Material 3 Expressive arrived on Pixels earlier this year, but not as part of the first Android 16 update—Google's relationship with Android versions is complicated these days. However, after this update, Material 3 will become more pixel-consistent. Google will now automatically apply Material themes to all icons on your device, replacing legacy colored icons with theme-friendly versions. Likewise, dark mode will be supported in many apps even if developers haven't added support. Google is also adding a few more icon shape options if you want to spice up your home screen.
In a feature change, Google has added a more intuitive way to manage parental controls—you can simply use the controlled device directly. Parents will be able to set a PIN to access features such as screen time, app usage, and more without having to use another device. If you need more features or control, the new device settings will also help you set up Google Family Link.
Android for everyone
No Pixel? No problem. Google also included collection of application and system updates which will begin rolling out today to all supported Android devices.
Chrome for Android is getting a tab pinning update, mirroring a feature that's been in the desktop version since the beginning of time. The Google Messages app also takes care of some low-hanging fruit. When you are invited to a group chat using a new number, the app displays information about the group and allows you to leave the chat and report spam with one tap.
The official Google dialer app is available on Pixels, but can also be downloaded from the Play Store. If you and your contacts use Google Dialer, you'll soon be able to make calls with a “reason.” You can mark the call as “Urgent” to indicate to the recipient that they should not send you to voicemail. The urgency tag will also remain in the call history if they miss the call.
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