Android 16 introduces new design, Gemini features and security

Google has kicked off its I/O season with the announcement of Android 16, revealing a major redesign, broader integration of its Gemini assistant, and new safety features. Speaking during the Android Show: I/O Edition, Sameer Samat, President of the Android Ecosystem, noted the platform's continued global reach with "more than 3 billion active devices in over 190 countries."

"Android devices are always pushing the industry forward," said Samat. "It's the platform where you see the future first."

A key focus of the announcement was the debut of Material 3 Expressive, which Android's Mindy described as "the biggest evolution of our design language in years." She explained, "Android's beautiful new design is flexible and customisable to reflect your personality and style."

Material 3 Expressive introduces updated colour themes, typography, and responsive animations across phones and wearables. "You'll see more natural and springy animations… just look at those silky smooth physics and the soft haptic rumble," she said. A new notification feature called Live Updates will also "highlight what you need to know so you can stay focused about what you care about," including real-time updates from apps like Uber Eats.

Wearables are also being refreshed with Wear OS 6, bringing Material 3 Expressive to round watch displays. "Notice how every element, from buttons to notifications, embrace the circular screen," said Mindy, adding that it offers "up to 10% battery improvement" due to platform-level optimisations.

The Gemini assistant has been deeply integrated across the Android experience. "It isn't just an app, like on some other phones," said a presenter. "It's a powerful assistant, just one press away." Available in over 40 languages, Gemini Live allows users to share their screen or camera feed to receive real-time support. One demonstration showed Gemini extracting information from a lengthy email to determine lunch plans: "It looks like lunch is scheduled for 1 p.m. in the Google cafeteria and it's a buffet."

Gemini Live also provides advice through camera view. "The sponge is for blending, the bottle is foundation… and the small jar is concealer," Gemini responded when shown a collection of makeup items.

Beyond phones and watches, Gemini is expanding to other platforms. "In the coming months we're bringing Gemini to your watch on Wear OS," one speaker said. "Later this year, Gemini capabilities are coming to your TV too," and eventually to Android XR, Google's upcoming extended reality platform developed in collaboration with Samsung.

The announcement also highlighted cross-device connectivity, such as seamless messaging through RCS, now the messaging standard on Android and iOS. "In the US alone, there are more than a billion RCS messages sent every day," Samat noted.

On the security front, Android is rolling out new protections against scams, malware, and theft. "Android detects [fraudulent calls] and gives you a real-time alert," said Stella, a presenter covering security updates. Scam detection has now expanded to text conversations and is processed "entirely on your device."

The Find My Device network is being rebranded as Find Hub, with new features for tracking personal items, checking loved ones' locations, and viewing shared tags. "Find Hub was designed with safety in mind," said Stella. She also confirmed satellite connectivity is coming to Find Hub later this year.

Samat concluded the show by calling Android 16 "one of the biggest Android updates ever." He stated, "Watch out for updates coming to your Pixel devices starting next month, with Samsung and many others this summer."

The Android Show closed with a look at recent Android-powered devices, including the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Pixel 9a, and Motorola Razr Ultra, all featuring Gemini integration. As Dieter Bohn noted during the device showcase, "It's not just that some of the best phones you can get right now run Android… it's also that there's an incredible diversity of devices so you can pick something that actually fits your vibe."