Android 16’s First Public Beta Now Available

The first public beta of Android 16 has officially started to be released by Google. For Google Pixel smartphones (Pixel 6 and higher) participating in the Android Beta Program, the latest version expected to be accessible as an over-the-air update.

One of the most notable aspects of the Android 16 public beta is the availability of adaptive apps. Regardless of the screen size, orientation, or form factor of your phone, Google will make sure apps resize and function correctly.

Apps aiming for API level 36 must enable resizable windows on screens 600 pixels wide or wider, according to Google’s press release. Developers will not be able to lock the orientation and scale of particular app windows. Better app layouts on foldable smartphones should be possible thanks to this functionality.

Users Can Now Test New Features Ahead of Android 16’s Official Release

Before the definitive version of the platform is released in Q2, Google plans to release at least three more Android 16 public betas. In order to fix any lingering issues, a minor release will be made in Q4 after a big beta release with new APIs in Q2.

Google’s live updates are an adaptation of Apple’s Live Activities, which were first introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro series. For continuous operations like food delivery, ride-hailing, and navigation, these are dynamic notifications. With customisable iconography, progress tracking milestones, and trip phases, Google has introduced a Progress Style notification template. With One UI 7, Samsung adopted a similar strategy with its Now Bar.

With up to 8K resolution and a bandwidth of 2Gbps, the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec is now natively supported in the latest Android 16 beta, enabling “professional level high-quality video recording and post-production.”