The new Android 16 is even better and more useful

Google has released the Android 16 QPR2 update, available for Pixel 6 to Pixel 10 phones. New features include dark mode for all apps, AI notification summaries, improved icon color accuracy, and 90/10 split screen.

Photo: Google

Google released a new version of Android in the second quarter of this year, coinciding with the launch of its latest Pixel series of phones. Another major update is expected later this year, bringing new APIs for developers and additional features for users. The Android 16 QPR2 update is now available for all Pixel devices from the Pixel 6 to the Pixel 10. It may take a few days for the update to reach all users.

Among the new features are a number of UI improvements. Dark mode is now automatically applied even to apps that don't officially support it. Users can change the shape of app icons, and a new widget overview similar to the one on the iPhone has been added, which is accessible by swiping left on the lock screen.

Notifications have been revamped - Low-priority messages like ads are grouped together, while longer push notifications can be summarized by AI. Themes now extend to unsupported apps as icons are colored by AI.

Additional features include a new Enhanced HDR brightness setting that lets you adjust the maximum brightness of HDR images and videos. Blurred backgrounds can be turned off system-wide and replaced with solid colors. And an updated split screen lets you display one app on 90 percent of the screen while another takes up the remaining 10 percent. This is of course ideal for following sports scores or chatting while using another app.