Google Unveils Android 16: A New Era of Design, AI Integration, and Enhanced Security

We 'Stole' a Phone From Google's Sameer Samat and Were Dazzled by Android 16

Patrick's play The Cowboy is included in the Best American Short Plays 2011-12 anthology. He co-wrote and starred in the short film Baden Krunk that won the Best Wisconsin Short Film award at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival. On a sunny bench next to an Android statue at Google HQ, Sameer Samat, president of the Android ecosystem, had his phone stolen. And it wasn't the first time Samat saw his Pixel phone nicked. In fact, on the day I visited, Samat had his phone nabbed four separate times by a man running past. It was all part of a demo to show off Android 16's expanded Theft Detection Lock: As soon as Samat's phone was grabbed, it locked itself down and showed a message on the lock screen that read, "Theft detection, device auto-locked." Theft Detection, introduced with Android 15, is one of several new and expanded features in Android 16 that are focused on safety and security. The new OS has three main pillars: a significant UI overhaul called Material 3 Expressive, support for Gemini on more devices, and safety and security tools. CNET interviewed Samat, and his genuine enthusiasm for Android 16 and what it means for customers shone through. "Android 16 is one of our biggest releases ever," Samat said. "What's really cool about the release is it touches on so many things that people are excited about." Android is the largest operating system in the world, running on more than 3 billion active devices. Android 16 marks a significant milestone for Google, showing that the tech giant's nearly 17-year-old OS is just as important now as it was in 2008 when it debuted. In particular, as all eyes look to Google's Gemini AI tools and services to be the next big thing, Android 16 proves that it can bridge the gap between the tried-and-true features people have come to expect on their phone and the promises of AI. And Samat is clear that he doesn't expect AI to replace Android or apps, but rather make them more powerful and helpful. "Apps are still going to be important, but maybe in different ways," he said. "There are some mundane things that we do in apps today that an AI could help you with. For example, you might want to call a car, or reorder your favorite food from a particular restaurant. You still want to transact with that business, but perhaps you don't want to press the three buttons that you usually press to do it every time. You want to just ask the question, perhaps on your watch, and have it done for you." The first thing most people will notice is that Android 16 looks different from previous versions. Everything from the lock screen and the home screen to the quick controls panel and notification shade have been overhauled with a new design that Google calls Material 3 Expressive. This isn't a radical departure from the past, but rather the addition of a number of graceful and dynamic animations that are equal parts delightful and eccentric. For instance, if you raise the volume to its max, you feel a haptic, and the on-screen volume control actually moves higher than its normal spot, with your finger, to show that you can't increase it anymore. You can also easily resize tiles in the quick controls panel from 1x1 to 2x1 simply by pressing and holding on the control and dragging the side handle bar left or right. In fact, when you tap a control, the tile's icon moves subtly as a reaction. "When we think about how to design these systems, there is, of course, a utility to it all," said Samat. "For us, it isn't just about how it functions, but it's also about how it makes you feel. And all these touches around beauty and aesthetics, they're not always consciously meaningful to people. But as you experience a device, you just leave with a sense of delight. And that's what we're going for." Perhaps a good example of what Samat describes is the new dynamic animation for swiping away a notification. Rohan Shah, Google's senior product manager for the Android platform, demonstrated this for me. As he swipes away a notification, it's almost as if it's sticky and doesn't want to leave the notification shade. "When you, for example, swipe a notification, which users do 40 times a day, there's this real subtle motion where the notifications around it just give a little resistance," Shah said. Samat said that tearing off a notification and swiping to the right has never been more satisfying. That springlike action is part of Material 3 Expressive's fluid motion mechanic, which gives items that enter and leave the screen a more natural adherence to the physics you'd expect. Material 3 Expressive also makes Android more glanceable from the lock screen, home screen and your apps. For instance, on the lock screen, notifications you've read are tucked away in a pill-shaped box that shows each app's icon. This works in tandem with your phone's wallpaper and the new Live Updates that can be used to follow directions from Google Maps straight from the lock screen. As conspicuous as Material 3 Expressive is, Gemini also plays a large role in Android 16 and is now the default digital assistant. Samat explained that the choice to replace the Google Assistant with Gemini is about making interactions feel more intuitive. "In the past, where assistants maybe taught us how to speak to them, you had to say things in a particular way. Now, with the advances in AI, you can just speak naturally, and with 'ums' and 'ahs,'" Samat said. And it's not limited to phones. Gemini will be in cars, watches, Android XR headsets and even your TV. For Wear OS devices, Gemini works purely via the cloud, and you'll need an internet connection (Wi-Fi, phone or LTE) to use it. I got to see Gemini tested on a television set by Sal Choudhary, group product manager for Google TV. He started a demo by simply having Gemini show us the weather. Next, he asked it to show us Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1 and Gemini pulled up the movie's page. But then things got interesting when Choudhary asked Gemini, "Which Mission Impossible is the best one?" Gemini replied, "That's a fun debate. Many fans consider Mission Impossible: Fallout to be a standout for its incredible action sequences and compelling story. Others might argue for the original Mission Impossible for its suspense and classic spy feel. Or Ghost Protocol for its globetrotting adventure and Burj Khalifa stunt." Obviously, integrating Gemini into so many devices opens the doors for it to be used in even more form factors -- like Android XR headsets as well as Gemini powered glasses, which Samat teased. He points out that Gemini can not only understand what you say and what's on your screen, but can also use cameras to give you more info on the world around you. Glasses offer you the ability to view a display that no one else can see, and frames with a built-in camera let Gemini see the world as you do. I imagine we might hear more about glasses and how Gemini fits into Android XR at the Google I/O keynote on May 20. Having Gemini in more places is only as good as the information it gives you. If Gemini's responses are inaccurate or just plain wrong, that can unravel a novel use, such as glasses. Admittedly, Samat acknowledged this pain point with AI. "AI certainly does have instances where it doesn't get things correct. I think what's important here is [for the user] to understand the context. So using AI as part of Google search, that's going to be a really important area where factual information is critical, and the search team works really hard to make sure that they get that right," Samat said. "In other instances, like where we talked about identifying an image and describing it, the AI can do its best, and it can actually be tuned to do quite a good job, and also give a disclaimer to the consumer that's like, 'You may want to double check this if it's a critical decision you need to make, like before you buy it.'" Samat also shared that Google has found that people would rather have access to this type of AI and that there are instances where they may need to understand that there are limits. One of the most impactful new features in Android 16 is Scam Detection, which can alert you to a possible scam when using the Google Messages app. Scam Detection uses an on-device model specifically tuned to understand when a particular message or thread may be leading you to reveal personal information. And it works when you're having a conversation with somebody who's not in your contacts. "We've really taken an on-device AI model and we've helped train it with a lot of different scenarios for what can go bad and what can go wrong here," Samat said. "We've tested it against millions and millions of different possibilities of these scams that we see." Android users will also help to keep Scam Detection up to date. Every time a person reports a scam, Google can use that information to evolve the feature over time. It was an insightful time talking with Samat. The way he sees the future of Android and Gemini truly instills me with hope that all of this can lead to a better world. Android 16 genuinely does feel like one of the more significant releases in years. And we've just touched on a few top-tier features. There are a lot more tools, utilities and updates to Android 16 -- for a deeper look, check out CNET's Android 16 explainer. Android 16 will be released publicly in June, and Wear OS will be out later this summer. I look forward to testing both and see people's reactions to the new tools and features.

Android 16: Here's Everything Google Announced at The Android Show: I/O Edition

Nelson Aguilar is an LA-based tech how-to writer and graduate of UCLA. With more than a decade of experience, he covers Apple and Google and writes on iPhone and Android features, privacy and security settings and more. Google just kicked off this year's I/O with its first-ever Android Show, giving us an early look at Android 16 a week before the main keynote on May 20 and 21. Check out: We 'Stole' a Phone From Google's Sameer Samat and Were Dazzled by Android 16 Center stage is Material 3 Expressive, Google's new design for Android and Wear OS, which brings new dynamic colors, springy animations and a more fluid experience to your smartphone and watch. It's not all about looks through. Google also previewed new features and settings, like smarter notifications, improved privacy and security and greater customization. And oh yeah, Gemini AI is coming to more of your devices, like watches, cars, TVs and even Samsung's upcoming XR headset. From the biggest Android redesign in years to Gemini rolling out across more devices, here's everything new, including Android 16, Wear OS 6, new tools to fight scammers and features focused on keeping your data safe. Google's Material 3 Expressive design pushes Android's trademark customization even further. The theme this year seems to be "springy," as in more fluid and natural animations into every corner of your user interface. Interactions feel more tactile: swipe away a notification and the whole stack ripples with a spring‑loaded motion, along with a satisfying haptic rumble when you snap the notification off. Even everyday gestures, like swiping down the shade, scrolling recent apps or adjusting the volume slider, all now come with the same playful bounce. And you'll see these changes, as well as updated dynamic color themes and bolder typography, across your entire phone, including in Google apps like Gmail and Google Photos. Besides aesthetics, Android 16 also brings new functionality to your phone. In Quick Settings, you can squeeze in more of your favorite toggles, like Flashlight and Do Not Disturb, while the new Live Updates feature lets you easily track real‑time progress notifications (your Uber Eats delivery, a rideshare ETA, navigation directions, etc.) so you never have to hunt for these status alerts. Expect Android 16 first on Pixel devices later this year, with partner phones to follow. Material 3 Expressive is also landing on your wrist, this time shaped around Wear OS' circular screens. As you scroll through your watch, lists animate so that more information is accessible, buttons stretch to hug the bezel of your watch so that they're more easily tappable, and the animations are also smoother and easy to follow, like on your phone. Dynamic color theming syncs the whole system with your watch face palette, so that your interface feels cohesive instead of cobbled together. Tiles have been reengineered to surface more information, like a one‑tap shortcut to your favorite contacts or workout. And with continued improvements to performance and power optimization, you can expect up to 10% more battery life, the company says. Wear OS 6 is arriving later this year. Android's security playbook is getting three solid upgrades aimed at keeping you one step ahead of scammers, thieves and hackers. For starters, the AI-powered Scam Detection feature, which blocks suspicious messages within Google Messages, is getting smarter and better at spotting new text scams. On Android 16, Scam Detection can now flag everything from crypto "investment" hustles to bogus toll‑road fees, blocking billions of shady texts each month. Next we have Find Hub, a new dashboard where you can track your phone and luggage tag or check that your child made it home OK. The service is adding more third‑party Bluetooth tags and, later this year, will tap satellite connectivity (where carriers support it) so you can still share your location when cell service drops out. Google's also teaming with airlines like British Airways and Singapore Airlines to let you share your tag's location to the airline for speedier luggage recovery. And to round things out, Android 16 folds Google's beefiest security settings into an easier‑to‑toggle Advanced Protection mode. Flip it on and you get the same privacy and security features Google reserves for high‑risk users, like journalists and politicians, including stronger sign‑in requirements, stricter app checks and extra safeguards against malware. Google is pushing forward to bring Gemini onto every screen you own, whether it's your watch, dashboard, TV or the mixed‑reality headset Samsung is releasing later this year. On Wear OS you'll soon be able to yell out out reminders mid‑workout ("Remember that I'm using locker 43") or dig up restaurant details without pawing at your keyboard. In the car, Gemini takes over voice duties from Google Assistant, letting you speak to do things like navigate you to an EV charger that's near a park, summarize chaotic group chats or catch you up on the day's news while you drive. Back at home, Gemini on Google TV will serve up kid‑safe movie picks and pull YouTube explainer videos on demand ("How big is Jupiter, exactly?"). And on Android XR, Google's new platform for headsets and smart glasses, you'll be able to plan an entire vacation in immersive 3D, surrounded by maps, videos and local tips. Gemini is also coming to Sony and Samsung earbuds. Google is bringing its Gemini AI assistant into your driver's seat, first on the 250 million vehicles that already run Android Auto (in the coming months), then on Google‑built‑in dashboards in car models like the Lincoln Nautilus, Renault R5 and Honda Passport (later this year). With Gemini, you'll be able to talk to your car the way you talk to a passenger. You can ask Gemini to "always text Joe in Spanish," surface taco joints along your route or find an address in a buried Gmail thread, all without you having to memorize any complicated phrases or poke at your screen. And with Gemini Live, you can workshop ideas ("How do I ask for that promotion?") and learn something new ("Tell me everything about Frank Lloyd Wright") hands‑free in your car. Google's car advancements don't stop at AI. The company is also adding new apps to its catalog, along with new categories like games and videos, so that charging stops and school pickups are a little bit more entertaining, and it's rolling out digital car keys to more brands, including Audi, Volvo and Polestar. Expect deeper demos of everything next week at Google I/O.

The Android Show Live Blog: Android 16's New Design, Gemini on TV and Wear OS 6

It's about time. Google is finally looking to bring a desktop mode to Android, similar to Samsung DeX, Android Authority reports. This mode would let you plug your Android phone into a monitor via USB-C and work in a desktop-like environment, likely something that looks like ChromeOS. Android Authority's Mishall Rahman was actually able to get the feature to work with his Pixel device. Rahman says that desktop mode won't launch on Android 16 and might be better suited for Android 17. If you followed along with us during last year's Google I/O event, you probably hit a point wondering when Google would pivot away from AI and move on to... anything else seriously stop saying AI we all want to know about new phones please it's been two hours already. (Spoiler: It did not talk about anything else.) The presenters used the term "AI" over 120 times during that presentation, and although many specific details were interesting, in the words of CNET's Abrar Al-Heeti, "The lack of hardware announcements made this year's keynote a drag." It's a given that Gemini and other AI features will figure prominently during the Android Show and next week's Google I/O event. But if the company's only focus is once again AI, it risks blending the particulars into more AI slop. Already we're seeing that most smartphone owners are not interested in AI features (87% of Samsung owners and 73% of iPhone owners, according to a survey by SellCell), so blaring even more will again be a letdown. What I'd love to see instead is whether last year's lofty AI promises have turned into functional features that anyone can use.

Google I/O 2025 Live Updates: All the Latest Gemini AI, Android 16 News As It Happens

Google's Android 16 pitch leads off with a new design vocabulary it calls Material 3 Expressive, the latest iteration on the "Material You" design it shipped in 2021's Android 12. Google's VP of Product and UX for the Android Platform, Mindy Brooks, sums it up as "more fluid, natural, and springy animations." These changes go beyond visual effects to include touch-feedback elements, like the "incredibly satisfying haptic rumble" when you dismiss a notification. Here's our full rundown and a wrapup of 5 Game-Changing Android 16 Design Features I Can't Wait to Try.

Everything Google announced at The Android Show

Google I/O 2025 is still a week out, but Google shared a taste of the updates planned for Android and the larger Android Ecosystem it has in store this year in a separate event, dubbed The Android Show: I/O Edition. Engadget followed along with the announcements as they happened in our liveblog, but for an overview, here are the changes Google has planned for Android, its visual design and Gemini. Material Design, Google's design language for Android and Android apps, has been slowly evolving for years at this point, but Material 3 Expressive should be the biggest departure yet, adding new animations, typography and colors. Google believes these changes make Android and apps easier to understand, while making them more appealing to young people. Based on the screenshots and clips Google shared, using Material 3 Expressive on Android 16 and Wear OS 6 has made the OSes look bouncier, more playful and fun. On Android, that also comes with the ability to add more tools to Quick Settings and apps and widgets to your home screen app grid. How much of a difference the new design language actually makes in your day-to-day life will depend on how quickly developers adopt the new style. Google made Gemini the default assistant on Android and offered the multimodal generative AI's smarts on the web and iOS. Now the assistant is making the jump to even more of the surfaces Google already controls, including Wear OS, the wearable operating system used by Samsung's Galaxy Watches and Google's Pixel Watches, Google TV and Android Auto. Gemini will be able to do all of the things Google Assistant could do, like setting timers or creating reminders, but with much more flexible, natural language interactions. In Android Auto and cars with Google Built-in, you'll also be able to use Gemini Live, Google's tool for having live conversations with the AI about whatever topic you choose. Google TV will leverage Gemini for TV and movie recommendations across your favorite genres, along with the AI assistants basic ability to answer questions. You could ask it for recommendations for kid shows and get information about your favorite actor. A major component of each new version of Android is improved security features, and Google has a few new features planned for Android 16. The company says it's expanding its AI model for detecting spam texts and calls to account for new types of scams, like road toll scams. The next version of Android will also make it possible to grant accessibility privileges on a call with an unknown contact, and a new Key Verifier tool makes it possible to swap encryption keys to verify the person you're talking to is who they say they are. On top of those changes, Google is expanding its Find My Device network into the new Find Hub, which can track your Android devices, compatible accessories and trackers, all in one location. Devices in Find Hub will also be able to use your phone's satellite connectivity to make items findable even when you don't have cell service.

Android 16: 4 game-changing features coming to your phone

Google hosted its Android event on Tuesday, and with it came a number of exciting new features that will soon be available on your devices with Android 16. Here are the major Android updates Google shared at the event. Perhaps the biggest update for Android 16 is an overhauled look, a design Google is calling Material 3 Expressive. "It's a UI tailored to you," Android's VP of Product Management and User Experiences Mindy Brooks said during the presentation. The idea is that doing things on your phone should feel simpler and more intuitive. "Material 3 Expressive feels even more fluid and introduces a system of more natural, springy animations meant to bring a moment of delight to everyday routines," Android wrote in a blog announcing the news. "For example, when you dismiss a notification, the others next to it subtly respond to your drag. And when you snap it off the stack, you feel a satisfying haptic rumble." The new design will also feature more customizable options for color, font, and other visual components on your phone. Google shared a video previewing what the new design will look like. Google also announced a live updates feature that should help you stay on task. It effectively surfaces important updates from an app, meaning you don't need to navigate through other open apps or distractions. Google used the example of tracking an order from Uber Eats; Live updates should allow you to track your food with just a glance. Google, like pretty much every other tech company, promised to further integrate AI into Android 16. That means Gemini everywhere. It even seemingly took a shot at Apple in the process. "It isn't just an app, like on some other phones," said Rohan Shah, senior product manager at Android, during the event. "It's a powerful assistant, just one press away." So, what does Gemini everywhere look like? It means it'll be on your Android watch, in Android Auto, and all over your phone. During the event, Google imagined folks using Gemini to set reminders, find stops on road trips, and summarize messages. A big update for Android 16, in particular, is that all users have access to Gemini Live. That means everyone will be able to share their screen and camera with Gemini. This could prove especially helpful to folks using Android Auto, since Gemini Live should be able to help drivers perform hands-free tasks. People are using device tracking for way more than finding their phone. In response, Android 16 comes with Find Hub, which is basically an app for all the things you track. It's effectively a hub for all the people, devices, tags, and more that you track. Android also said it will roll out satellite connectivity soon, meaning you should be able to locate your friend even as they hike in the middle of nowhere. We received a lot of news about Android on Tuesday, but we expect even more Google news with its I/O keynote next week.

Everything we learned at 'The Android Show' event from Google

Here's everything that was announced at Google's Android Show I/O Edition 2025. Credit: Google But, if you just can't wait, Google held a special event on Tuesday: Android Show I/O Edition, which gave a look at some new big things headed to Android devices with the Android 16 update. Google shared some interesting stats during the livestream. For example, there are 3 billion active Android devices around the world, making it the most popular mobile operating system. More than one billion messages are sent in the U.S. alone across all mobile devices (iOS included) using the new RCS Messaging standard, which allows Android and iOS users to easily text as one big happy family. The real highlights, however, are in all the new features Google announced today. Here's everything you need to know from The Android Show event. According to Google, Android 16 will feature the operating system's biggest redesign in years, with a "whole new look and feel." Material 3 Expressive brings a brand new UI to Android devices, which can be tailored to each individual user. For example, Android 16's Material 3 Expressive allows users to personalize everything from the device interface's colors, fonts, and even animations. Even haptic rumbles can be connected to on-screen swipes and slides. A "refined" homescreen grid will also bring a neater, more visually pleasing app layout to users' screens. Another new Android 16 feature is Live Updates, which will highlight the most important notifications on the users' lockscreen. Rideshare services, food deliveries, and navigation apps will all be prioritized in order to provide users with up-to-date information on time-sensitive events so that they aren't pushed down the screen with less important notifications. Google says that Pixel devices will be the first to get Android 16 when it rolls out later this year. Google's smartwatch operating system is also getting a big visual update in what the company is calling its "most expressive version yet." Wear OS 6 will have a new Material 3 Expressive UI that embraces the circular screen of smartwatches and matches the on-screen visuals to the physical display shape of each smartwatch device. Transitions and animations that Android users have become accustomed to will also be coming to Wear OS 6, along with a 10 percent battery improvement for smartwatches that update to the new operating system In addition to all that, Google Assistant will be replaced with Gemini, bringing Google's AI model to its smartwatch operating system. Gemini isn't just coming to smartwatches either. Google announced that Gemini will be rolled out across all of its Android devices. That's right, Google is bringing AI to your car, your watch, and your TV. Google's AI Gemini will soon be coming to Android Auto and Google Built-In cars, in order to bring AI assistant abilities to drivers without having to use their smartphone. For example, drivers can conversationally ask Gemini details about locations on their map app and Google's AI chatbot will provide the user with real-time facts and other information based on their query. Gemini was also announced for smart TVs, which will bring AI chatbot capabilities to users while watching their favorite movies and television shows. And finally, Google teased that Gemini would be integrated into Android XR, the company's operating system for virtual and augmented reality headsets and smartglasses. Google also shared some new Gemini features for Android smartphones, which allow the user to screen record documents and snap photos of real-world items and then share the content with Gemini in order to receive summaries or ask questions. Perhaps the biggest news from The Android Show I/O Edition is that Find My Device is no more. Find My Device is now known as Find Hub in order to reflect that the tracking feature isn't just for devices anymore. Find Hub can be used to check on the location of loved ones, share locations with friends and families, and more. Google shared that they are working with new tracker tag companies such as July, which makes Bluetooth-tag embedded smart luggage. Google is also working with major airline partners so users can share their tags and track them through the airline when traveling. Disney will also soon release its own themed tracker tags with popular Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars characters. On the cybersecurity end of things, Google shared how Google Messages is continuing to get smarter when it comes to text message scams. Android's enhanced protections have been able to detect even newer schemes, such as the recent fake E-Z Pass toll road scam. All-in-all, there was nothing too groundbreaking announced at The Android Show I/O Edition. However, what was announced will bring some major changes and upgrades across a slew of devices in the coming months. Google packed a lot into a roughly 30-minute event, so we can only imagine what more they have in store at Google I/O next week.

The 5 biggest takeaways from Google's Android 16 reveal

Table of Contents Table of Contents Discover Material 3 Expressive design Wear OS 6 More Google Gemini Introducing Find Hub Safer and more secure Android 16 is coming this year, and Google has spent some time telling us all about the top features and changes we'll see in it. To ensure you're fully prepared for its arrival, here are the top five biggest takeaways from the grand reveal. Discover Material 3 Expressive design It has taken three years, 46 different studies, and feedback from 18,000 testers around the world to bring Material 3 Expressive, the name for the new design, to your Android device. Google says it wants it to be a design that makes you "Feel something," and it aims to do this through clever use of color, shapes, animation, and more. Recommended Videos The team studied everything from where we look on a screen to how long it takes to identify controls, resulting in a system that's easier, faster, and more delightful to use than ever before. There are new button groups, loading indicators, toolbars, and split buttons. Animations have been given a fun, natural springiness, and fonts are more readable. It hasn't gone overboard though, and recognizes good design only works when people make sense of it immediately. You'll see all this throughout the operating system, from a smoother detach motion when dismissing notifications to backgrounds blurring to focus attention and highlight context. A real-world example of just how in-depth Material 3 Expressive's changes are is the Send button in Gmail is larger and more obvious, shifting from the top of an email to the just above the keyboard, which Google says makes it four times faster to locate. Interestingly, the changes to the design has made Material 3 Expressive more usable for everyone of all ages. Developers are being encouraged to adopt Material 3 Expressive in their apps, with Google recommending they prioritize functionality, be intentional with the design itself, and to closely follow the new accessibility guidelines. Developers will be able to use a variety of new tools and design elements, such as new decorative shapes, animations, fonts, and color schemes. Wear OS 6 Excitingly, Material 3 Expressive will be coming to smartwatches with Wear OS 6. Google is designing the operating system around a circular display, with the user interface adapting itself around the screen to use as much of it as possible, and it will include many of the same elements coming to Android 16 on a phone. This will include the same springy buttons and boxes, the same clever color themes, and updated icons to make information more glanceable. Wear OS 6 will be updated with a new, more informative layout, easier to tap buttons, and a design to focus attention, just like on your phone. Google says the software has been optimized and should extend battery life by 10% on upgraded and brand new smartwatches. Google calls Material 3 Expressive in Android 16 and Wear OS 6, "a fundamental shift in the way your phone and watch work," letting you know it goes far beyond a basic new look and some new colors. More Google Gemini It'll come as no surprise that Gemini, Google's AI, will play a big part in Android 16. However, it's now moving beyond phones and coming to Wear OS, where it will replace Google Assistant. Gemini allows you to speak naturally, it can connect with a wide range of apps, and then pull required information from them. Germini will also arrive in Android Auto and Google Built-in for cars. Google says it's the safest way to stay connected when driving, allowing hands-free interaction through natural conversation. Because it can interact with different apps it can summarize messages, find charging or gas stations near different locations on your route, and provide news or start playlists. Google has also tuned Gemini for use in cars by shortening its responses. Gemini will also come to Android XR, the software platform it's working on with Samsung, and to Google TV too. Introducing Find Hub Find My Device is becoming Find Hub, and evolving to become an app to not only track items, but also stay in touch with friends and family. Find Hub will support location tracking in products made by brands like Peak and July, plus it'll soon support ultra-wideband tracking in tags like the Moto Tag. Google has also signed important agreements with airlines including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Iberia to allow Bluetooth location data to be shared for lost luggage. Later in the year it will have satellite connectivity enabled, where you'll be able to connect with people even when there's no cellular signal. Safer and more secure We'd already had hints about Android 16 putting a greater focus on safety and security, and it's packed with new tools, features, and protections. During calls with people not in your contact list, it'll alert you to potential scams such as crypto scams, gift card scams, and tech support scams in real-time and on the device. It'll also provide the same protections in Messages too. There are new accessibility permissions for apps downloaded outside the Play Store, new safeguards for screen sharing, and in-call protections related to banking apps. Advanced Protection, which had been spotted in a beta version of Android 16, will be available, and is best suited to those who prioritize security, as it allows you to lock down the device after identifying potential attacks. Google will introduce more robust factory reset options later this year, with more control over what features can be reset. Another new tool is Key Verifier, which uses a QR code to confirm end-to-end encryption is in place, and will alert you if it suddenly doesn't match, such as in the event of a SIM-swap attack. Google shared all its Android 16 news in a special Android Show broadcast on YouTube, ahead of its annual developer conference, Google I/O, which takes place from May 20.

Google Android Show 2025: Android 16 and Wear OS 6 unveiled with improved design, security and new Find Hub

Find Hub replaces Find My Device, adding satellite support and Bluetooth tag tracking for enhanced location services. Google has lifted the veil on significant updates coming to the Android ecosystem later this year, marking the beginning of its I/O 2025 season. Android, the world's most popular operating system powering over three billion devices across more than 190 countries, is set to receive a major refresh with announcements centred around a design refresh for Android 16 and Wear OS 6, expanded AI capabilities with Gemini, and comprehensive security enhancements. A central theme of the upcoming updates is a major design refresh for both Android 16 and Wear OS 6, dubbed "Material 3 Expressive," which builds upon the Material You principles introduced in 2021. Google aims to make interfaces more engaging, intuitive, and emotionally resonant through strategic use of motion, colour, and shape. "Material 3 Expressive is an expansion of new components and capabilities designed to add motion to product UIs," explained Mindy Brooks, Senior Director of Product and User Experience on the Android team. "The goal is to provide a more premium and engaging experience that's easier to use, creating a little more joy in those key interactions." This design philosophy is backed by extensive research, 46 studies involving over 18,000 participants, making it Google's most researched design system update to date. The research revealed that users strongly prefer these expressive designs, finding interfaces easier to navigate and spotting key UI elements up to four times faster. Notably, the design helps older users locate elements as quickly as younger users. Wear OS 6 receives similar treatment with design elements specifically crafted for round watch displays, including fluid scrolling animations that trace the display's curvature, space-efficient buttons that hug the screen's edge, and dynamic colour theming that extends across the entire system. "Every motion detail has been thoughtfully crafted," said Brooks, adding that these updates would "arrive later this year on Pixel devices first." The new Wear OS also promises improved performance and power optimisation, delivering up to 10% more battery life. Android is significantly strengthening its safety and security features to protect users from increasingly sophisticated threats. Stella Lo, Senior Product Manager on the Android platform team, emphasised that Android is "constantly evolving to help keep you safe from the unexpected." Key security enhancements include: Google is evolving its Find My Device feature into Find Hub, designed as a comprehensive solution for tracking devices, tags, and sharing locations with loved ones. "You can check if loved ones got home safely or share your location during a night out," said Lo. Ed Fernandez, Google spokesperson for Find Hub, confirmed it will roll out to "all Android devices simultaneously," rather than being a Pixel-first release. The platform supports a growing list of Bluetooth tag partners, including July, Mokobara, Peak, and Pixbee, with UWB-enabled tags like the Moto Tag. The Find Hub will gain satellite connectivity later this year, enabling users to stay connected even without cellular service. Early next year, partnerships with airlines including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines will help travellers recover lost luggage through shared Bluetooth tag locations. "We want Android to respond to you -- visually, functionally, and emotionally," Brooks said. "This is just the beginning." These announcements represent Google's continued commitment to enhancing the Android experience through design, AI integration across various devices, and strengthening user safety and security. More details and demos are anticipated at Google I/O next week.