Android 16 to Revolutionize Unlocking on Pixel with New Features
Android 16 introduces major upgrades like screen-off fingerprint unlock, enhancing the unlocking process on Pixel devices. Discover what’s new for your Pixel phone.
How Android 16 will upgrade the screen unlocking process on your Pixel
Android 16 will be launched in the second quarter of 2025 (April, May, or June). The testing process is ongoing and with it many new features are being added to the Android operating system, including a significant upgrade to the screen unlocking process.
Screen-off fingerprint unlock feature
The third beta version of Android 16 brings a new feature, Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock. This means that you no longer need to turn on the screen to unlock your phone. You can unlock directly with the fingerprint.
Think about how many times we unlock our phone throughout the day. Anything that makes this process faster and easier saves a lot of time. So this upgrade is very welcome.
In the earlier Android 16 beta, this feature was only available for the latest Google Pixel 9 series. But now with this update, it has become available for older Pixel phones as well. If you have the beta installed, you can find it by going to Settings and going under Security and Privacy > Device Unlock > Face and Fingerprint Unlock > Fingerprint Unlock.
Other improvements
The first developer preview of Android 16 launched in November 2024. Since then Google has been improving it. We can expect even more features to be added before the official launch.
Android 16 also improves the process of collecting and managing health data. These improvements can also reach the Fitbit app. Along with this, a Live Updates feature is also coming, which allows apps to put additional information on the lock screen.
Apart from this, many advanced options are also being added to the camera tools of Android 16. Also, the upcoming software is likely to get better support for desktop mode, which can be used on external displays.
There will also be a new battery health screen, which will give more information about the battery status. Along with this, many small improvements have also been made for security and stability. As usual, this update will be available first for Pixel phones and then come to phones from Samsung, OnePlus and other brands.
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