Google launches Android 16 and Pixel Drop updates right after Apple’s WWDC splash.
Android 16 rollout starts Tuesday for Pixel phones. Key new features: group chat in RCS, AI editing tips in Google Photos, and corporate badge support in Google Wallet. More accessibility and customization touches too.
Lock screen alerts now mimic iOS live notifications, showing real-time updates. New Material 3 Expressive UI tweaks land. Security upgrades include anti-theft features and tougher advanced protection mode aimed at public figures. 
Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio support arrives for better call quality, letting you use LE devices’ mics. Native volume controls for these devices are built in.
Image:
Android 16 tablets get desktop-style windowing and custom keyboard shortcuts later this year. Google Messages now supports RCS group chat with custom icons and timed mute options.
HDR screenshots, adaptive refresh rates, and forced notification grouping reduce clutter.
Google Photos adds AI-powered edit suggestions like erase, move, and “reimagine.” Google Home lets you favorite devices. Google Wallet on Wear OS now supports public transit payments.
Pixel Drop June updates are rolling out alongside Android 16.
Pixel VIPs widget shows your recent calls, texts, WhatsApp messages, birthdays, and location shares from favorite contacts.
Image:
Video captions get more detailed with descriptions of whispers, yawns, throat clearing, etc. Custom sticker creation comes to Gboard with text prompts. Recorder adds AI summaries in French and German. Emergency SOS via satellite lands in Australia.
Image:
Battery health indicator launches for Pixel 8a and newer (excluding Pixel 8/8 Pro). Magnifier app now provides haptic and visual feedback to help users find items by description.
Enterprise updates include storing corporate badges in Google Wallet and using Gemini chatbot in Google Docs to summarize, analyze, and translate. Chrome on Android improves PDF viewing with linked document support.
June’s Pixel Drop updates start rolling out Tuesday.
Image:
