TL;DR
- While Android 15 isn’t rolling out yet, details about Android 16 have already emerged online.
- First and foremost, Android 16 could chip with a new Settings menu layout, along with better notifications management system.
- Android 16 could have a new DND (Do Not Disturb) mode with toggles to enable/disable several settings.
In August, Google unveiled its smartphone series, the Pixel 9 (review). While all the models in the lineup (four in total) shipped with several improvements and upgrades, they lacked a key aspect: the operating system. The Pixel 9 series was the first (since the lineup’s launch) to debut without a new Android OS version. Nonetheless, Google is committed to releasing the Android 15 update in October.
ALSO SEE: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Phones Price List 2024
When Will Android 16 Arrive?
While Android 15 isn’t rolling out yet, details about Android 16 have already emerged online. Most recently, Android Authority has hinted at the launch timeline and key specifications of Android 16, which is codenamed “Baklava,” after the famous Turkish desert. The publication suggests that Google can release Android 16 as early as the second quarter of 2025.
Usually, the Android-maker drops the first developer preview of new operating systems in the first quarter of a year, followed by the first beta in the second quarter. However, the operating system arrives as a stable update in the third quarter of the year. So far, Android 15 has followed a similar timeline. However, that could change with Android 16.
New Android 16 Features
Citing the features released in the Android 15 QPR 1 beta, the publication has curated a list of several Android 16 features that could create a difference in people’s usage habits. For those catching up, the features added to the Pixel series (as part of the Android QPR updates) are often released for other smartphones in the following Android update.
ALSO SEE: Best Asus Gaming Mobile Phones Price List 2024
New Settings Menu
First and foremost, Android 16 could chip with a new Settings menu layout, wherein related options could be stacked together. Currently, the Settings app showcases a list of all the options distributed evenly across the space.
However, with Android 16, frequently-visited options could be grouped for added convenience. For instance, the “Network & Internet” and “Connected devices” options will be grouped together in a tile. Further, there will be a separation in the grouped tiles.
Better Notifications Management System
The Android 15 QPR 1 Beta 2 contains a new notification management system that doesn’t show older alerts. While the notifications section still contains some information to let users know the apps to check, old notifications no longer trigger a sound or a vibration.
A similar addition is the minimization of heads-up notifications, which can be very annoying while using phones in full-screen mode. The smaller heads-up notifications are widely available in Android 15 QPR 1 Beta 2. These contain much less text and remove any images, such as the person’s profile picture, to save space.
Lock Screen Widgets
The Pixel Tablet recently got access to lock screen widgets as part of the Android 15 QPR 1 Beta 2 update. Although the widgets are made for tablets, there’s a good chance that Google could expand them to smartphones with Android 16. If the feature arrives, it will surely change how people use their smartphones, as they can access useful information and features right from the lock screen.
Custom DND Profiles
Last but not least, Android 16 could have a new DND (Do Not Disturb) mode with toggles to enable/disable several settings. These include the grayscale mode, always-on display, the option to dim the wallpaper, and toggle dark theme. Then there’s Priority Mode, a feature that lets users create a fully customized DND profile with its own settings (similar to the custom Focus modes on iPhone).
ALSO SEE: Tata Sunroof Cars in India
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
