Android 16 (Baklava)

Android 16, also chilling with the code-name of Baklava is almost cooked, folks. And check it: you have just barely finished with the installation of the Android 15 update. Typical Google, right? They’re keeping us on our toes and frankly, I’m on ACL here for it.

Some places where we’ve got more from Android 16 after deep diving it even further: Android 16 has changed every new feature we’ve seen so far – we’re talking some headliners and some sneaky little changes. Plus, we’re going straight in the juicy rumours and leaks dug up from deep inside the code.

Now, full disclosure here as Android 16 is still in third beta version so nothing is really locked in just yet. But we’re in the home stretch and with a flood of Internet leaks we’ve got a pretty clear picture of what’s coming to surround our devices.

Android 16 Focuses on Stability, Performance & Smarter Features

While a lot of visualization and updates were added in Android 15 under the hood, Android 16 is taking this foundation and expanding it further. This year’s write up has a lot to do with:

✔ More polished multitasking

Especially in case of Foldables and tablets which have smoother animations and smarter management of windows.

Google adds deeper system-level controls where the apps that you use more are bumped to the top and those which you don’t use are silenced.

✔ Improved security & privacy

More background protection More serious permission behavior Safer installation of apps

Checkmark AI enabled more deeply integrated into the system

Even if you don’t have a “Google AI” device, Android 16 will take advantage of machine learning on every device to make things faster with suggestions and help the UI to feel more responsive by a system that uses on-device machine learning.

Check boxes for “Increased flexibility of customization”

New tweaks to lock screen layouts/wallpapers/themes/widgets and gestures.

Google is not re-inventing the wheel with this one. Instead, Android 16 is that update that brings it all together, ironing out the rough edges and making your phone feel faster, more consistent and more refined.

The Codename “Baklava”

Yes, Google Is Still Eating Desserts & Naming Their Names.

Even though the branding for their public-facing version ceased at Android 10, desserts continue to be a part of Google’s internal code. And Android 16’s codename is Baklava – a sweet Middle East layered pastry.

These names show up in:

internal documents

developer menus

test builds

Google team references

It’s mostly fun tradition at this point but it is loved by long time android lovers.

Security & Sanity

Android 16 makes the hacking of your phone way harder as you’re stuck on a call with some sketchy jerk. For example if a caller attempts to talk you into “toggling a setting” to sideload an app, your phone will simply flat out refuse to allow these permissions mid-call.

And it’s not just side loading. They’re locking down other scummy permissions as well, such as the one for Accessibility that scammers love to abuse. Google is at last slamming that door shut. Good riddance!

Notification Cooldown

The next one is a pure stroke of genius: Notification Cooldown. Ever had someone just completely send you a bunch of messages? If you get blasted with a ton of alerts in the short of time, Android 16 will smartly reduce the volume and reduce the size of those alerts for roughly about a minute. The only things that get a pass are calls, alarms or your priority convos. So it is good for your sanity, and your phone does not end up sounding like a broken pinball machine.

Oh, and storing contacts? Finally less of a headache. Forget the auto-sync drama. There’s a new Contact Storage page where you get to pick just exactly where those numbers get to go, to some other Google account or maybe you just want to keep them strictly on the device. It’s about control, baby.

The Glow-Up: Settings, Pixels, and Flow

The Settings app had a clean-up and to be honest I’m all for it. The search bar is larger and everything is neatly grouped up. They made Accessibility to way down the bottom and About Phone to be closer to the middle. It just makes sense: Important stuff front-and-center, the yuck, not-so-useful stuff tucked away. Clean.

Quick side note: some of these features, such as the new Settings look, actually appeared in the Android 15 QPR beta builds. But with not a ton of people knowing about it, and with them being guaranteed to come in Android 16, we’re covering them so that you’re totally in the loop. Thumbs up for that!

This one is mainly for the Pixel users as most other phones already have it (but you finally get a Battery Health section showing your current battery capacity and condition). My Pixel 9 Pro XL is sitting pretty, after almost a year, at 97%. Not bad. But seriously, it is about time we got this.

On the privacy front, there was the Privacy Dashboard – which got an upgrade. Instead of having the ability to see in the last 24 hours what apps did, you get 7 days history. Now you can really get an idea of what apps are the biggest data hogs on a whole week. Knowledge is power!

And for a huge quality of life win: now you will be able to unlock your phone with your fingerprint even when the screen is off. No tapping to wake up but just a touch and you’re in. Yeah Samsung users are rolling their eyes but for now it’s built right into Android itself which is what we need.

Tiny Tweaks That Matter

Let’s get down to those lesser and still seriously cool details:

The Android Easter Egg Got a fresh logo, but the game is same old rocket thing . C’mon Google we need some new mini game!

Finally, you can switch your system-wide preferred measurements (Metric or Imperial) regardless of where you are located living in.

Keyboard users, rejoice physical keyboard users! You get custom keyboard shortcuts to do the screenshots, split screen and open apps.

In Accessibility, we’ve had a new Outline Text with high-contrast backgrounds so that everything is that much easier for people who have vision problems to read. Huge improvement.

Doubled up press power button can now be re-mapped! Switch cameras, to open Google Wallet, or whatever. Choice is good.

Even the sharing of Wi-Fi got a Material You makeover – the QR code looks slicker. It is all in the details they say.