Emoji Updates in Android 16 DP2: What's New?

Google's second developer preview for Android 16 has arrived, and it brings something fun for users: new emoji! These aren't just any emoji, though. They're part of the latest Unicode 16. 0 release, which includes seven new additions. Ever seen someone with bags under their eyes in an emoji? Now you can! There's also a fingerprint, a leafless tree, a root vegetable, a harp, a shovel, and a splatter emoji.

But why are these emoji important? Unicode is the universal text encoding standard that lets computers understand and display text, even in different languages. Emoji are part of this standard, which means they can be shared across various devices and operating systems. So, how do you know if your device supports these new emoji? Simple! Try viewing the Emojipedia page for Unicode 16. 0. If you see empty boxes instead of emoji, your device doesn't support the new standard. If you see the emoji, you're all set! Google is usually quick to support new Unicode versions, so let's hope they add support for the 2025 emoji lineup, which includes a massive 164 new emoji, soon.

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