Washington: Among the most anticipated additions in Android 16 is the Live Updates feature, inspired by Apple’s Live Activities. This allows users to track delivery and ride-hailing services in real-time through persistent notifications on their lock screen or Now Bar. Initially rolling out across food and transport apps, the feature will later expand to services like Google Maps. Users on Samsung devices will see these in the Now Bar, while Oppo and OnePlus users will find them under Live Alerts.

Android 16 also brings smarter notification management, automatically grouping messages from the same app to reduce screen clutter—offering a cleaner, more intuitive interface.

Accessibility has also seen meaningful improvements. A targeted update for hearing aid users now allows switching audio input from hearing aid microphones to the phone’s mic for clearer call quality. The system also includes new tools for microphone selection, volume adjustment, and audio preferences.

Security is another cornerstone of the update. Android 16 introduces advanced protection against unsafe apps, websites, and cyber threats, offering a more robust digital shield for users exposed to heightened online risks.

Other app enhancements include:

The ability to customize group chat icons and mute chat notifications for set durations in the Messages app.

A new image editor in Google Photos.

Custom shortcuts for smart home device control, such as viewing security cameras via Google TV or managing thermostats from a Wear OS smartwatch.

Android 16 is now available for eligible Google Pixel devices, with more visual enhancements based on the Material 3 Expressive design and updates to Wear OS 6 expected in the coming months.