Don’t wait for Google I/O to see what’s next for Android 16. Google has announced a pre-I/O event to share “what’s new on Android.”
Set for May 13 at 10 a.m. PT, the prerecorded online event, titled The Android Show: I/O Edition, promises a glimpse into upcoming Android developments. A 29-second teaser video, posted to YouTube, features Sameer Samat, Google’s president of Android Ecosystem, who introduces the show with minimal details but plenty of excitement.
“Hi, everyone, I’m Sameer, and this year we have something special for you: The Android Show: I/O Edition,” he says, standing in front of a shelf lined with various Android devices. “We hope you’ll all tune in on May 13 to see what’s new on Android.”
The obvious focus of the show seems to be the anticipated Android 16 release. The update, which reached its third beta in March, had been expected to make its official debut during I/O.
However, Google’s PR team confirmed that Google I/O will feature “more updates in keynotes and technical sessions for developers.”
Early release notes and details from Android 16’s beta suggest a handful of exciting new features. These include the return of lock-screen widgets, AI-generated summaries of notifications from messaging apps, enhanced tools for securely managing health data, and tightened security features.
Though these updates may seem incremental, they could set the stage for a significant Android evolution. While the changes might not sound like enough to justify a new version number, there’s plenty more to discover. Perhaps Google could even take inspiration from Apple’s app-privacy features, such as limiting an app’s access to specific contact list items.
As Sameer Samat says in the teaser video:
“Whoah, May 13, that’s coming up fast.”
It looks like Android enthusiasts won’t have to wait long to find out what else Android 16 has in store.
