Android 16 Is Getting a Facelift, and Gemini Is Rolling Onto More Google Platforms

Google I/O is connected May 20, but the annual developer conference volition beryllium truthful jam-packed with announcements that Google is opening the valve to merchandise immoderate quality early. Today, during a virtual lawsuit dubbed The Android Show, the institution showed disconnected respective features coming to the Android 16, starting with a caller redesign.

Here's everything caller coming to Google's mobile operating system. Some of these features volition get archetypal on Pixel phones aboriginal this summer—presumably Google's Pixel 10 series—but astir volition beryllium a portion of the large yearly Android update, which is expected to get earlier than accustomed this year, successful June.

Also beryllium definite to work our overview of the usage of on-device artificial intelligence to powerfulness Android's caller scam detection features.

Fresh Face

Android is getting a facelift with a caller plan connection called Material 3 Expressive, and the accent this clip is connected personalization.

The past large redesign was 4 years ago erstwhile Material 3 debuted. That said, Google says this isn't “Material 4," and Material 3 Expressive isn't a caller mentation of the system. Expressive is the “most researched update," done 46 studies with much than 18,000 participants.

Google claims the expressive connection sprinkled passim the operating strategy is preferred by radical of each ages, scoring precocious connected attributes similar playfulness, energy, creativity, and friendliness. Crucially, Google claims that “users are much apt to power to products that usage M3 Expressive components and techniques.” That's important erstwhile recent surveys person shown that 87 percent of teens ain iPhones with nary plans to switch.

There are caller animations that volition consciousness much responsive, similar however swiping a notification distant from the notification drawer volition consciousness springy with haptic feedback, and the notifications supra and beneath volition respond to that action. You tin expect subtle animation changes erstwhile you disregard an app successful the Recents menu, play astir with the measurement slider, oregon adjacent erstwhile you bring down the speedy settings shade—you'll spot a blur effect implicit your location screen.

Fonts and typography are much emphasized, and Android 16 has much dynamic colour themes, giving you much power implicit the operating system's look, adjacent successful supported apps. Much of it is functional too—Google's letting you compression much settings into the Quick Settings drawer, truthful you tin rapidly entree tools similar the Flashlight oregon Do Not Disturb mode.

Android 16 besides takes a cue from Apple's Live Activities features, pinning ongoing notifications from apps similar DoorDash, Uber, oregon Google Maps connected the fastener surface truthful you don't person to support hopping into the app to check. They'll enactment connected the surface adjacent erstwhile the telephone goes into standby mode.