Google plans to release the first public beta version of Android 16 on January 22, 2025 for Pixel smartphones starting with the Pixel 6. This is reported by AndroidAuthority, among others.
This marks the start of a new phase in Android development that will give users an early insight into upcoming functions.
- First public beta release on January 22, 2025
- Available for Pixel smartphones from Pixel 6 onwards
- Further beta versions planned for February and March
New features and improvements in Android 16
With Android 16, Google is introducing several significant innovations designed to improve the user experience. One of the most notable features is the expanded photo library, which allows apps to access the photo selection dialog directly. This makes it easier to share media without apps needing full access to the entire storage.
The integration of health data is also being driven forward. The Health Connect app receives APIs that enable reading and writing of medical data in FHIR format. This promotes seamless communication between different health apps and devices and mirrors similar functions that already exist on other platforms.
Schedule for the beta versions
According to a comment from a Google employee on the Android Gerrit system, the following dates are scheduled for the upcoming beta releases:
- Beta 1: January 22, 2025
- Beta 2: February 19, 2025
- Beta 3: March 12, 2025
With the third beta version, Android 16 reaches the platform stability milestone, which means that the APIs and system-side behaviors have been finalized. Google then plans to release further beta versions in April and May before the stable version is released in the second quarter of 2025.
Participation in the beta program
Interested users can sign up for the beta versions via the Android beta program. Participating devices will automatically receive updates to the latest beta versions of Android. It is recommended to create a backup of important data before installation, as beta software can potentially be unstable.
The release of the Android 16 public beta offers developers and tech enthusiasts the opportunity to test new features early and provide feedback to optimize the final version.
