Android 16 Beta Features and Enhancements Explained
Android 16 Beta brings advanced performance features, improved user experience, enhanced security, and smooth multitasking.
Google has begun releasing beta 1 of Android 16, the next version of the green robot’s operating system. The release was delayed by one day compared to expectations, possibly to avoid further crowding on the day when Samsung unveiled the new Galaxy S25 series flagships. With this, the development cycle for the stable release will continue for several more months.
Installable on all eligible devices, beginning with the Google Pixel 6, the latest preview version of Android 16 arrives just over one month after the last Developer Preview 2. In this article, we will take a closer look at the latest Android preview version, breaking it down into its parts, such as the enhancements mentioned by Big G, the release plan (from DP1 to the stable release), and the list of upgraded Google Pixel devices.
You may now download Android 16 beta 1
The next version of the Android operating system is likewise linked to the name of candy, as we’ve had the chance to inform you before; however, a 15-year tradition has been broken: As the 16th Android theme is associated with the letter “B,” Big G has settled on “Baklava,” a Turkish layered dessert that is heavy on sugar and dried fruit.
Now that Google has begun distributing beta 1 to all users who registered a suitable Pixel for the Android Beta program, the next version of the operating system is entering its third and final stage of development, the beta phase. Updated security patches up to January 2025, the same ones that were released on the stable channel last January 7, 2025, are part of the new build that Big G is slowly rolling out; it’s build BP22.250103.008 and weighs 692 MB on the Google Pixel 7 Pro. This build comes from Developer Preview 2.
Recent Google Announcements
In keeping with expectations, we will outline the (primary) new features that Google has released in this beta 1 version of Android 16, which will form a portion of the final product. Along with the enhancements made in Developer Preview 1 and Developer Preview 2, all the new functionality we will discuss below have been integrated.
Apps on larger screens have been upgraded.
According to a dedicated article on the developer’s blog, Android 16 (API level 36) will include essential new functionality, which will become required for all applications in the 2026 version of the green robot operating system (API level 37).
To make Android more suitable for tablets and foldable, the development team is working on a fix to stop apps from imposing orientation and resizability restrictions on each other. They’re also pushing for a “consistent” model of adaptive apps that adjust to any screen resolution above 600 dp.
Introducing Live Updates: the Android equivalent of the Now Bar
One of the most talked-about new features of Samsung’s One UI 7—the Now Bar—is coming to Android 16 with Google. It’s quite similar to the Real-time Activities on iPhones. Live Updates informs the user about key ongoing events (riders arriving, food being delivered, directions being provided, appointments being scheduled, and much more) in real-time.
To avoid confusion with the “normal” alerts, Live Updates will display updates in a special part on the lock screen, similar to the Now Bar. On the other hand, the status bar will display any changes.
With a new notification type called ProgressStyle, Google has made it easier to work with third-party applications. This feature allows users to customize the colours and icons used for alerts according to the time of the event being tracked, whether it’s the start, finish, or updates.
Video codec support for Advanced Professional Video (APV)
With the release of Android 16, the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec was made available, which allows for higher-quality post-production video recording.
This Samsung codec boasts support for high bit rates, efficient encoding, lossless video quality (equivalent to RAW video quality), a variety of sampling formats for colour depth and colour gamut, the ability to decode and re-encode multiple times without sacrificing quality, a multi-view mode, and HDR10/10+.
The “predictive back” gesture has been enhanced.
As of Android 16, Google has made the “predictive back” gesture, which was only available in the system on Android 15, active by default across all applications designed for the new OS version (i.e., those upgraded to match the level 36 APIs).
Furthermore, the 3-button navigation mode now supports the “predictive back” gesture, which was previously only possible via gesture navigation. Holding down the back button may show a preview of the destination, much like some rumours from the day before.
Upcoming accessibility options
Along with the Samsung Galaxy S25, Google has unveiled new accessibility-focused Android features, one of which debuts in Pixel in Android 16 beta 1.
LE Audio technology upgrades hearing aids made by GN Hearing and Oticon Intent to the most recent Bluetooth version, which is ideal for hard-of-hearing people.
The benefit to consumers will be straightforward: by connecting their compatible hearing aid to their smartphone using Bluetooth, they can effortlessly operate their device by choosing and fast adjusting a few settings.
When is Android 16 coming out?
Google has revised the release timeline for the several builds that will culminate in the stable release of Android 16, which is expected to happen in the second quarter of 2025, sometime between May and June.
The second round of development began this evening with the arrival of Beta 1. After the primal builds were finished, the beta testing process started. At least three more beta versions will be issued monthly, along with the most recent release. The operating system is expected to achieve platform maturity in March with the release of beta 3.
When that happens, the app-related system behaviours will be finished, and the SDK and NDK APIs will be at level 36 (since Android 15 uses level 35 APIs).
Compatible Pixels and How to Install Android 16 Beta 1
Unlike the Developer Preview, whose “first” installation was done manually, Android 16 beta 1 can be installed by registering one of the compatible smartphones to the Android Beta program:
- Google Pixel 6 (Oriole)
- Google Pixel 6 Pro (Raven)
- Google Pixel 6a (Bluejay)
- Google Pixel 7 (Panther)
- Google Pixel 7 Pro (Cheetah)
- Google Pixel 7a (Lynx)
- Google Pixel Fold (Felix)
- Google Pixel Tablet (Tangopro)
- Google Pixel 8 (Shiba)
- Google Pixel 8 Pro (Husky)
- Google Pixel 8a (Akita)
- Google Pixel 9 (Tokay)
- Google Pixel 9 Pro (Caiman)
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Komodo)
- Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold (Comet)
To register your smartphone to receive the beta 1 of Android 16, simply go to the page dedicated to the Android Beta program (reachable via this link), go to the “Your eligible devices” section, click on “Register” and accept the terms and conditions to participate in the program.
In this way, the registered smartphone will receive beta 1 of Android 16 as if it were a normal update via OTA, which can be installed via the path “Settings > System > System update”.
Those already running the previous Developer Preview 2 will receive the new beta 1 as if it were any system update. In addition, the device will be automatically registered for the Android Beta program for Android 15.
What to do if your smartphone is registered for the Android 15 QPR2 beta program
Even if your (compatible) smartphone is registered for the Android 15 QPR2 development program, you will be automatically notified when the update to Android 16 beta 1 (coming from beta 3, released on the evening of January 21) becomes available.
In this case, there are a few options to choose from:
- Proceed with the installation of Android 16 beta 1.
- Leave the Android 16 beta program, ignore the downgrade warning, and wait for the next stable release (which will arrive in March 2025), thus avoiding data loss.
- You should leave the Android 15 QPR2 beta program and format your smartphone to return to the latest stable release (released on January 7).
If Android 16 beta 1 is installed, the first opportunity to leave the beta program without losing data on the device will occur when the next version of the green robot’s operating system is released on the stable channel, expected in June 2025.
That’s all for now. If you want to learn more about all the new features Google announced today (especially those for developers) in Android 16 beta 1, In that case, we invite you to consult the full post on the Android developer’s blog and the page with the Android 16 release (also on the developers portal).
