Google has begun rolling out Android 16 to its Pixel smartphone lineup, introducing features like group chat support for RCS, AI-powered edit suggestions in Google Photos, and corporate badge support in Google Wallet, alongside improved accessibility options and enhanced customization for messaging and contacts.
Material 3 Expressive is Google's latest evolution of its design system, unveiled at Google I/O 2025 and coming to Android 16. This design approach creates emotional connections through vibrant colors, intuitive motion, and contrasting shapes12. Based on extensive research involving 46 studies and over 18,000 participants, M3 Expressive proved more usable across all age groups, with users spotting key UI elements up to four times faster than with previous designs3.
The update introduces several new components including button groups, FAB menus, loading indicators, and split buttons, while enhancing existing elements with dynamic color systems and physics-based motion42. Rather than being a complete replacement, M3 Expressive builds upon Material 3's foundation, adding personalization options that make interfaces feel more natural and emotionally resonant without compromising usability56. Eye-tracking studies showed that strategic use of color, size, and shape in M3 Expressive designs significantly improved user experience, particularly benefiting older adults who performed on par with younger users3.
One of Android 16's most anticipated features is Live Updates, Google's answer to Apple's Live Activities. This new notification system displays real-time progress information for ongoing activities like food deliveries and ride-shares directly on your lock screen, notification shade, and status bar12. Live Updates appear as prominent notifications with progress bars, allowing users to monitor activities without repeatedly opening apps34. In the status bar, they create a tappable pill next to the time for quick access to the relevant app2.
While Android 16 introduces the foundation for Live Updates, the full implementation will arrive in stages. The initial release supports "progress-centric notifications" for compatible ride-share and food delivery apps1, with complete system-level integration coming later this year1. Android 16 also addresses notification clutter by automatically force-grouping all notifications from the same app56, a previously optional feature that's now mandatory to create a more organized notification experience5. Google plans to expand Live Updates to Wear OS devices in 20267, further enhancing the ecosystem's real-time notification capabilities.
Google Photos is expanding access to its powerful AI editing tools, making features previously exclusive to Pixel phones or Google One subscribers available to all users. Starting May 15, 2024, tools like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Portrait Light became available to everyone using Google Photos on Android and iOS devices, no subscription required12. Magic Editor, which uses generative AI for complex edits like repositioning subjects or changing backgrounds, is now accessible on all Pixel devices, with non-Pixel users getting 10 free saves per month13.
The expanded toolkit includes several impressive capabilities: Magic Eraser removes unwanted objects or photobombers with a few taps; Photo Unblur clears up fuzzy shots; and Portrait Light adjusts lighting in portrait photos13. Google is also introducing newer AI features like Auto Frame for intelligent cropping and Reimagine, which can add elements like fall leaves or green grass that weren't in the original photo45. These tools can be layered together for comprehensive edits, combining AI enhancements with traditional editing options for optimal results3. The redesigned editor interface groups these features together, making them more accessible while suggesting specific edits based on what you tap in your photos65.