No , that headline is n’t a typo . A little over a month afterAndroid 15was loose to the masses in October , Google has already announced Android 16 and begun rolling out its first developer beta of the newest Android version .
If this seems like a much earlier release than usual , that ’s because it is . We typically carry the first developer beta of the next Android update to make it in February . For Android 16 , however , Google has crusade the timeline up by a few month and set in motion Android 16 Developer Preview 1 in mid - November .
Why Android 16 is launching so much earlier
This begs an of import question : Why the big shift in release timing ? According to Google , it should make it easier ( and faster ) for developer to prepare their apps for new Android versions . The companionship says the early discharge timing is being made to “ better align with the schedule of equipment launching across our ecosystem , so more devices can get the major vent of Android sooner . ” Whether this in reality translates to faster Android update continue to be go through , but that ’s Google ’s tar behind the alteration .
The first Developer Preview for Android 16 is uncommitted today , with another one to play along in December . From there , Google will expel Beta versions of Android 16 in January , February , March , and April — followed by the final tone ending in Q2 2025 .
The musical theme is that by starting the Android 16 exit bicycle now , developers have between now and Q2 2025 to get their apps ready for the new Android adaptation . Then , even as Google releases new features throughout Q3 and Q4 , developers should have a much more realizable work load afterward in the year .
what is more , Google says it ’ll continue with its usual quarterly Android releases , and that it ’s “ working with our gadget partners to bring the Q2 departure to as many twist as potential . ”
New features in Android 16
OK , so Android 16 is launching a lot earlier than common . Cool ! Does it hail with any coolheaded novel feature of speech ?
As is often the case with the first Developer Preview of a raw Android version , there ’s not too much in the way of Modern feature — at least not right now . One of the most meaning changes is that Android ’s photograph selector has a new API that will make it “ feel like a more structured part of the app . ” Many apps utilise their own photo chooser when quest photo access , and these often call for approach to many more pic than what ’s necessary . Android ’s aboriginal one is often much more strong , and the new API should ( hopefully ) promote more developers to use it in their apps .
Android 16 Developer Preview 1 also include new genus Apis for reading and writing health records as part of Health Connect . Developers need to quest entree to use these APIs , but this will theoretically permit you to share and get at your health record more easy from your Android earpiece — similar to how you could access health records today in Apple ’s Health app .
And … that ’s about it . Google will almost certainly summate extra features throughout next Developer Previews and Beta releases . The master centering of this first Developer Preview is to get APIs in developers ’ hands so they can start prepping their apps ASAP .
Should you download Android 16?
Although Android 16 Developer Preview 1 is available now , should you go ahead and download it ? Almost certainly not . As the name suggests , a Developer Preview is think for developers and developers only . particularly right at the start of its release timeline , this anatomy of Android 16 is almost for certain riddled with hemipterous insect , app compatibility problems , and carrying into action publication .
If you have a lowly gimmick you do n’t rely on as your primarysmartphone , then sure — give it a nip . But for everyone else , you ’re good off find out from the sidelines until a public genus Beta is available .
