Sony continues to roll out the Android 16 update to its devices, adding last year’s flagship Xperia 1 VI and the mid-range Xperia 10 VI. Should you be excited about this major update? Find out what the biggest changes and newest features are.
Sony surprised fans by delivering the Android 16 update to the Xperia 1 VII in mid-September, beating out bigger Android brands like Samsung and Xiaomi. A little over a month later, the company has already launched the stable update of last year’s flagship Xperia 1 VI and the mid-range Xperia 10 VI.
Upcoming Xperia phones to get a taste of Android 16
Sony users across Europe, including Poland, Bulgaria, and the United Kingdom, have started reporting that Android 16 has reached their Xperia 1 VI devices. The rollout has been gradual, with some users noting that the update only arrived in the last few days. Meanwhile, users in Hong Kong mentioned that they are yet to receive the update on their devices.
The Xperia 1 VI update arrives under firmware version 69.2.A.2.30 and weighs around 840MB, which is significantly smaller than other OEM’s releases. Sony also confirmed that the Xperia 10 VI is receiving the update, listing the XQ-ES54/XQ-ES72 models on its official support page.
What’s new in Sony’s Android 16 update
Although Sony hasn’t shared a full changelog, the update introduces several visible changes. The system menu has been reorganized and refreshed with new icons and a cleaner layout, although Sony continues to use a black-and-white glyph style rather than taking the more colorful approach seen in Samsung and Google’s interfaces. Modes such as Driving and Bedtime are now more customizable, allowing users to fine-tune notification behavior in each mode.
The camera app has also been updated. The QR code link now appears at the bottom of the viewfinder instead of at the top, and users can now choose between recommended and custom image quality settings, including Standard and Original. The white balance controls have been moved to the same image quality settings menu for easier access.
Other visual tweaks include new clock style options for the lock screen, which can now be customized directly from the home screen by tapping an empty area and selecting Wallpaper & Style. In the Quick Settings panel, a new Disconnect Streaming shortcut has been added, making it easier to stop mirroring to a TV or monitor.
Beyond these superficial changes, the update likely includes system optimizations and bug fixes that improve overall stability and performance. Perhaps the most significant improvement is the updated security patch, which brings the device to the latest October version and fixes several known vulnerabilities.
Which Sony Xperia device do you use daily and is it eligible for Android 16? Let us know if you are excited to receive the update.
