This summer, Android 16 will enhance the capabilities of your phone's lock screen.

      FIRST LOOK: Lock Screen Widgets on Phones in Android 16 QPR1

      Android 16 is anticipated to launch in June this year, with its initial quarterly update introducing lock screen widgets. This update, expected in late summer, will extend the lock screen widgets currently available on Pixel Tablets to other tablets and Android 16 smartphones.

      By default, support for lock screen widgets will be enabled for all widgets, though developers will have the option to disable it. This allows for essential information to be prominently displayed on the lock screen. If a widget is tapped to launch an app, users will need to unlock their phones to proceed, but this method is still significantly quicker than manually finding and opening the app.

      The announcement was made on the Android Developers Blog, and Android Authority has successfully activated the feature early to take a closer look. Unlike Pixel Tablets, Android phones will show only one column of widgets at a time, with access to the widget screen activated by the screensaver. However, Google indicates that hardware manufacturers can customize the method for triggering this feature, so variations may emerge once it’s released.

      Although this feature is still a few months away, and changes may occur leading up to the launch, Android Authority's video demonstrates that it’s already functional. Lock screen widgets exist in various forms across multiple operating systems and devices, yet many struggle with refreshing and experience various bugs. By enabling the lock screen feature by default, Google aims to motivate more users to take advantage of it and incentivize developers to create higher-quality widgets.

      Willow Roberts has been a Computing Writer at Digital Trends for a year and has been writing for nearly a decade.

      Android 16 to Feature Major Health Updates, Starting with Fitbit

      Android 15 was released a few months ago, and attention is already shifting to Android 16, currently in testing. A report from Android Authority claims that the forthcoming update will enhance Google’s Health Connect app by integrating support for new medical records.

      This enhancement could improve user interaction with their health data. Google’s Fitbit platform is expected to be the first to benefit from this addition, allowing users to input fitness data and manage their medical records more seamlessly. As Fitbit connects with Health Connect for data input and retrieval, this feature is likely to improve the app’s functionality for users tracking both fitness and health information in one place.

      The OnePlus 13 Has Already Set an Unachievable Standard for Android Phones in 2025

      As January progresses, it’s clear that 2025 will be a fiercely competitive year for smartphones. While some manufacturers typically wait until February or March to launch their flagship devices for the first half of the year, the early introduction of the Snapdragon 8 Elite last year has prompted all companies to begin releasing their products sooner.

      Honor introduced the Magic 7 Pro two weeks ago, and Samsung followed with the Galaxy S25 series last week. However, preceding both was the OnePlus 13 launch, a phone that seems to be establishing the benchmark for smartphones in 2025 in numerous aspects.

      This Android 16 Feature Will Transform Your Multitasking Experience Forever

      Though Google is not expected to release Android 16 to the public for a few months, there has already been considerable excitement surrounding the update. Recent news from Android Authority is particularly thrilling for tablet users.

      The report suggests that Android 16 will greatly improve the split-screen mode. Drawing inspiration from OnePlus’ Open Canvas feature for the OnePlus Open, which was later adapted for the OnePlus Pad 2, this update will allow users to run up to three applications simultaneously. In this configuration, two apps will occupy 90% of the screen, while the third will take up the remaining 10%.