Google is rolling out Android 16 beta 2 update to eligible Pixel phones following last month’s release. It’s an “incremental Beta-quality release,” but it introduces some new features, mainly for the camera.
Google recently announced the date for this year’s I/O event. Usually, new Android OS beta updates are released during the event. However, since the company has decided to speed up the release of these updates, we are seeing the beta build earlier than usual. Perhaps some of the Android 16 features will be withheld until the May event, but there are a handful with the latest release.
While we expect Android 16 to bring changes to many aspects of the Android system, the Android 16 beta 2 update seems to be making changes in the media and camera section. It “enhances support for professional camera users.”
Android 16 beta 2 update changes: media and camera
- 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.
With the Android 16 beta 2 update, Google is making changes to Televisions. A set of standardized APIs for access to audio and picture profiles and hardware-related settings have been exposed.
- 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 update changes
- 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
The update is available for registered beta testers who will get the update via OTA. You can install it manually by downloading the system image. Of course, the security patch level is in February 2025.
