Your Pixel just got the biggest free Android | Tech News

If you might have a Pixel cellphone in your pocket, in the present day is a good day for you, though you’re not fairly but getting every part Google is promising you. In what’s often the biggest day of the 12 months for free Android updates, in the present day sees Android 16 out there worldwide for anybody with a supported Google Pixel smartphone – however the promised change to the feel and look of your cellphone is coming later this 12 months.

Google introduced a new design language final month that it’s calling Material 3 Expressive, however this visible overhaul is just not coming as half of this newest replace, which as an alternative delivers most of the relaxation of Android 16. It’s a bit odd that Google wouldn’t line up the new design with the release of Android 16, however Google’s gonna Google.

“Today, we’re bringing you Android 16, rolling out first to supported Pixel devices with more phone brands to come later this year,” Google mentioned. “This is the earliest Android has launched a major release in the last few years, which ensures you get the latest updates as soon as possible on your devices.

“Android 16 lays the foundation for our new Material 3 Expressive design, with features that make Android more accessible and easy to use.”

Android 16 must be able to obtain to your cellphone in the present day in case you own a Pixel 6 or later. That means Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9a, Pixel Fold and Pixel 9 Pro Fold house owners will all be getting the free improve.

You’ll see a few visible modifications once you boot up your cellphone after the replace, together with to the notification shade and settings menu, plus an additional row in your home screen for apps.

You also needs to see more streamlined notifications and a new security option known as Advanced Protection. There are additionally now Live updates from suitable notifications, similar to exhibiting the progress of an Uber arrival.

Google confusingly separates the Android 16 replace with its new June PIxel Drop. The latter is one of a quarterly characteristic replace the firm pushes out to Pixels, and that is additionally now out there. Those with older telephones received’t get all the new options, although

For instance, all Pixel 6 and newer units get Pixel VIPs, a new widget the place you may see your final call and message out of your pre-selected VIPs, a step above Android’s common Favourites class. VIPs can bypass Do Not Disturb mode, too.

Everyone with a suitable cellphone will even get Expressive Captions, the place Android will present more detailed captions once you flip the system-wide option on.

But different June Pixel Drop options similar to customized stickers in Gboard are just for Pixel 9 or newer telephones. In this case, that’s as a result of this software makes use of Pixel Studio, an AI app older Pixels can’t get. Pixel 9 house owners will even get pleasure from new Hearing Aid options.

This is a massive day for Pixel telephones, and proudly owning a Google-made handset is at all times a plus for getting the new Android model first. We must wait and see when different Android producers determine to replace their telephones to Android 16. It might be a whereas – Samsung solely pushed out Android 15 two months in the past.

But Android is completely different now. It’s not as important for Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi and the relaxation to push out Android 16 in the present day. Android is sort of fragmented, and Google is transport Pixel-exclusive Feature Drops alongside Android 16. Samsung can do the similar, giving its customers unique options each time it needs.

It’s unlikely any Android makers will use a lot of Google’s new Material 3 Expressive design, both, so there’s no incentive for them to hurry to push out Android 16 until it’s bringing main new options to Android – and it doesn’t appear like it’s.

Annual Android model updates proceed to come back, however the shifting of the timing from Google and the collective shrug from different Android producers reveals that whereas that is the biggest replace of the 12 months for Pixel telephones, it’s not as important because it was once.