Google introduced the first public beta version of Android 16 with numerous new features.
New features for the beta version of Android 16 that Google describes in a blog include live updates on the lock screen and Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec for video recording. In addition, the company is also adding a framework to make apps scalable for different aspect ratios.
New improvements
The most significant change for the end user is the introduction of live updates. Apple has had those notifications (Live Activities) since iOS 16 from 2022, and Android is now adopting that functionality. So soon you will be able to track, for example, the uploading 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 when it comes to design. The company is eliminating size restrictions for developers so that their apps look and work better on large screens such as tablets and foldable devices. Android 16 also gets a new Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec for video capture. With APV, users can expect nearly lossless quality closer to .raw camera images, according to Google.
Google changed the rollout schedule with Android 16 by releasing the first developer preview as early as last October, rather than in the first quarter of 2025. By doing this, Google probably wants to give device manufacturers more time to release updates and run the same Android version.