Android 16 Beta 2 Now Available for Pixel Devices

Today, Google is releasing Android 16 Beta 2 for Pixel devices, marking it as an “Incremental Beta-quality release,” following last month’s quieter update. Read more about last month’s update here.

Android 16 introduces various enhancements tailored for media and camera functionalities, specifically boosting support for professional camera operations. Key improvements include:

Hybrid auto-exposure in Camera2, allowing apps to manually adjust specific exposure elements while the auto-exposure algorithm manages the rest.
Accurate color temperature and tint adjustments optimized for professional video recording.
Enhanced ability to capture motion photos through new Intent actions.
Support for UltraHDR images in the HEIC file format, with AVIF support for UltraHDR also on the horizon.

For smart TVs, Android 16 offers a consolidated set of standardized APIs that provide access to audio and visual profiles as well as hardware-related settings. Some applications of this feature include:

Movies with a wider dynamic range may benefit from settings that prioritize color fidelity over brightness to reveal subtle details.
High-energy live sports, typically mastered with a narrower dynamic range and viewed in bright conditions, can be enhanced with profiles that excel in brightness.
Interactive content demands minimal processing to lessen latency, hence many TVs are equipped with a gaming profile that supports higher frame rates.

Additional updates in Android 16 Beta 2 include:

Users can customize their measurement system in regional preferences via Settings > System > Languages & region.
A new content API simplifies live wallpaper creation for developers.
New APIs provide insights into available CPU and GPU resources for resource-intensive applications like games, optimizing performance and battery efficiency.

Feedback can be provided through the Android Beta Feedback app available on Pixel devices. Access it from the app drawer or Quick Settings to report bugs to the Google issue tracker. Join the discussion in the Android Beta community on Reddit.

Android 16 Beta 2 system images featuring the February 2025 security update can be downloaded for multiple Pixel devices, including Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and the Android Emulator.