly open specific apps.
• Improved Support for Hearing Devices: Android 16 enables users with compatible LE Audio hearing aids to switch to using their phone’s microphone for clearer calls in noisy environments. A new integrated control panel also allows for management of volume, sound profiles, and audio settings.

However, the new design overhaul, titled Material 3 Expressive, is set to launch in a subsequent update, which could be rolled out by the end of the summer.

Smartphones Compatible with Android 16

Android 16: Now Available on Google Pixel Devices

As usual, the update is being rolled out gradually. At this time, only Google Pixel devices released from 2021 onwards can download Android 16. The following models are included:

• Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
• Pixel 6a
• Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
• Pixel 7a
• Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet
• Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
• Pixel 8a
• Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold
• Pixel 9a

When Will Android 16 Be Available on Other Manufacturers’ Devices?

If you are using an Android device from a manufacturer other than Google, you will need to wait a bit longer. Although a complete list has not yet been announced, the beta phase has helped compile a preliminary list.

Samsung is typically among the first manufacturers to adopt the new Android version. Devices released from 2022 onward (Galaxy S22, Z Fold 4, and later models) are expected to receive the update by July 2025, through One UI 8, the next version of its software overlay based on Android 16. Similar timelines are projected for OnePlus, for models starting with the OnePlus 11 (released in January 2023).

Other brands (HONOR, iQOO, Lenovo, OPPO, realme, vivo, Xiaomi) are expected to gain access to Android 16 by the end of 2025 or early 2026 at the latest.