I take advantage of Google Pockets day by day and this hidden characteristic made it much more handy

Android 16 is formally out now, and when you have a Pixel 6a or newer, you possibly can obtain the replace proper now. Presently, Android 16 is a comparatively small replace that lays the muse for Google’s future plans, together with its Material Expressive 3 design language, which is predicted to launch later this 12 months.

That mentioned, Android 16 does embody a couple of new options so that you can discover, equivalent to dwell replace notifications (much like the iPhone’s dwell actions) and a brand new Superior Safety safety setting that gives stronger safeguards on your telephone in opposition to on-line assaults and dangerous apps.

Nevertheless, for me, one of many standout options of Android 16 is not significantly flashy, but it surely does signify a major quality-of-life enchancment nonetheless. When you steadily use Google Pockets for on a regular basis purchases, like shortly grabbing a espresso, this new setting Google has added to Android 16 will make it simpler than ever to entry Google Pockets on Pixel gadgets.

Google has launched a brand new setting that lets you double-tap the ability button to open Google Wallet, making it simpler and faster to entry the app, choose a card, and make a contactless cost (through Android Authority). Earlier than Android 16, Pixel house owners might solely double-tap the ability button to open the digicam app. Whereas this was useful, if you end up making extra Google Pockets purchases all through the day than making an attempt to open the digicam app, it is most likely price contemplating altering this setting.

How you can open Google Pockets shortly with Android 16

Google is taking part in meet up with this new characteristic

If you wish to change your energy button to open Google Pockets as an alternative of the digicam app, it is very simple to do. Simply go to Settings > System > Gestures > Double press energy button and alter the setting to Pockets as an alternative of Digital camera. Now, once you double-tap the ability button, your Pixel will open Google Pockets reasonably than the digicam app, permitting you to shortly choose a card and make a purchase order with it.

Some folks could argue that it is higher to maintain the double-press setting on the digicam app, as a result of you possibly can simply entry the pockets app from the Fast Settings menu and the digicam is what extra folks scramble to achieve sooner as an alternative.

That is a legitimate level, however as somebody who has used an iPhone most of their life, I am very used to double-pressing the ability button to open Apple Pockets. This new Android 16 setting permits my Pixel to do the identical, which I favor, as I usually change between the 2 gadgets and I prefer to preserve comparable functionalities like this if I can.

Whereas it is good to see Google lastly implement this with Android 16, it nonetheless lags behind Samsung. With One UI 7, Samsung gives considerably extra customization choices for adjusting the double-tap performance on the ability button. You may set it to open not solely the digicam app but additionally any app in your gadget. This implies you possibly can set it to Google Pockets, X, Instagram, TikTok, or no matter app you need to open immediately.

It could be nice if Google adopted this strategy for Pixel gadgets as nicely, permitting you to set it to any app you like, reasonably than simply opening the digicam or pockets.

I am completely happy Google has made this alteration although, and making purchases with Google Pockets simply received rather more handy due to it. You may obtain Android 16 now on a Pixel 6a and newer. I examined this characteristic on my Pixel 8a working Android 16 and it really works flawlessly.

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