According to Business Standard, Google has released Android 16 Beta 4, the final test version before the official release next month. This update brings new features, interface improvements, and fixes many system problems. The beta update is available for Pixel smartphones and compatible devices from partner brands like OPPO, OnePlus, Realme, Vivo, iQOO, Xiaomi, HONOR, Lenovo, and SHARP. Google plans to officially launch Android 16 at their I/O conference in May 2025.
Android 16 is Google’s newest mobile operating system. It focuses on making phones work better, last longer on battery, and work well on tablets and folding phones. The system includes features like Live Updates notifications (similar to what iPhone users have), predictive back gestures, and better support for large-screen devices.
The Beta 4 update adds several new features that users will notice right away. One big change is dynamic color options for the always-on display. This means when your phone screen is off but showing the time (always-on display), the clock outline will now match your wallpaper colors instead of just being white. Green colors seem to show up the most, and weather icons will match the clock colors too. This makes your phone look more personal and attractive when not in use.
Another new feature is the ability to take screenshots directly from app icons. When you press and hold an app icon, you’ll now see a “Screenshot” option. Also, themed icons (app icons that match your phone’s color theme) are now fully ready and no longer in testing.
- Dynamic color options for always-on display
- New “Screenshot” option when long-pressing app icons
- Themed icons now fully available
- Support for audio sharing on Bluetooth LE devices
- Better compatibility for large-screen and foldable devices
One feature that has been removed in this update is the Battery Health option in settings. This feature was added in Beta 3 to show how much battery capacity your phone still has. Google removed it because it didn’t work well across different devices and showed inaccurate information. Users who want to check their battery health might need to use other apps like AccuBattery instead. This removal might make some users unhappy with Google’s battery management features.
The update also fixes many bugs and performance problems that users complained about. The radar map in the Pixel Weather app that would disappear has been fixed. Problems with phone vibrations (haptic feedback) not working or being delayed are now solved. The update also fixes an issue where phones would use too much battery overnight – dropping from 11% to a more normal 5-7%.
- Fixed disappearing radar map in Weather app
- Fixed delayed or missing vibrations
- Reduced battery drain overnight
- Fixed phone restarts during calls
- Fixed app crashes
- Improved overall stability and performance
This final beta update is very important because it shows that Android 16 is almost ready for everyone to use. It marks what Google calls “platform stability” – meaning the system is now stable enough for app developers to finish testing their apps. The update has fixed critical bugs like battery drain and settings crashes. Since this is the last test version, the official release next month should work well, especially on Pixel phones and partner brand devices.
For regular phone users, this means that a more stable, feature-rich update is coming soon. If you have a Pixel phone or one of the partner brand phones, you can look forward to these new features and improvements in May. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try the beta version now through the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), but remember that beta software might still have some problems.
