A new option coming to Pixel phones in Android 16 is the ability to use the fingerprint sensor when the screen is turned off.
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The second developer preview of Android 16 is available today, and we are looking at DP2 to find what new features have been introduced. So far, this isn’t a big release.
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Well ahead of its usual schedule, Google has just released the first preview of Android 16. This initial developer preview isn’t meant for the general user, but it’s freely available to anyone who wishes to try it. Here’s what Google Pixel devices can install the Android 16 Developer Preview and how to install it.
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Ahead of the Q2 2025 launch, Google is rolling out Developer Preview 2 of Android 16 to Pixel devices. This should be the last Android update of the year, with 15 QPR2 Beta 2 arriving earlier this week.
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With the release of Android 16 DP1, Google shared the schedule for the Developer Preview and upcoming Beta.
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The Wi-Fi QR code sharing menu in Android 16 Developer Preview 1 has received a lick of paint and now has new visuals when connecting other devices.
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With Android 15, Google elevated the Privacy dashboard into the main Security & privacy page, and Android 16 DP1 adds a 7-day permissions history.
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Android 16 Developer Preview 1 brings a handful of user-facing additions, but nothing major so far. On the Pixel 9, there’s an “Experimental mode” display color.
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Android 16 is now available in its first Developer Preview phase. One of the new features found on Pixel devices in Android 16 DP1 is Notification Cooldown, which will minimize vibration and noise if too many notifications come in at once.
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Officially, Google only promised three years of Android updates, as well as two more years of security patches, for its 2021 Tensor flagships. The Pixel 6 and 6 Pro are now getting Android 16 Developer Preview 1, which bodes well for the public launch.
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With Android 16 set to launch in the second quarter of 2025, Google is starting the Developer Preview for Pixel devices today.
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