Google has launched the new mobile operating system, Android 16, for millions of smartphone users. The design has been revamped and numerous customisation features added. It will soon be available to users of Pixel smartphones.

Android 16 now features iOS-style live notifications on the lock screen for real-time updates and Google’s new Material 3 Expressive design language. There are new capabilities for safeguarding against theft and scams, along with an updated advanced protection mode to maintain security and privacy for public figures.

Apple has revamped multitasking and productivity in iPadOS 26 and having used it for two days, it's already shown these four things that Google needs to add to Android.

Android 16 also adds support for hearing aids with LE audio, letting you connect them to your phone and enjoy clearer calls in noisy environments. This update also includes native controls for hearing aids, designed to make the control process easier to access and more consistent.

Google has released the desktop mode for Android for developers to test with the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 update – Pixel 8 or 9 required.

One of Google's plans is to change the way users reach the most important people in the Phone app. As spotted by Telegram user @h_muc, the Mountain View tech giant seems to have started reworking the "Favourite" section to move it somewhere else in the app (via Android Authority ).