Android 16’s journey towards a full public release takes a significant step forward with the launch of its first public beta. This beta introduces several key features, most notably the dynamic lockscreen notifications called Live Updates, a feature mirroring Apple’s Live Activities and Samsung’s recently unveiled Now Bar. Live Updates offer real-time progress tracking, initially focusing on ride-sharing, food delivery, and navigation apps. Unlike Samsung’s bottom-screen placement or Apple’s integration with the Dynamic Island, Android 16’s Live Updates appear at the top of the notification stack. This beta signals Google’s intent to enhance user experience by providing easily accessible, real-time information directly on the lockscreen.
Another prominent feature in the Android 16 beta is the enforced resizability of apps. This change aims to ensure seamless functionality across various devices, particularly tablets and foldables, promoting full-screen utilization and flexible multitasking. While games are exempt and developers can temporarily opt out, this requirement will become mandatory with Android 17 in 2026, underscoring Google’s commitment to a consistent user experience across its diverse ecosystem. This move towards enforced resizability represents a significant shift in Android app development, pushing developers to optimize their apps for a wider range of screen sizes and aspect ratios.
Beyond these headline features, the public beta also incorporates several other enhancements. Support for the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec promises improved video quality, while scene detection within camera apps facilitates automatic activation of night mode, optimizing image capture in low-light conditions. Improved vertical text rendering caters to languages that utilize vertical scripts, enhancing readability and overall user experience. These additions complement features introduced in earlier developer betas, including a refined photo picker menu, more nuanced haptic controls, and the Health Connect app for streamlined sharing of health information.
These improvements build upon the foundation laid by the two preceding developer betas. The earlier betas introduced features like enhancements to the photo picker menu, richer haptic controls, and the introduction of the Health Connect app for seamless sharing of medical information. The public beta represents the culmination of these developmental stages, bringing a more polished and feature-rich experience to a wider audience. It also allows for broader testing and feedback, vital for ironing out any remaining bugs and optimizing performance before the final release.
Google has also confirmed its ongoing efforts to expand the capabilities of Gemini Extensions. Launched just prior to the beta release, Gemini allows Google Assistant to interact with multiple apps simultaneously based on a single user prompt. Currently limited to Google’s own apps, a selection of Samsung apps, and a few third-party offerings like Spotify and WhatsApp, Google has pledged to broaden Gemini’s compatibility, extending its functionality to more apps, manufacturers, devices, and form factors. This expansion highlights Google’s ambition to create a more integrated and intelligent user experience through its AI assistant.
The Android 16 beta is accessible to users of Google Pixel phones from the Pixel 6 onwards, as well as the Pixel Tablet. This public beta provides a valuable opportunity for users to experience the latest Android features firsthand before the official release. However, those hesitant to engage with beta software won’t have to wait long. Google is accelerating its update schedule this year, with the full release of Android 16 anticipated in Q2, following a final beta in April. This marks a significant shift from the traditional Q3 release window, signaling Google’s commitment to faster delivery of major Android updates. This accelerated timeline allows users to benefit from the latest features and improvements sooner than previous years.
