- Android 16 Beta 2 is rolling out to pick out Pixel gadgets
- The brand new beta reveals digicam options, a brand new shortcut for Google Pockets, and extra
- There’s nonetheless no launch date for Android 16, although it’s going to doubtless launch a lot later this 12 months
Although it looks like Android 15 was solely lately rolling out to handsets from numerous cellphone makers, Google is already pushing forward with Android 16 – the second beta is at the moment making its option to choose Pixel smartphones (Google Pixel 6 or newer).
We’re already seeing hints and demo variations of recent options that counsel Android 16 will probably be a serious replace for the world’s hottest cellular working system, with new digicam instruments, dwell notifications, and a helpful new trick for Google Pockets.
Google’s Android Builders Weblog has printed two posts in regards to the first and second variations of the beta, itemizing new options for customers and new developer-focused instruments.
The inner codename for Android 16 is Baklava, which is smart to me – that is already shaping as much as be an replace with layers of recent options to dig into. Learn on for a recap of the 5 greatest new options thus far.
Android 16 is bringing quite a lot of new digicam instruments, lots of that are geared toward professionals.
There’s a brand new hybrid auto-exposure mode that permits customers to manually management ISO and publicity time whereas the cellphone handles publicity, offering a half-step between the present computerized and full handbook modes.
A few smaller updates make their option to Android 16’s digicam app too: help for Extremely HDR pictures is included, and there’s a brand new API that permits third-party apps to detect when evening mode is critical and swap to it inside the app itself.
Help for the Superior Skilled Video codec additionally involves Android with this replace, as does exact temperature and tint management for video recording.
A brand new Google Pockets shortcut
With Android 16 Beta 2, Google has added a helpful new shortcut for Google Pockets customers that’s positive to save lots of time when paying for issues together with your smartphone.
The Google Pockets app can now be opened with a double-press of the ability button, which opens the digicam by default on most Android handsets.
So, getting access to this new operate means saying goodbye to a long-time favourite shortcut, but it surely’s good to have the choice.
Personally, I hate the sensation of holding up a queue or fumbling round on my house display in search of the Google Pockets app after I’m paying for one thing with my cellphone, so I’m wanting ahead to attempting out this characteristic most of all.
Higher app resizing
As a long-time fan of folding telephones, I’m glad to see Google taking steps to make app resizing simpler for bigger shows.
Android 16 phases out the flexibility for apps to restrict their display dimension and orientation on bigger shows, reminiscent of these discovered on tablets or the internal display of folding telephones. This could enable apps to make higher use of huge panels and provides customers of those gadgets a greater expertise in a wider vary of apps.
Although it’ll nonetheless come all the way down to app builders to make sure their apps work properly throughout a number of display sizes, it is a optimistic step from Google to make tablets and foldable gadgets really feel like a portal to the true Android expertise.
Stay Updates
A brand new sort of notification is coming to Android with its subsequent model – Stay Updates are designed to assist customers control occasions and different dwell goings-on as they unfold, through a notification that takes precedence over others and takes a spot on the lock display.
It’s the same – properly, the identical – thought as Apple’s Stay Actions, with the principle distinction being that the Android implementation doesn’t depend on the Dynamic Island or one other model of it, such because the Dynamic Cloud discovered on fashionable OnePlus telephones.
As Android Authority notes, Google has urged that Stay Updates may very well be used for ride-sharing, meals supply, and navigation, amongst different use circumstances. The Stay Updates operate contains help for progress bars and textual content reminders for, say, upcoming turns when utilizing navigation apps.
Gemini Extensions
This one’s a bit of extra mysterious, as Google hasn’t given us a lot to go off of, however it appears that evidently the Gemini Extensions that launched with the Samsung Galaxy S25 collection will quickly be making their option to extra Android telephones.
The Android Builders Weblog merely states that Google is “working to make this performance obtainable on much more type components”.
The Gemini Extensions obtainable on the Galaxy S25, and its bigger siblings the Galaxy S25 Plus and Galaxy S25 Extremely, enable Google’s AI assistant to entry and make the most of different apps on the cellphone.
In concept, this permits Gemini to finish extra advanced duties like making a procuring listing and saving it to Samsung Notes.
So, there you could have it – 5 of the perfect new options coming to all of the greatest Android telephones through Android 16. What do you consider these new options? What do you wish to see come to Android 16? Tell us within the feedback under.