Google introduced the first public beta of Android 16 with many new features.
New features in the Android 16 beta that Google describes in a blog include over-the-air updates to the lock screen and the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec for video recording. Additionally, the company is adding a framework to make apps adaptable to different aspect ratios.
New improvements
The most significant change for end users is the introduction of over-the-air updates. Apple has had these notifications (Live Activities) since iOS 16 from 2022, and Android is now adopting this functionality. You will therefore soon be able to follow, for example, the download of a video or the delivery status of a package in real time.
Google is also adding frameworks and tools to make apps more responsive in terms of design. The company is removing size restrictions for developers so their apps look better and work better on large screens such as tablets and foldable devices. Android 16 also features a new Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec for video capture. With APV, users can expect nearly lossless quality, closer to raw in-camera images, according to Google.
-Google changed the Android 16 rollout schedule by releasing the first developer preview in October of last year, rather than in the first quarter of 2025. Google likely wants to give device makers more time to release updates and get the same version of Android running.
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