Google has officially released Android 16, arriving first on supported Pixel devices and marking the platform's earliest major version rollout in recent years.
This update introduces two cornerstone features: a hardened system-wide security mode dubbed Advanced Protection and a brand-new desktop mode with external display support.
Google collaborated closely with Samsung to ensure the new multitasking experience integrates well with existing tools like Samsung DeX and extends seamlessly to tablets, foldables, and flagship phones using DisplayPort connections.
System-level security with Advanced Protection
Initially previewed during Google I/O 2025, Advanced Protection is now embedded natively in Android 16 and represents the platform's strongest mobile defense system to date. While it targets high-risk individuals such as journalists, political dissidents, and public officials, the feature is available to all Android 16 users.
Once enabled, Advanced Protection enforces a hardened security posture: critical settings like Google Play Protect, Secure App Installation, and USB data transfer restrictions cannot be disabled without user consent. One of the standout capabilities is Intrusion Logging, which encrypts system activity logs in a tamper-resistant format accessible only to the device owner, enabling post-incident forensic review without compromising privacy.
Additional protections bundled with Advanced Protection include:
- Automatic blocking of auto-reconnect to untrusted Wi-Fi networks
- Enhanced scam call and SMS detection with Google's AI systems
- Prevention of high-risk actions like sideloading or enabling accessibility services during calls with unknown contacts
This program is tightly integrated with core system services and apps like Chrome, Messages, and Phone, with Google planning to extend its reach to third-party apps in future updates.
Desktop-class experience on Android 16
Android 16 also delivers its most ambitious attempt yet to bring a desktop-like environment to mobile devices. The new desktop windowing system, launching first on compatible tablets and later expanding to phones with external displays, allows users to open, move, and resize multiple app windows simultaneously. Unlike previous split-screen or PiP modes, this interface enables freeform window management similar to traditional desktop operating systems.
The accompanying connected display feature, now in developer preview via Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2, activates a separate desktop session when the device is plugged into an external monitor via DisplayPort. This session includes a taskbar, app pinning, and support for independent window management on both the phone and the display. For tablets, this extends into a dual-display desktop where the user can drag content and the cursor between the two screens.
Key enhancements in the desktop windowing system include:
- Flexible window tiling: for intuitive app arrangement
- Multiple desktops: for task-specific workspaces, switchable via gestures or hotkeys
- Multi-instance management: allowing multiple windows of the same app (e.g., two Chrome sessions)
- Desktop persistence: remembering window positions and states across sessions
- Legacy app support: with automatic adjustments for better display compatibility
With the introduction of this new mode, Google has outlined development best practices for supporting the new UI paradigm. Apps must now dynamically adapt to different window sizes and densities, support standard desktop input methods (keyboard shortcuts, mouse actions), and integrate drag-and-drop and state preservation capabilities.
The rollout of Android 16 is gradual, first reaching supported Pixel devices and then continuing to OEM integrations. Usually, Samsung, OnePlus, and Nothing are among the quickest, delivering major Android OS updates to users a couple of months after the launch day. Xiaomi, Oppo, Motorola, and Realme lag behind. However, higher-end models from those OEMs typically receive the updates sooner than the rest.
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