A day after Apple announced an operating system overhaul at WWDC 2025, Google launched its own major software upgrade set for phones.
Starting Tuesday, a new release of Android 16 will be rolling out to Google’s Pixel smartphone lineup, adding group chat to RCS, AI-driven editing suggestions for Google photos, and support for corporate badges on Google Wallet. This release also focuses on better accessibility support and improved messaging and contact customization.
Apart from Android 16, Google has announced an upgrade as part of the regular feature updates for its eligible pixel phone, Pixel Drop.
Android 16 improvements
Android 16 will feature iOS-style live notifications on the lock screen and Google’s new material 3 phenotypic design language for real-time updates. There are new features in protection against theft and fraud, along with an updated, advanced protection mode to maintain public figure security and privacy.
Android 16 also adds support for Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio devices, allowing it to be used instead of the phone’s microphone. You can also use the new native controls to control the volume of your device from your mobile phone.
Later this year, Android 16 Android tablets will get desktop style windowing support, Google says. The company will also introduce custom keyboard shortcuts to allow the company to define actions to find apps through hotkey combinations.
For Android 16 and other supported Android releases, Google is deploying Google Messages updates that add RCS group chat support. You can select custom icons and mute notifications for a specific chat for a specified period of time.
Android 16 also brings forced grouping for HDR screenshots, adaptive refresh rates, and notifications to reduce notification arrangement.
Google Photos offers a variety of new features in Android 16 and other supported releases. Soon, the app can suggest editing tools such as erasing, moving, or “rethinking” some of the images.
Other Android 16 improvements include the ability to use your favorite devices in the Google Home app, and you don’t need to take out your phone as you can use Google Wallet on your Wear OS device to support public transport payments.
Pixel June Features
In addition to the new version of Android 16, Google is rolling out the latest monthly pixel feature upgrades.
The new Pixel VIP widget allows you to view interactions with your favorites in your contact list. It shows you the last call and message you receive from WhatsApp, as well as updates such as your birthday and location if your contact chooses to share them.
Pixel phones also get more detailed captions of video content, including live streams. For example, you will see a caption explaining whether someone is whispering, yawning, or clearing their throats.
Elsewhere, you can create custom stickers using a text prompt directly from Google’s Gboard keyboard. Google is adding support for summaries powered by French and German AI in its recorder app. Australian users will get the emergency SOS satellite connectivity feature for Android.
Google has added battery health indicators for users using the Pixel 8A and newer Pixel devices (not Pixel 8 and 8 Pro), and Pixel 5 and later devices are getting new accessibility features through the Magnifier app. You can use Magnifier to explain what you’re looking for. After that, if there is a match, the app will highlight the item and provide feedback via tactile sensation.
Enterprise Android users are also getting updates, including the ability to store corporate badges in their Google wallets. Additionally, you can use Google’s Gemini Chatbot app in the Google Docs app on Android to summarise content, gain insights, and translate text. Finally, Google is enhancing Chrome with Android PDF processing with linked document viewing.
The June Pixel Drop Update will begin rolling out on Tuesday.
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