Google has unveiled a suite of new features for Android 16, aimed at making communication and browsing more expressive and secure. One of the standout additions is Expressive Captions, which provide real-time captions for videos enriched with emotional labels and contextual cues like applause or cheers. This helps viewers understand the tone of content even when audio is off, making short videos, livestreams, and social stories more accessible and engaging.

The Phone app is also getting a Call Reason feature, currently in beta, which allows callers to mark an outgoing call as “urgent.” This designation appears on the recipient’s screen and remains visible in call history if the call is missed, helping signal time-sensitive situations such as access issues or limited-time opportunities.

Google Messages is introducing simpler controls for unwanted group chats, displaying alerts for group invites from unknown numbers along with safety tips. Users can quickly leave the chat, block the sender, or report it as spam, reducing friction when handling unsolicited messages. Android 16 also brings Circle to Search, an AI-powered feature that allows users to highlight text or content to quickly check for potential scams. The tool provides a concise overview based on web sources, helping users make informed decisions while reading messages or browsing content.

In addition, Chrome on Android now supports pinning tabs, ensuring important pages remain accessible even after closing the browser, replicating the desktop experience. Gboard’s Emoji Kitchen is gaining new sticker combinations, letting users mix emojis to create expressive, shareable stickers for messages and other apps. Android 16 enhances accessibility, communication, and security, with most updates integrated into Google’s core apps, while some features are still in beta testing.