First Look: Unveiling the New Features of Android 16 Beta 1

Android 16 Beta 1 Release Overview

• Availability: Released on January 23, 2025, for various Pixel devices including the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, and newer models up to Pixel 9 Pro XL.
• Installation Guide: A step-by-step guide is available for users interested in installing Android 16 Beta 1 on their compatible devices.

New Features and Changes

• Audio Sharing Removed: The audio sharing feature has been removed from this beta version.
• Reboot Glow: A new visual effect, known as the 'reboot glow,' appears before the homescreen loads.
• Contacts Storage in Settings: Users can now manage contacts storage directly from the settings menu under Settings > Apps > Contacts storage.
• Android 16 System Icon and Logo: New system icons and a logo have been introduced for Android 16.
• Predictive Back for 3-button Navigation: Enhanced navigation with predictive back functionality for devices using 3-button navigation.
• Live Updates: Introduced to help users track progress in various scenarios such as rideshare, delivery, and navigation.

Resolved Issues

• NFC Payments: Fixed an issue causing NFC payments to fail due to a null pointer exception.
• Battery Drain: Addressed excessive battery drain caused by certain background apps.
• Media Notifications: Resolved a bug where tapping an ongoing media notification failed to open the corresponding app.
• Camera Screen Flashing: Fixed issues with video recording and zoom adjustment on some devices.
• System Stability: Various other bugs affecting system stability have been addressed.