Android
Android 16’s first beta release starts rolling out
Android 16’s final release is expected later this year.

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Google has released the first beta version of Android 16, rolling it out to developers and early testers eager to explore the latest updates.
While many devices are yet to be updated to Android 15, Google is already well underway with Android 16 development, following two previous developer previews.
This initial beta doesn’t showcase many new features, but the final release is expected later this year.
The first beta release for Android 16 is here
One significant change in Android 16 is the push toward improving app compatibility on large-screen devices like tablets and foldables.
Apps targeting API level 36 will be required to support resizable windows, ensuring seamless scaling across different aspect ratios.

By 2026, this will extend to all apps targeting API level 37, with no opt-out option. This move aims to address the widespread inflexibility of many apps and offer better experiences for users of large-screen devices.
The beta introduces improvements to live notifications with the new ProgressStyle notification template, which simplifies the creation of progress-based updates, such as ride notifications from apps like Uber.
Developers can now customize the colors, icons, and progress segments of their notifications, making them more visually appealing and functional.
On the media front, Android 16 supports the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec, enabling near-lossless video recording and efficient post-production workflows.
Features include high bit rates, frame tiling, and various chroma sampling formats.
Additionally, a new API enables apps to detect optimal moments for cameras to switch to night mode, potentially improving low-light photography.
For languages like Japanese, foundational support for vertical text rendering has been introduced.
Most changes in Android 16 are developer-focused, including updates to Android Runtime (ART), which may impact app performance but won’t be immediately apparent to users.
Although Android 16 appears to be a relatively incremental update, Google may introduce more features in upcoming betas before reaching platform stability, which is expected around March.
The beta is now available for Google Pixel devices, but testers should proceed cautiously due to potential software instability.
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