What Is the Current Android Version? Everything You Need to Know

Android is a great operating system that’s chock-full of fun and helpful features. The latest version, Android 16, is a testament to that. With so many goodies baked into the software, getting a grasp of what it has to offer can be rough, but it’s important to know. The current version of Android matters because it dictates what sort of security protections and features your phone will have.

Also, features, rollout, and aesthetics depend on your phone’s brand. This could make things a bit confusing, but they don’t have to be. We’ll go over what you need to know about this version of Android.

What’s the Latest Version of Android Right Now?

As stated, we’re currently on Android 16. While it officially launched in 2025, Google began testing it back in late 2024. The company first launched the developer preview on November 19th, 2024. Just a few months later, the first beta hit the air on January 23rd, 2025.

A few smartphone makers were able to test Android 16 out on their phones during the beta period. The beta version is an early version of the software that people install on their phones. It lets people send feedback to Google so it knows what it needs to work on.

In June, Google officially launched the final version of Android 16 to the masses. Instead of launching on Google’s own Pixel devices, the final version landed on Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7. The Pixel phones got it soon after, with many other companies following it.

What Are The Key Features You Can Find In Android 16?

The most important things about any new software version are the features! They help differentiate it from the last version of the software. Android 16 is no different, as it brought a bunch of fun goodies. Here are some of the more important features that Google brought.

You should know that there isn’t a guarantee that you’ll see all of these features. While most of the new features make their way to all compatible Android phones, several remain exclusive to Pixel phones.

1. Live Updates

Firstly, we have Live Updates. Say, you’re waiting for your Uber driver to pick you up. Normally, you would open the app to see where your driver is. Well, Live Updates puts a progress bar in the app’s notification. It moves in real time, so you can track the status without needing to enter the app.

You’ll see how far your Uber or Lyft is from you, how long until your DoorDash arrives, and so on. It will depend on whether the app supports this feature, so you should keep that in mind. As time goes on, more apps will be compatible.

2. Double-Press for Cards

Next, Android 16 makes it easier to access your cards when you want to use tap-to-pay. Simply double-press the power button. This brings up your wallet app, which lets you choose what card you want to pay with. If this sounds familiar, that’s because iOS did it first. This is a feature that Google copied straight from the iPhone.

Regardless, double-tap for cards can come in handy when you’re in line at the store. Rather than digging into your phone to choose your card, all you have to do is double-tap the power button. The Google Wallet app opens up and lets you thumb through your cards.

3. Extended App Menu

One of Android’s most useful features allows you to perform certain actions just by long-pressing an app’s icon when in the recent apps screen. This menu lets you open the app in split-screen mode, pause it, take you right to the app info screen, and close it.

With Android 16, Google brought an expanded menu. This new menu lets you take a screenshot, select text within the app, and force stop it. While the screenshot and select text options were already housed below the app, this new menu makes it much easier to force stop an app. Rather than having to dig into an app’s settings, you can just close it from the recent apps screen.

4. Forced App Icon Theming and New Shapes

Back in 2021, Google introduced us to one of the biggest visual revamps to the Android operating system. Material You brought the addition of Dynamic Colors. This feature would change your system’s theme based on the colors present in your wallpaper. Since then, the company has been working on a way of changing all of the app icons to comply with the system theme.

Well, Google has finally done it. Android 16 will change the app icons for apps that don’t natively change their colors. For the time being, it looks like this feature only works for Pixel phones. We don’t know if Google plans to make this available to other phones in the future.

5. Side-by-side Showing the Forced Themed Icons

Speaking of icons, the system also lets you change the shape of icons. Being able to change your icons’ shape isn’t exactly new to Android. Several Android skins have had this ability for several years. However, this is new to Google’s Pixel phones. You can choose between a circle, a square, a four-sided cookie, a seven-sided cookie, or an arch (basically a circle with a flat bottom).

6. Extended Dark Theme

Another feature that’s not entirely new is the dark theme. Switching this feature on will turn the interface a darker shade. However, Android 16 brings the Extended Dark Theme. This feature forces apps into dark themes that don’t support the feature. Your results will vary depending on the app, but it’s still a nice feature to have.

7. Battery Health Page

Pixel phones now have a feature that other companies, including Apple, have implemented into their devices. People want to know how long their device’s batteries will last in the long run. As such, companies have developed a battery health page. One of the main features of the battery page is the battery health percentage. It shows your battery’s overall long-term health.

Google finally brought that for the Pixel phones in Android 16. As time goes on, you’ll be able to see how your battery is aging. It’s useful for several reasons. For starters, if you buy a used phone, you’ll be able to see how the battery in the phone has endured over the years. Along with that, seeing your battery’s health will let you know when it’s time to switch up your phone.

8. Desktop Mode

This next feature is a long time coming. Back in 2017, Samsung introduced us to DeX. This feature lets you connect your phone to a monitor and use it just like a computer. Well, after other companies like Motorola and Xiaomi jumped on the train, Google has followed suit. Android 16 brings a desktop mode. It pretty much does what DeX does.

Just like DeX, you’ll see the interface stretch to fill the monitor. If your phone’s compatible with this feature, you’ll be able to use it as a replacement for your computer. At the time of writing this, you’ll need to enable developer options.

To do that, go to your settings, find the About Phone section. There, you should find your software’s build number. Tap on it multiple times until the system tells you to stop. After that, search for the developer options, and scroll down until you see the toggle to turn on desktop mode.

What AI-Powered Features Are In Android 16?

Android 16 comes with a host of fun features, and several of them utilize artificial intelligence to enhance the experience. Since Google builds its Pixel experience around AI, many of these features will likely only exist on Pixel devices.

1. AI Notification Summaries

Starting off the list, we have AI notification summaries. As this name implies, this feature will generate an easy-to-read summary of text message conversations. For example, if you missed a bunch of messages in a group chat, you won’t have to read all of the messages to catch up. You can just read the AI-generated recap.

2. Notification Organization

Android 16 doesn’t only use AI to summarize the notifications; it also uses it to organize them. The new notification organizer will use machine learning to rearrange your notifications based on importance. This will keep important messages at the top of the stack.

Say, you’re messaging a family member about an important matter. If you get a ton of notifications, the AI will make sure that the message won’t be buried.

3. Circle to Search Scam Detection

Gemini can help you stay safe from scammers. A new feature coming to Circle to Search will detect if the text you highlighted seems suspicious. If it does, then it will warn you and give you additional steps to stay safe.

Imagine getting a text message or email from a random contact promising you a massive payout. Simply circle the text in the message. The AI Overview will slide up from the bottom of the screen.

How Do I Check My Android Version?

Knowing what version of Android your phone has can come in handy. It lets you know if your phone is up to date or if it’s time to update. Finding out your phone’s Android version may vary by phone. Different manufacturers customize the interface in different ways to give Android their own flair. However, the core concept remains the same.

Go to your phone’s settings, and go to the About Phone section. This button usually sits at the bottom of the settings. On that page, look for a button named Software Version or something along those lines. On the resulting page, it should show you the version of Android you’re running. Some phones would have the Android version on the About Phone page, and others won’t.

You’ll most likely see the Android security patch level as well. That’s another bit of important information to know. While you get major Android updates each year (for example, an update from Android 15 to Android 16), you’ll also get smaller updates much more frequently. These updates, called security patches, help keep your system safe. Ideally, you’ll get one of these each month, but that all depends on the company that built your phone.

Which Phones Get The Latest Version of Android First?

The answer to this is pretty simple: GOOGLE! Google’s Pixel phones primarily get first dibs on Android developer previews, beta releases, final releases, and updates. This makes sense, as Google develops the Android operating system.

Be that as it may, Samsung can sometimes leapfrog Google and launch with new software first. For example, the Galaxy Watch 4 was the first device to launch with Wear OS 3 back in 2021. The Pixel Watch followed a year later. Also, Samsung’s phones typically get the security updates before the Pixel phones.

OnePlus also updates its phones rather quickly, coming in not too long after Samsung. Its phones typically get the latest version of Android a few months after Google and Samsung. Other companies update their phones at varying speeds.

Also, companies tend to prioritize their newer and more powerful phones over their budget offerings. For example, a Galaxy S25 owner will get an update before a Galaxy S24 owner.

Can My Older Phone Get The Latest Update?

That all depends on the company that makes your phone. Truth be told, many Android companies don’t update their devices for long. Some companies will only update their phones for two or three years. On the other hand, Google and Samsung have started supporting their phones for seven years. It all depends on whether the company supports its devices for a long period of time.

Should I Update My Phone To The Latest Version?

Answering this could be a bit tricky, as there are pros and cons to updating. Starting off with the pros:

• New features: You’ll enjoy the enhanced usability and aesthetic changes that come with an update.
• Better security: New updates don’t only come with new features. They also come with the latest security patches. This makes your phone less vulnerable to hackers and viruses.
• Better app compatibility: As time goes on, apps fall out of compatibility with older phones. Updating ensures that your phone will always be compatible with the latest apps.

There are also some cons to updating your phone:

• Performance issues: While updates bring tweaks to performance and stability, new software can be harder to run on older hardware.
• New software bugs: Sometimes, newer updates can come with added bugs that need to be worked out.
• Storage: Larger updates can take up a lot of storage on your device.

Even though new updates promise a massively improved experience, it might be smart to wait. As stated above, updates can bring new bugs to the system. While most of the bugs could be minor, there’s always the chance that some could break core system functions. If you see news about software updates causing issues, you’d want to wait until they’ve been ironed out.

Before updating your phone:

• Make sure that your phone is charged to at least 50%. Your phone won’t update if its battery is too low.
• Try not to use your phone while it’s updating. Updating the software is a pretty resource-heavy task, so if you’re using it while it’s updating, it will make the process go slower.
• Be sure that you have enough storage on your phone. Updating to a new version of Android typically takes a couple of gigabytes of storage.
• Make sure that you’re ready for the instability. If you’re getting a new update right away, you’re going to be the guinea pig testing unrefined software. You might want to avoid updating your work phone to the latest version.

When Will Android 17 Come Out?

Google typically launches the latest versions of Android sometime between Summer and Fall. As such, we should see Android 17 launching sometime in the second half of 2026. Google hasn’t launched the beta version just yet.

Google releases the developer preview first. The Developer preview is an extremely early and buggy build of the latest version of Android. It’s mostly meant for app developers to test out the software. Be that as it may, normal users can use the developer preview, but they’ll need to manually flash it to their device. This is a process that requires some technical know-how, so casual users will need to wait for the beta. That comes in an OTA (Over The Air) Update.

After the developer previews are finished, Google begins the months-long process of beta testing. Usually, close to the beginning of the year, Google releases the beta version of the software. This version is more accessible to the masses, and it allows people to send feedback to Google about the bugs.

After a few months of beta testing, Google releases the final version of the software to its Pixel phones. Other companies then follow suit and adopt the final release. Either that, or they go through the beta testing process before launching the final build.

Related:

• Android 17 Beta 1 Features: What’s New So Far
• Here’s Everything New in Android 17 Beta 2

A Brief History of Android Release

Conclusion

It’s always great to have a little knowledge about Android updates. They’re a core part of the overall experience, so this is important information to know. Be sure to check for the latest software versions every so often if you want to keep your phone up to date.

It’s also important to know that you don’t need to have the latest update on your phone. Many people use their phones with older software and still have a great experience. At the end of the day, it’s all about how you want to experience Android.

Related articles worth reading:

• 8 Android Settings You Should Disable or Keep an Eye On
• 8 Android Features Apple Added in iOS 26
• Android Secret Codes That Actually Work (Tested List)