Android TV 16 adds Eclipsa Audio, auto picture mode switching
At I/O 2025, Google unveiled new features coming with Android 16 for Google TVs and streaming devices. It introduces Eclipsa Audio but is otherwise another modest update. Google TV, built on top of Android TV, has grown into one of the biggest TV operating systems in recent years due to strong support from TV makers and streaming services. - "Over the past year, Google TV and Android TV achieved over 270 million monthly active devices, establishing one of the largest smart TV OS footprints," said Google at I/O 2025. Still, when it comes to new features, Google appears more focused on its other platforms. Google TV has moved from a 1-year to a 2-year upgrade cycle, and many of the past updates have been relatively minor, unlike, for example, Apple’s more feature-rich tvOS releases. Instead, Google has begun delivering many new Google TV features directly from the cloud, requiring no firmware update on the user's device.Android TV 16 introduces Eclipsa Audio
Still, Android TV 16 does include some notable additions, including support for Eclipsa Audio, the new immersive new audio format to rival Dolby Atmos. This is no surprise, as FlatpanelsHD exclusively reported in January that Eclipsa Audio would be coming not just to Google TV via Android 16, but also to non-Google TV platforms and web browsers. Eclipsa Audio content will initially be available from YouTube. It is designed to improve audio not just for movies and shows but for all types of content.Other new features in Android 16
Another addition is the MediaQualityManager framework, which allows streaming apps to change your TV's "audio and picture profiles and hardware-related settings". Think of it as Netflix or Prime Video automatically switching your TV to their respective calibrated modes, as seen on newer Sony and Panasonic TVs, or Filmmaker Mode auto-switching, but now done in a standardized way via Google TV across apps.
Android 16 will let apps automatically change picture and audio modes and adjust TV settings. Photo: GoogleJetpack Compose is now out of beta, enabling all developers to build apps using Google TV’s new design language, so expect to see more apps adopt the updated UI. On the user experience side, Google will also begin letting app developers display pop-ups asking users to rate their app.
Android 16 will let apps nag you to review the app via this pop-up. Photo: GoogleGemini for TV, Google TV on Android XR
Google announced that its Gemini AI voice assistant will begin rolling out on Google TVs "this fall," although it is unclear whether a firmware update will be required. No details on regional rollout were provided either. Here is a glimpse at what Gemini can do on TVs:
In related news, Google confirmed that Google TV will be made available on Android XR, its new VR/AR platform. This means existing Google TV apps including streaming services like Netflix – unless they opt as they did on Apple Vision Pro – will be available in Android XR headsets without requiring developers to build new XR-specific apps.
Google TV apps will be available on Android XR headsets. Photo: GoogleGoogle has yet to confirm when Android TV 16 will roll out to the Google TV Streamer or partner TVs and devices. For third-party brands like Hisense, Sony, Philips and TCL, the timeline may vary depending on the manufacturer.New features in Android TV 16
FlatpanelsHD
- MediaQualityManager allows developers access to audio and picture profiles and hardware-related settings. This allows streaming apps to query profiles and apply them to media dynamically. - Platform support for the Eclipsa Audio codec enables creators to use the IAMF spatial audio format. For ExoPlayer support that includes previous platform versions, see ExoPlayer's IAMF decoder module. - There are various improvements to media playback speed, consistency and efficiency, as well as HDMI-CEC reliability and performance optimizations for 64-bit kernels. - Support for Wi-Fi 6 802.11az - UltraHDR photos: Android 16 adds support for UltraHDR images in the HEIC file format. - Gemini will begin rolling out to Google TV this fall - Jetpack Compose for TV is out of beta to use for new app design language - Developers can now easily display a user's paused video within the 'Continue Watching' row from the home screen - In-App Ratings and Reviews API to TV allow developers to prompt users for ratings and reviews directly from Google TV - Accessibility: Android 16 adds additional APIs to enhance UI semantics that help improve consistency for users that rely on accessibility services, such as TalkBack.
