As we head towards the end of 2024, Google continues to surprise us with multiple releases of Android within a single year. The latest talk is about Android 16, which has already been rolled out on some Pixel devices as a developer preview. Now, Google is introducing Android 16 Developer Preview 2 in December, focusing on enhancements to app experience, battery life, and performance.
This new release includes changes such as backend tweaks for developers, haptic API controls, cloud media provider search features, and activity intensity tracking in Health Connect. While the main focus of this developer preview is on behind-the-scenes improvements, Google may still surprise us with additional changes that aren’t mentioned in blog posts.
If you’re already on Android 16 DP1, you will receive DP2 as an over-the-air update. For those who are interested in trying out the new preview, factory images are available for flashing on Pixel devices. Keep in mind that this is still a developer preview, so it’s primarily intended for app developers to prepare for the official release.
Here are the details for the Android 16 DP2 release:
– Release date: December 18, 2024
– Build: BP21.241121.009
– Emulator support: x86 (64-bit), ARM (v8-A)
– Security patch level: December 2024
– Google Play services: 24.46.30
You can find factory images for Android 16 DP2 and OTA images for Android 16 on Google’s official website. Additionally, Google plans to release Android 16 Beta in January 2025, allowing users to enroll through the Android Beta Program site.
Stay tuned for updates on any new features or changes that Google may introduce in future releases!