Android 16 Beta 2: What’s New and Improved in Google’s Latest Update

Google has rolled out Android 16 Beta 2 with a host of exciting new features, design refinements, and developer enhancements. This update not only brings user-friendly changes to the interface but also offers robust backend improvements that promise better performance, enhanced security, and more creative tools for app developers. Below is an in-depth look at everything Android 16 Beta 2 has to offer.

User-Facing Enhancements

New Home Screen Widget: Switch Users

One of the first noticeable changes is the introduction of a Switch Users widget. This new home screen feature allows for quick switching between user profiles and provides direct access to user account settings. The streamlined experience is especially useful for families or shared devices.

Refined Gesture Controls: Double Press Power Button

The settings menu now includes an updated gesture feature under Settings > System > Gestures. The Double Press Power Button option has been reconfigured to launch the wallet app instead of the camera app—similar to the behavior found on iOS. This change offers increased flexibility by keeping the camera shortcut available on the lock screen.

Updated Visual Elements and Settings

• Darker Setting Submenus: The settings submenus have a deeper tone compared to previous betas, enhancing readability and focus.
• Pixel 9 Series Animation: A new unlocking animation for the Pixel 9 series has been introduced, offering a smoother and more modern visual effect.
• Text Outlines: The option previously labeled as “Maximize Text Contrast” is now renamed to Text Outlines. This subtle change refines the display settings.
• OS Name Update: In the storage settings, the operating system is now referred to as Android Baklava instead of Android 15, reflecting the new version branding.

Developer-Focused Enhancements

Android 16 Beta 2 brings several technical improvements designed to help developers create more advanced and efficient applications.

Advanced Camera Capabilities

• Hybrid Auto Exposure: This feature allows for more nuanced control over camera exposure, ensuring optimal brightness across various lighting conditions.
• Precise Color Adjustments: Developers now have access to refined color temperature and tint controls, enabling professional video recording apps to achieve specific looks even without a log option.
• Motion Photo Enhancements: Adjustments to the motion photo capture pipeline will make it easier for apps to integrate and utilize motion photos.

Improved Media and Performance Tools

• Dynamic Picture Profiles: For television-focused streaming and hardware streaming apps, dynamic picture profiles can now be applied to individual media pieces, ensuring optimal color accuracy and brightness.
• Measurement System Customization: A new system setting allows users to choose between metric, US imperial, or UK imperial measurements. This can be adjusted under Settings > System > Languages & Region.
• Live Wallpaper Framework: A refreshed live wallpaper framework and updated content API aim to deliver a smoother user experience.
• Resource Estimation Metrics: Developers can now access new resource estimation metrics that communicate available GPU and CPU resources. This change is expected to improve both performance and battery life for high-performance apps and games.

Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements

Android 16 Beta 2 also addresses several known issues from previous builds:

• UI Stability: A critical bug causing the system UI to crash when interacting with certain web view elements has been fixed.
• Call Stability: Issues causing devices to freeze and restart during calls have been resolved.
• App Crashes: Crashes experienced by the Google Home app on beta builds have been remedied.
• Persistent Dark Text Bug: The dark font used for displaying the date and time remains an issue, with hopes for a fix in a future update.
• Security Update: The beta now includes the February 2025 security patch, ensuring the latest protection measures are in place.

How to Install Android 16 Beta 2

Android 16 Beta 2 is available as an over-the-air (OTA) update for eligible devices, including Pixel 6, 7, 8, and 9 series, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel Fold devices. The beta version is reportedly stable for day-to-day use on supported devices; however, some performance discrepancies compared to the stable Android 15 build have been observed. Users should note that reverting to the stable version will require a factory reset.

Conclusion

Android 16 Beta 2 marks a significant step forward with its blend of user-centric enhancements and powerful developer tools. From the new Switch Users widget and refined gesture controls to advanced camera capabilities and improved performance metrics, this update sets the stage for a more intuitive and flexible Android experience. As Google continues to refine the platform, further consumer-facing features are expected in the full release.

Sign In