Following last month’s quieter release, Google is rolling out Android 16 Beta 2 to Pixel devices today as an “Incremental Beta-quality release.”
On the Media and Camera front, “Android 16 enhances support for professional camera users.” This includes:
- Hybrid auto-exposure (in Camera2): Apps can “manually control specific aspects of exposure while letting the auto-exposure (AE) algorithm handle the rest.”
- Precise color temperature and tint adjustments: For professional video recording applications.
- Easier to capture motion photos with new Intent actions
- Support for UltraHDR images in the HEIC file format: AVIF support for UltraHDR is also being developed
For televisions, Android 16 “exposes a set of standardized APIs for access to audio and picture profiles and hardware-related settings.” Use cases include:
- Movies mastered with a wider dynamic range require greater color accuracy to see subtle details in shadows and adjust to ambient light, so a profile that prefers color accuracy over brightness may be appropriate.
- Live sporting events are often mastered with a narrow dynamic range, but are often watched in daylight, so a profile that preferences brightness over color accuracy can give better results.
- Fully interactive content wants minimal processing to reduce latency, and wants higher frame rates, which is why many TV’s ship with a game profile.
Other Android 16 Beta 2 updates:
- “Users can now customize their measurement system in regional preferences”: Settings > System > Languages & region
- Android 16 makes it easier for developers to create live wallpapers with a new content API
- Games and other resource-intensive apps can get estimates of available CPU and GPU resources with new APIs, thus improving performance and battery life
You can leave feedback with the Android Beta Feedback app on Pixel devices. Access it from the drawer or via Quick Settings to file bugs in the Google issue tracker. There’s also the Android Beta community on Reddit.
Android 16 Beta 2 system images with the February 2025 security patch are available for the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel Pro Fold, as well as the Android Emulator.
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 9 Pro XL: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 9 Pro: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 9: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 8a: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 8 Pro: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 8: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel Fold: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel Tablet: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 7a: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 7 Pro: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 7: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6a: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6 Pro: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
- Pixel 6: BP22.250124.009 — Factory Image — OTA
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