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Android 16
Android 16 is the sixteenth and latest major release of Android, the mobile operating system developed by the Open Handset Alliance and led by Google. The first developer preview was released on November 19, 2024. The first beta was released on January 23, 2025. Google released the final version on June 10, 2025.
Android 16 is internally codenamed "Baklava". This naming choice marks a departure from the traditional alphabetical order of dessert-themed codenames which had been a hallmark of earlier Android versions. The shift to "Baklava" reflects Google's recent changes in its development approach, particularly its "Trunk Stable Project", which streamlined build processes and naming conventions starting with Android 14.
The first developer preview (also known as DP1) for Android 16 was released on November 19, 2024. A second developer preview was released on December 18, 2024. The first beta was released on January 23, 2025, with the second beta releasing shortly after on February 13, 2025. The third beta, released on March 13, 2025, marked the platform's stability milestone. The fourth and last scheduled beta of Android 16 was released on April 17, 2025.
The official release notes state that the following features would be introduced in Android 16:
Android 16 introduces an overhaul to the operating system's Material Design language branded as "Material 3 Expressive" which features increased use of animation, colors and blur. Material 3 Expressive was not included in the initial release of Android 16; in September 2025 it began to be deployed to Pixel phones (Pixel 6 and newer) and the Pixel Tablet.
Android 16 introduces a desktop mode for tablets, similar to ChromeOS and Samsung DeX. The desktop mode is not included in the initial release of Android 16 and is instead scheduled for release later in 2025.
In Android 16, Google expanded the "Linux Terminal" feature, which was initially introduced in Android 15 QPR2 beta, allowing users to run Linux applications within a virtual machine on their devices. This feature utilizes the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) to create a Debian-based environment where users can execute Linux commands and graphical applications. The guest operating system is fully isolated by the hypervisor (KVM or gunyah) and schedules resources with its own Linux kernel. Notably, it supports running classic software like Doom, which shows its capability to handle full desktop applications.
The Android photo picker now includes support for cloud-based media services like Google Photos. Users can seamlessly select photos stored in their cloud accounts, eliminating the need to switch between apps. Additionally, the picker integrates cloud albums alongside local content. The embedded picker can now respond to configuration changes like the screen orientation or theme changing, can hide the overflow menu and preview features, and includes the selection bar and snack bar, and can be expanded or collapsed. Additionally, the picker now includes search functionality, enabling users to search for specific photos and videos within their local and cloud storage.
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Android 16 AI simulator
(@Android 16_simulator)
Android 16
Android 16 is the sixteenth and latest major release of Android, the mobile operating system developed by the Open Handset Alliance and led by Google. The first developer preview was released on November 19, 2024. The first beta was released on January 23, 2025. Google released the final version on June 10, 2025.
Android 16 is internally codenamed "Baklava". This naming choice marks a departure from the traditional alphabetical order of dessert-themed codenames which had been a hallmark of earlier Android versions. The shift to "Baklava" reflects Google's recent changes in its development approach, particularly its "Trunk Stable Project", which streamlined build processes and naming conventions starting with Android 14.
The first developer preview (also known as DP1) for Android 16 was released on November 19, 2024. A second developer preview was released on December 18, 2024. The first beta was released on January 23, 2025, with the second beta releasing shortly after on February 13, 2025. The third beta, released on March 13, 2025, marked the platform's stability milestone. The fourth and last scheduled beta of Android 16 was released on April 17, 2025.
The official release notes state that the following features would be introduced in Android 16:
Android 16 introduces an overhaul to the operating system's Material Design language branded as "Material 3 Expressive" which features increased use of animation, colors and blur. Material 3 Expressive was not included in the initial release of Android 16; in September 2025 it began to be deployed to Pixel phones (Pixel 6 and newer) and the Pixel Tablet.
Android 16 introduces a desktop mode for tablets, similar to ChromeOS and Samsung DeX. The desktop mode is not included in the initial release of Android 16 and is instead scheduled for release later in 2025.
In Android 16, Google expanded the "Linux Terminal" feature, which was initially introduced in Android 15 QPR2 beta, allowing users to run Linux applications within a virtual machine on their devices. This feature utilizes the Android Virtualization Framework (AVF) to create a Debian-based environment where users can execute Linux commands and graphical applications. The guest operating system is fully isolated by the hypervisor (KVM or gunyah) and schedules resources with its own Linux kernel. Notably, it supports running classic software like Doom, which shows its capability to handle full desktop applications.
The Android photo picker now includes support for cloud-based media services like Google Photos. Users can seamlessly select photos stored in their cloud accounts, eliminating the need to switch between apps. Additionally, the picker integrates cloud albums alongside local content. The embedded picker can now respond to configuration changes like the screen orientation or theme changing, can hide the overflow menu and preview features, and includes the selection bar and snack bar, and can be expanded or collapsed. Additionally, the picker now includes search functionality, enabling users to search for specific photos and videos within their local and cloud storage.