Android 16: Fourth and final beta arrives today

The development of Android 16 has started earlier than the previous Android iterations and is still on schedule according to the developers. With the beta 4 promised today, Thursday, Google is heading towards the final version.

Google achieved platform stability for the new OS version with the Android 16 beta 3 released in mid-March. This means that interfaces (API) and functions geared towards development are final, so that developers can publish all necessary compatibility updates for their apps geared towards Android 16 in the Play Store.

Since beta 3, Google has released two point updates – Beta 3.1 and 3.2 – to fix various bugs and increase system stability.

Google is not expected to deliver any major new features with the fourth beta. Instead, we can only expect more system stability and further bug fixes.

However, it is conceivable that Google will activate “Live Activities”, which is similar to Apple's Live Updates: The function can be used to display delivery times for ordering services or the arrival of a transport service in real time on the lock screen and notification bar, for example. Google teased the function with the new Easter Egg that was introduced in Beta 3.

Google could save the announcement of further Android 16 features for the I/O developer conference, which will take place between May 20 and 21, 2025. Among other things, Google could present an expressive theme for Material Design 3.

Final version expected in June

The final version of Android 16 is expected to be released in June. Experience shows that Google's Pixel devices will receive the new OS version first. The update will land on devices from other manufacturers with a slight delay.

With Android 16, however, manufacturers could distribute the new OS version faster than usual. Both Xiaomi and Oneplus are offering the first pre-release versions for some models and Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 foldables with One UI 8 based on Android 16 in July, according to rumors. Samsung would be well advised to take such a step after the massively delayed release of One UI 7.

(afl)