The first beta of Android 16 is already here and brings big changes, including new “live” notifications in iOS style and more

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The first beta of Android 16 is already here and brings big changes, including new “live” notifications in iOS style and more

Android, Beta, Big, brings, including, iOS, Live, notifications, style

Android 15 is already a thing of the past, at least for Alphabet and the Android development team. OS maintainers are hard at work on what will be the next major update, Android 16, and now they've reached a new goal: The first beta of Android 16 is readyavailable for download.

The new version of the operating system tests includes more than interesting new features, such as improvements for high-quality video recording. However, perhaps the most exciting new feature is the inclusion of a new feature called “Live updates“In addition to promising to be very useful, it recalls a function that we see in iOS, the iPhone operating system. That's what you need to know.

Android 16 Beta 1: These are the main new features

Google released the update to the final version of Android 15 in mid-October, first for its own mobiles, the Google Pixel. Since then, the Android development team has been located Working on the next OS update. In November 2024, the first version for developers arrived, but now it is the turning point of the first beta version of Android 16.

If you have a tablet, you'll want this new feature in Android 16. Take multitasking to the next level

Google itself published a road mapthat is, a release schedule with the estimated dates in which we will receive all the versions of Android 16 development. Between the months of January and April there will be four beta versions, being the last two versions considered as “platform stability” and at some point In May the final version will arrive.

Android 16 Beta 1
Android 16 Beta 1

The first beta of Android 16 is now available. The Estel calendar shows when the rest of the betas and the final version will arrive.

This year, the development and launch of Android 16 is much more accelerated, compared to Android 15, because the first beta of the previous version of the operating system arrived in April 2024, not February.

What news does the first beta of Android 16 include?

First of all, the new test version of the operating system adds improvements in the adapting applications to larger screens. Support for larger screens, both folding mobiles and tablets, is something the Android development team has been working on for several years. With the release of Android 12L, the operating system has implemented improvements in this regard, but many apps do not provide a rewarding experience, as many developers choose not to adapt their apps to these screens.

Android 16 Beta
Android 16 Beta

Android 16 looks to change that. First, the operating system will prevent developers from blocking the screen orientation for the app, preventing it from rotating to be used in horizontal mode. The operating system will now rotate the screen orientation and Use the application horizontally by adapting to the screentaking full advantage of its size.

Another new feature of Android 16 Beta 1 is to add High-quality video recording improvementsincluding support for the APC codec (Advanced Professional Video Codec), developed by Samsung, allows you to record video without noticeable loss of quality (or without loss), and adds support for HDR10/10+ and user-defined metadata, among other new features.

Picture notifications
Picture notifications

Screenshot: Mishaal Rahman in X/Twitter. (Click on the image to go to the publication)

But, without a doubt, the biggest novelty of Android 16 Beta 1 is the arrival of “live updates”, a new function related to notifications that allows you to see Actual updates from development activities. For example, if you requested food at home or a transportation service like Uber, you can see the actual visit directly on the lock screen and between notifications.

This is a feature that Apple has implemented in iOS in the past, but it's good news for users in the Android ecosystem that Google has created its own version for the operating system.

After a decade with an Android mobile, three months ago I switched to the iPhone. I am already clear which platform I stay with

Mobile compatible with Android 16 Beta 1

The first beta version of Android 16 is already available to install in compatible mobiles. In total, there are over a dozen Google Pixels devices that can install this beta, following these steps.

Cover photo | Xataka (with edition)

More information Google

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