Google announces second Android 16 release of 2025 is heading to Pixels

Material 3 Expressive came to Pixels earlier this year, but not as part of the first Android 16 upgrade: Google’s relationship with Android releases is complicated these days. Regardless, Material 3 will become a bit more consistent on Pixels after this update. Google will now automatically apply Material theming to all icons on your device, replacing old colored icons with theme-friendly versions. Likewise, dark mode will be supported in more apps, even if developers haven’t added support. Google is also adding a few more icon shape options if you want to liven up your home screen.

In terms of functional changes, Google added a more intuitive way to manage parental controls: you can simply use the managed device directly. Parents will be able to set a PIN to access features like screen time, app usage, and more. without having to use another device. If you want more options or control, the new device settings will also help you configure Google Family Link.

Android for everyone

No Pixel? No problem. Google has also bundled a collection of app and system updates that will begin rolling out today to all supported Android devices.

Chrome for Android is getting an update with tab pinning, reflecting a feature that has been in the desktop version since time immemorial. The Google Messages app also takes care of some low-hanging fruit. When you are invited to a group chat by a new number, the app will display the group information and a one-click option to leave and report the chat as spam.

Google’s official dialer app is available on Pixels, but it’s also available on the Play Store for anyone to download. If you and your contacts use Google Dialer, you’ll soon be able to make calls with a “reason.” You can mark a call as “Urgent” to tell the recipient not to send you to voicemail. The emergency tag will also remain in the call history if they miss the call.