Android 16 December Update Adds More Customizations & A New AI Trick

The latest update coming to Android 16 marks a shift in how Google plans to roll out releases. Moving forward, users will receive smaller updates more frequently instead of waiting for a large yearly update. The new features in this upcoming update include easier management of notifications, further customization options to change the look and feel of the OS, and more powerful parental controls.

Notifications in Android 16 will be easier to manage thanks to an assist from AI. Notification summaries will shrink down longer messages and group chats to provide “quick understanding and context at a glance.” Moreover, lower priority notifications such as promotions will be grouped together or silenced.

Additionally, this update introduces a plethora of new customization options so users can lock in their preferred aesthetic. There will now be custom icon shapes for the home screen, themed icons that automatically apply across apps for a unified ...