Android 16 Developer Preview 2: Haptic APIs, Adaptive Refresh Rate Enhancements, and More

Google is rolling out Developer Preview 2 of Android 16 to Pixel devices ahead of its Q2 2025 launch. This update brings changes designed to enhance the app experience, improve battery life, and boost performance while minimizing incompatibilities. Key highlights include new APIs for richer haptics, easier use of adaptive refresh rate, cloud search in the system photo picker, a new ACTIVITY_INTENSITY data type in Health Connect, and predictive back system animations in gesture navigation.

Android 16 DP2 (BP21.241121.009) with the December 2024 security patch is still just for developers only and not intended for daily or consumer use.