Google has officially revealed Android 16, and big changes are on the way.
A new ‘Material 3 Expressive’ design, redesigned apps, and new customisation options are just a few of the ways in which Android 16 will change your phone. However, with this new look and feel, Android 16 has gone full Gen Z.
Nonetheless, you’ll still probably want to try it for yourself. Early beta versions are available on recent Pixel phones and other selected devices. But what you probably care about most is the final, public version, which should have ironed out most of the bugs and other issues.
Based on software update commitments, we have a good idea of which Android phones will get the Android 16 update. But when will that be? The timing depends on many factors, including the brand in question and the age of the device.
Here’s an overview of what to expect from well-known brands in the UK and US markets, based on the useful Android 16 Update Tracker, which monitors many of the most popular phones. Not all companies are included here, with the likes of TCL, Asus, Nubia, HMD, Huawei and Realme excluded.
Google’s Pixel devices are typically the first to receive new Android updates. Given that the following models are all still supported, expect them to get Android 16 straight after it’s publicly released:
Samsung
Samsung has loads of phones available in the UK and US, and its generous software support means dozens are eligible for the Android 16-based One UI 8. However, the rollout of One UI 7 didn’t begin until April 2025, and is still ongoing at the time of writing, so you might be waiting a while.
Honor
The following Honor models are anticipated to receive the Android 16 update. Honor has confirmed that the 400, 400 Pro, Magic 7 Pro and Magic V3 will all get Android 16 before the end of 2024, but hasn’t made a specific commitment for other devices.
OnePlus
The following OnePlus models available in the UK and US are expected to receive Android 16. The rollout of OxygenOS (based on Android 15) began in November 2024, but took many months to complete – we’d expect it to be a similar story for Android 16 this time around.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi has a diverse lineup of devices in the UK and US. Given Android 15’s rollout (as HyperOS 2.0) began in November 2024, we’d expect Android 16 (HyperOS 3.0) to begin around the same time this year.
Motorola
Motorola has a significant presence in both the UK and US markets. The following phones are expected to receive Android 16, though the company tends to take a little longer to
Nothing (including CMF)
The following Nothing phones are still receiving OS updates, and so are expected to receive Nothing OS 4.0, which will be based on Android 16. Nothing’s rollout of Android 15 began in November 2024 and concluded in January 2025, so we’d expect something similar this time around.
Oppo
Oppo offers a range of devices in the UK and US. These are expected to receive Android 16:
Sony Xperia
Sony continues to release its Xperia line in the UK and US. Many older models didn’t get the Android 15 update until February 2025, so we may be waiting a while for its successor.
