Google is preparing to bring an important update to the three-button navigation mode we frequently use with the new Android 16 operating system. The “Predictive Return” feature, which was previously only available in gesture navigation mode, will also become active for three-button navigation users. Here are the details…

“Predictive Return” Feature for Three-Button Navigation on Android 16

Actually, the purpose of this feature is to reduce the problems of accidentally exiting the application by allowing users to see a preview of the target page before completing the return process. Predictive Return was first introduced as a developer option in Android 13 and enabled by default in Android 15.

However, this feature was only available in gesture navigation mode. With Android 16, this feature is being extended to three-button navigation users. By long-pressing the Back button, users will be able to see a preview of the page they want to navigate to. At the moment, this feature only works in supported apps (e.g. Google Calendar) and a preview back to the home screen is not yet possible. It is stated that this is due to shortcomings in the testing process and will be fixed in the official release.

Other innovations of Android 16

• Corner swipe gesture: Users will be able to quickly open the default assistant by swiping from the corner of the screen.
• Button customization: Users can now change the order of the back and recently used apps button.

We expect the first beta of Android 16 to be released in January 2025 and the full version in the second quarter of the year. Do you think these innovations of Android 16 can improve usability? You can share your opinions in the comments section below.