Last month, developers (and those prepared to be Google guinea pigs) got their first taste of Android 16 with the first beta. Now, just under a month after release, the second beta is here, complete with bug fixes and some nice new features to enjoy.
Google outlines all the changes in a post on the Developer’s Blog and while many aren’t user-facing and will thus go largely unnoticed, there are some promising developments that you will spot straight away.
Firstly, Google is making changes to the camera. The most exciting of these is a new hybrid auto-exposure system, which aims to combine the simplicity of the auto mode with the useful functionality of the somewhat cluttered Pro version.
The hybrid system aims to offer the best of both worlds to casual users, with options to finetune ISO levels and exposure times while leaving auto-exposure and other more advanced tweaks to the algorithm. The upshot of this is that you should be able to easily get more artistic shots without getting lost in the myriad of options that Pro users revel in.
You’ll also be able to adjust frame temperature and tint levels via a color correction system. This will let you adjust for irregularities in the lighting of your shots, as well as allowing you to play with more arty styles.
Additionally, there’s added support for capturing motion photos — pictures that capture a bit of movement before freezing in their final position, like this:
Finally, there’s support for the HEIC file format, which promises high-quality images without taking up as much space. Google says that AVIF and UltraHDR support is also on the way.
Away from the camera improvements, and unmentioned in the Developer Blog post is something that will delight those who have a device they split between work and home use. Android Authority has spotted the introduction of a new widget for switching accounts, saving you from diving into the Quick Settings panel.
And users of Google Wallet can make it easier to access too, as 9to5Google has spotted that opening it up can be bound to the power button. Simply open the Settings app and head to the Gestures page, and you’ll be able to tie it to Google Wallet with two taps of the power button (just make sure the double press function is enabled).
Beyond these changes, you can expect some bug fixes too. The most prominent of these mends one that caused a crash when interacting with certain elements in webview. Another bug which crashed Google Home has also been resolved, and if you found your phone randomly restarting during phone calls, you’ll be pleased to hear that one has been fixed too.
The Android 16 Beta 2 is, like the previous version, only open to Pixel devices — specifically the Pixel 6 and newer, or the Pixel Tablet. If eligible, you can enrol in the Android 16 Beta program here, and then apply the update by heading to Settings > System > Software update.
