Android 16 Beta 1 now rolling out: What’s new

Google recently released the Android 16 update schedule, revealing that the update is arriving earlier than anticipated. And Google is moving fast this time, as it has already started rolling out the first beta of Android 16, and it brings some new features and changes worth checking out.

So, if you want to know what features and changes are coming to your Android phone with this update, continue to read.

What’s new in the first beta of Android 16?

The Android 16 Beta update brings some system UI changes and improvements, including live updates for apps, adaptive apps, and more. Here are all the Android 16 features spotted in the first beta.

Live updates for apps

Google’s live updates for apps may remind you of iPhone’s live activities. The feature enables progress-centric notification system, letting you see live information without opening the app. This is great is for apps like Uber, Swiggy, and Zomato, where you can see how long will it take until your cab or food arrives.

Predictive back gesture   

Although Google has been testing the predictive back gesture for a while, it never made it to any stable version of Android. However, Google is now finally rolling out the feature with Android 16 Beta 1.

As the name suggests, the feature predicts the result of the back action even before it’s completed. This is supported on 3-button navigation bar, where when you press the back button and it shows what will be on your screen when you hit back.

Adaptive apps

With Android 16, Google is restricting screen orientation for developers. So, all apps starting Android 16 will be adaptable to different screen sizes. This means regardless of your device, the apps should fit perfectly to the screen. Whether it be a large tablet or a phablet, there won’t be any black borders on the sides.

New Android system icon and fixes

Google has also updated the Android system icon in Android 16. Although it’s a small update, the new icon seems to be the right fit for all the system alerts that pop on your phone.

In addition to this, the update brings some fixes to common issues. This includes failure of NFC payments, excessive battery drain in the developer preview version, and apps not loading up correctly.

Android 16 release timeline, compatible devices

Android 16 Beta 1 is now live for all devices from the Google Pixel 6 to the new Pixel 9 series. However, since it’s a beta update, we won’t recommend you to update. That’s because beta updates tend to have several bugs and glitches that may hamper you daily usage.

ALSO READ: Android 16 will arrive earlier than you expect

Having said that, wait for the stable update to arrive later this year after Google launches Android 16, which is likely to happen during Google I/O 2025 in May this year.