Google has officially released Android 16, marking a significant shift in the Android release cycle. With two releases each year with new APIs: a major platform release in Q2 and a smaller API update in Q4, Android 16 represents the first major platform release under this new schedule, bringing substantial changes that developers need to understand.
What’s New in Android 16
Material 3 Expressive Design Language
Android 16 introduces an overhaul to the operating system’s Material Design language branded as “Material 3 Expressive” which features increased use of animation, colors and blur. This design refresh creates a more dynamic and visually engaging user experience.
Quick Settings Redesign
The notification panel has received a comprehensive makeover. Google has confirmed several parts of this extensive Quick Settings redesign, including the resizable tiles, one-click toggles for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, updated brightness slider, blurred background for the Quick Settings and notifications panel, and the updated tile editor.
Desktop Windowing and Productivity Features
Android 16 brings desktop-like functionality to tablets and large screen devices. Desktop windowing on tablets lets you open multiple app windows, like on a computer, significantly improving multitasking capabilities. With Android 16 features like custom keyboard shortcuts and desktop windowing, the latest Android version makes using your device easier than ever.
Enhanced Camera and Media Capabilities
Professional camera users will benefit from new features. Android 16 enhances support for professional camera users, allowing for night mode scene detection, hybrid auto exposure, and precise color temperature adjustments. Notable new behaviors include improved notifications, extended support for full-screen apps, advanced protection against USB attacks, desktop-style multitasking, and several enhancements to camera and media capabilities.
Security and Privacy Improvements
Security has been strengthened with new protective measures. Advanced Protection gives you stronger security against online attacks, harmful apps, and scam calls. Android 16 also includes enhanced protection during phone calls, where Android now blocks you from granting sensitive permissions during active phone calls — especially things like sideloading apps or toggling Accessibility settings to prevent scam-related attacks.
Accessibility Enhancements
Android 16 improves hearing aid compatibility, letting you use your phone’s mic for clearer calls, making the platform more accessible to users with hearing impairments.
Major Behavior Changes
Adaptive Apps Are Now Default
Adaptive apps are the default on Android 16 for any “large” device, meaning apps will automatically adapt to different screen sizes and orientations without requiring specific configuration.
Orientation and Resizability Changes
A significant change affects how apps handle orientation and resizing. Starting with Android 16, we’re phasing out manifest attributes and runtime APIs used to restrict an app’s orientation and resizability, enabling better user experiences for many apps across devices. This change initially applies to large screen devices but will eventually affect all form factors.
Job Execution Runtime Quota Adjustments
Background job execution has been modified. Starting in Android 16, we’re adjusting regular and expedited job execution runtime quota based on the following factors: Which app standby bucket the application is in: in Android 16, active standby buckets will start being enforced by a generous runtime quota.
Companion Device Pairing Updates
The companion device pairing flow has been updated for better privacy protection. All companion apps running on Android 16 are no longer directly notified of discovery timeout using RESULT_DISCOVERY_TIMEOUT. Instead, the user is notified of timeout events with a visual dialog. When the user dismisses the dialog, the app is alerted of the association failure.
Impact on Existing Applications
Immediate Testing Requirements
Test your app — run through all flows to look for issues. Toggle behavior changes at runtime to isolate issues. Update your app — target Android 16 if possible, and test with users using beta channels or other groups.
API Level Targeting Requirements
Developers need to be aware of Google Play’s evolving API level requirements. New apps and app updates must target Android 15 (API level 35) or higher to be submitted to Google Play, and this requirement will likely advance to Android 16 in the coming months.
Large Screen Compatibility
With the emphasis on adaptive apps and the phasing out of orientation restrictions, apps that previously relied on fixed orientations may need significant updates to work properly on tablets and foldables. The desktop windowing feature also means apps should be prepared to run in resizable windows.
Background Processing Changes
Apps that rely heavily on background jobs should review their implementation against the new runtime quota system. The changes to job execution quotas may affect how frequently background tasks can run, particularly for apps in different standby buckets.
Companion Device Integration
Apps that integrate with companion devices will need to update their pairing flows to handle the new user notification system instead of receiving direct timeout notifications.
Recommendations for Developers
- Test Early and Often: Set up Android 16 testing environments immediately and run comprehensive tests across all app flows.
- Embrace Adaptive Design: Prepare your apps for the new adaptive default behavior, especially if your app currently restricts orientation or resizability.
- Update UI/UX: Consider how Material 3 Expressive design language changes might affect your app’s visual consistency with the system.
- Review Background Tasks: Audit your background job implementations to ensure they work efficiently under the new quota system.
- Large Screen Optimization: If you haven’t already, optimize your app for tablets and foldables, as desktop windowing makes this more critical than ever.
Android 16 represents a substantial evolution in the Android platform, emphasizing productivity, security, and adaptive experiences across all device types. While the changes require careful attention from developers, they ultimately enable richer, more flexible applications that can take advantage of the diverse Android ecosystem.
The accelerated release schedule means these changes will come more frequently, making it crucial for development teams to establish robust testing and adaptation processes for future Android versions.
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