Android 16 and Wear OS 6 previews bring better multitasking and smartwatch upgrades

Google has started testing some new updates for Android phones and smartwatches. Android 16’s first beta includes changes to the recent apps screen, while Wear OS 6, based on Android 14, is now in developer preview.

In Android 16 QPR1, the recent apps screen is getting a few layout changes. When no apps are open, instead of a large blank space, users will see a message saying “No recent items.” Also, if only one app is open, the screen no longer stretches it across the full width. It now appears in a smaller box, keeping things cleaner and easier to manage. These updates should improve multitasking for users who often switch between apps.

On the smartwatch side, Wear OS 6 is now being tested by developers. It’s built on Android 14 and brings better power efficiency and smoother performance. Developers can start trying out the new features using the emulator in Android Studio. Google also updated Jetpack Compose for Wear OS, making it easier to create apps that look good and run well on different screen sizes.

These updates are focused on helping developers prepare their apps for future releases. While regular users might not see big changes right away, these behind-the-scenes improvements should make both Android phones and Wear OS smartwatches more responsive and user-friendly in the near future.