Key Takeaways
1. Android 16’s developer previews and beta versions have been released, with major user features expected at Google I/O 2025 on May 20, 2025.
2. New lock screen widgets, previously available on Google tablets, will be introduced to Pixel phones with Android 16 QPR1.
3. The lock screen widget feature will also be included in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), allowing other manufacturers to adopt it.
4. Android is aiming to enhance its desktop capabilities, allowing users to mirror and extend their display on external monitors with improved multi-display features in Android 16.
5. Users will have more control over their multi-display setup, including adjusting positioning, using input devices, and customizing settings like refresh rates and text/icon sizing.
The first developer previews and beta versions for Android 16 have been released, although many of the new features important for regular users likely won’t be revealed until the Google I/O 2025 conference scheduled for May 20, 2025. Android specialist Mishaal Rahman has found a way to enable two of these upcoming features ahead of time on the latest Android 16 Beta 2.1.
New Lock Screen Widgets
Users of the Pixel tablet might already know about the first noteworthy feature: lock screen widgets. This functionality has been on Google tablets since Android 15, but it hasn’t appeared on smartphones running the current version of Google’s operating system. In a recent announcement, Google stated this handy feature will be coming to Pixel phones starting with Android 16 QPR1, which is the first quarterly update following the Android 16 launch, internally referred to as 25Q3.
Expanding Access and Functionality
Even more exciting is that Google plans to include this new feature in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) during the summer, making it accessible to other Android manufacturers if they choose to implement it in their own interfaces. Mishaal provides a glimpse of how this feature could look on a smartphone in the video below, although some aspects may still be altered appearance-wise and function-wise before the final rollout.
In a move similar to Apple, Google aims to strengthen Android’s position as an alternative to traditional desktop operating systems like Windows, macOS, or Linux. Evidence of this shift can already be seen in Android 15, which allows users to mirror their display content on an external monitor. The Pixel 10 Pro could serve as an even more efficient temporary desktop alternative due to advancements in the multi-display feature set to debut in Android 16. Rahman also got to tinker with this newly activated feature ahead of time.
Enhanced Multi-Display Experience
The video shared below reveals that in the future, users will not just mirror their Pixel screen on a second display; they will also be able to extend it. The “External Display” section in Android settings has seen enhancements, allowing users to adjust the positioning of the second display in relation to their smartphone. Plus, input devices like a mouse or touchscreen can be used to smoothly transition the cursor between the screens. Google is also working on dedicated settings for refresh rates and text/icon sizing. However, it’s still unclear when exactly this feature will become available; like the widgets, it may be included in a future Android 16 feature drop.
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