Google’s annual I/O developer conference is a hub for exciting product updates. This year, “The Android Show: I/O edition” offered an early preview of Android’s future. Packed with groundbreaking news, these updates will transform our Android interactions.

Android, the world’s most popular OS with over 3 billion active devices, continues to innovate, bringing practical benefits and new possibilities.

For people in Africa, these advancements promise easier, safer, and more personal digital lives. Let’s dive into how Android’s latest offerings empower users across the continent:

1. Your Device, Your Canvas: The Expressive Evolution of Android and Wear OS

Tired of a generic phone look? Android 16 and Wear OS 6 introduce Material 3 Expressive, a significant design makeover. It’s about making your devices truly personal and easier to use. Imagine animations reacting to your touch, like icons subtly shifting when you dismiss a message, making interactions feel alive. Born from research with over 18,000 users, the result is beautiful, enjoyable interfaces.

Customize phone colours and quick settings – place your flashlight for easy access. On smartwatches, the design wraps smoothly around round screens, and your watch face theme will colour the entire system. For users in Kenya, South Africa, and Nigeria, where personal expression is key, this means technology that truly reflects you.

Availability: Coming to Android 16 and Wear OS 6. Pixel devices first later this year, then other manufacturers.

2. Driving Just Got Smarter: Gemini Becomes Your Ultimate Co-Pilot

Remember when your car was just for driving? Now, with Gemini, Google’s smart AI assistant, coming to your car, every journey becomes more productive and enjoyable. Whether you use Android Auto with your phone or have a car with Google built-in, Gemini is designed to be your ultimate co-pilot.

Imagine talking naturally to your car, without needing to remember specific commands. You can ask Gemini to find the best local food along your route and even get summaries of reviews. If you’re messaging a friend who prefers a different language, Gemini can remember to always translate your messages for them. It can even help you find the location of your child’s soccer game that got buried in your email!

But Gemini isn’t just for navigation. On longer drives, you can ask it to summarise the news, or give you a quick rundown of a book for your book club. It’s like having a knowledgeable friend riding shotgun, ready to help with anything from finding a charging station near a park to helping you prepare for a big meeting.

This smart integration means less distraction and more convenience, making your time on the road in Nairobi, Johannesburg, or Lagos more efficient and fun.

Availability: Android Auto in coming months; Google Built-in later this year (new Lincoln Nautilus, Renault R5, Honda Passport).

3. Beyond the Phone: Gemini Smarts Extend to Your Watch, TV, and More

Gemini’s intelligence is expanding beyond your phone to your Wear OS smartwatch, TV, and future Android XR smart glasses. On your Wear OS watch, get help hands-free: set gym locker reminders while baking or find restaurant details from an email. Google TV will get Gemini later this year for movie recommendations or educational content for kids.

Future Android XR headsets (starting with Samsung) will use Gemini for immersive experiences like vacation planning. Expect personalized, proactive help for a seamless, intelligent experience across your Android devices. Gemini Live’s camera and screen sharing capabilities are available now for Android users (no Advanced subscription required).

Availability: Wear OS in coming months. Google TV later this year. Android XR with Samsung’s first headset later this year.

4. Never Lose Anything Again: Find Hub for All Your Belongings

Android’s “Find My Device” is evolving into Find Hub, a central spot to locate tagged items and track friends and family (with permission). Easily track luggage, keys, or confirm a loved one’s safe arrival from one app. Find Hub supports more devices and Bluetooth tags (July, Mokobara, Pixbee). Ultra-wideband (UWB) tech (first on moto tag) offers precise tracking down to a few feet.

Later this year, satellite connectivity arrives for supported devices, enabling tracking without mobile coverage – ideal for adventures. Airline partnerships (e.g., British Airways, Singapore Airlines) will help locate luggage by sharing tag locations. For those in Africa facing varied network coverage or frequent travel, Find Hub is a powerful tool.

Availability: Rolling out with new compatible devices/tags later this month (UWB on moto tag). Satellite connectivity later this year. Airline partnerships early next year.

5. Crystal Clear Communication: RCS Messaging Soars

Android has championed RCS (Rich Communication Services) for simple, reliable, feature-rich messaging, regardless of phone type. Success is clear: over a billion daily RCS messages in the U.S. alone enable high-quality photo/video sharing and improved group chats. RCS offers features like read receipts, typing indicators, and large file sharing directly in your standard messaging app for seamless communication.

Availability: Globally available within Google Messages.

6. Smarter App Management: Google Play Protect Gets More Intelligent

Malicious apps are a constant threat, and Android is making it even harder for them to hide and cause trouble. Google Play Protect, Android’s built-in security scanner, is getting smarter to keep you even safer.

One tricky tactic used by bad apps is to hide or change their icon, making them hard to find and remove from your device. Now, Google Play Protect’s live threat detection will spot this sneaky behaviour and alert you, so you can easily remove the unsafe app.

Google Play Protect also checks every app before it’s installed on your device, no matter where you download it from. It uses advanced on-device machine learning to quickly identify new and emerging threats. This means if an app shows suspicious patterns – like trying to steal information or control your device – Play Protect can warn you before you even install it! These rules are updated frequently to ensure you’re protected from the latest malware.

These updates mean better, faster protection against unwanted and harmful apps, keeping your phone and data safe without you having to do anything extra.

Availability: Google Play Protect updates for faster malware detection (using new on-device rules) are now available globally for all Android users with Google Play services. Live threat detection for hidden app icons will be available for Google Pixel 6+ and a selection of new devices from other manufacturers in the coming months.

7. Comprehensive Mobile Theft Protection: Stronger Than Ever

The loss or theft of a phone can be devastating, not just for the device itself, but for the sensitive information it contains. Android has been a leader in theft protection, and these new updates make it even harder for thieves to access your data or reset your device.

Building on last year’s comprehensive suite of features, Android is further hardening its Factory Reset protections. This means that if a thief tries to wipe your phone without your authorization, key functionalities will be restricted. You’ll also get more control over the Remote Lock feature, with the addition of a security question to prevent unauthorized actions.

A key new protection in Android 16 targets a common scam tactic: thieves trying to access one-time passwords (OTPs) on your locked screen. In high-risk scenarios – when your phone isn’t connected to Wi-Fi and hasn’t been recently unlocked – Android will hide OTPs on your lock screen. This ensures that only you can see them after unlocking your device, protecting your online accounts.

These continuous improvements demonstrate Android’s commitment to keeping your personal and financial information safe, even if your phone falls into the wrong hands.

Availability: Hardened Factory Reset protections and enhanced Remote Lock (with security question) are coming later this year. OTP lock screen protection (hiding OTPs in high-risk scenarios) will be available in Android 16. Identity Check for Pixel and Samsung One UI 7 devices is expanding to more manufacturers on supported Android 16 devices.