The best part about joining Team Pixel is that you get to enjoy the latest Android flavors as soon as they are released, whereas your pals are still stuck with previous versions. Since Android 16 is coming out early this year, you may be wondering if your Pixel is eligible for this mid-cycle update. Fear not, just take a look at this list of all Google Pixel devices that will receive Android 16.
Android 16: List of Supported Google Pixel Phones
Google is currently testing the public beta of Android 16 on all supported devices, and they have also extended the update cycle for Pixel 6 and 7 series devices back in December. This means your Pixel will likely get the update. Just to be sure, cross-check your phone with the list of supported devices:
- Pixel 9a
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Pixel 9 Pro
- Pixel 9
- Pixel 8a
- Pixel 8 Pro
- Pixel 8
- Pixel Tablet
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel 7a
- Pixel 7 Pro
- Pixel 7
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 6 Pro
- Pixel 6
What’s New in Android 16?
Image Credit: Beebom
Android 16 brings several useful and quality-of-life changes to your existing Google Pixel phones. Most of what’s new is under the hood, or will arrive later with QPR builds and Pixel Drops. However, some highlight features include Live updates like iOS, Bluetooth audio sharing, resizable windows for larger screens, and predictive back gesture in third-party apps.
Android 16: Potential Release Timeline
The update should be rolling out to your device somewhere around May or early June, as it has already received its possibly final beta . If you don’t want to wait for the final release, then you can learn how to install Android 16 beta and get the update right away.
That’s all we had for this list. Hopefully, your Pixel cut this year is eligible to receive the upcoming update. It is honestly quite good on Google’s part to not only honor the updates, but to extend them further for older devices.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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- Android 16 Beta 3 enables Screen-off Fingerprint unlock on older Google Pixels.
- The feature was previously believed to be exclusive to Pixel 9 series.
- With this, you can now unlock your Pixel phone quickly without AOD and turning on the display.
The next version of Android has reached its final testing phase with the recent Android 16 Beta 3 update. This beta didn’t bring any major upgrades but added many improvements for existing features. Among them, is the screen-off fingerprint feature, which is now available on older Google Pixel phones.
The Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock option in the Fingerprint Unlock settings menu allows users to unlock their Google Pixel phone with the screen off. This means, unlike previously where users had to tap to wake up the screen and then use the fingerprint to unlock, they can now just press on the fingerprint sensor region to unlock the phone.
To enable this feature on Android 16, go to Settings > Security and privacy > Device unlock > Fingerprint Unlock , and turn on the Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock toggle under “When using Fingerprint Unlock”. To test it out, ensure Always-on Display is off. Turn off your phone’s screen and press any of your registered fingers in the sensor area. If this is active, your Pixel should automatically wake up and unlock.
For those unaware, Pixel 9 ( review ) series was the first to receive this feature with Android 16 DP 2 . We initially thought the feature would be Pixel 9-exclusive because of its ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. However, the feature is now available on Pixel 6 and newer models, which is a pleasant surprise.
Those who have Always-on display feature enabled can now disable it to save battery life. Instead, they can enable the Screen-off Fingerprint unlock feature for faster fingerprint unlock.
Abubakar covers Tech at Beebom, with his passion for technology tracing back to 2011 when he received a Dell Inspiron 5100 as a gift. He’s also a passionate advocate for the right-to-repair movement, believing in empowering users to maintain and extend the life of their devices. Outside the tech world, he enjoys watching anime and exploring his newfound enthusiasm for Japanese cars. In his free time, you’ll often find him immersed in Genshin Impact or researching his next gadget purchase. Before joining Beebom, he contributed to leading publications like Android Police, How-To Geek, and Fossbytes.
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