First Look: Unveiling the New Features of Android 16 Beta 1
Get a sneak peek at the latest updates and exciting new features in Android 16 Beta 1, now available for select Pixel devices.
By Blip Tech
2 min read
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.
