Introduction: Google has officially rolled out the third beta of Android 16, marking a significant step towards the final release. With this update, the Platform Stability milestone has been reached, paving the way for a more refined user experience in the upcoming versions. This article delves into the new features, the expected timeline, and how this release is a departure from Google's traditional Android rollout methods.
As anticipated, Google is releasing Android 16 Beta 3. This update brings the Platform Stability milestone, indicating that only one more beta release is planned to address bugs and resolve any remaining issues. According to Google’s timeline, this next beta is expected to be available in April.
The final version of Android 16 is scheduled for launch on Google’s supported Pixel devices in the second quarter of the year, aiming for a release by the end of June. Following this, a minor Android update is set to follow in the fourth quarter, between October and December. This represents a notable shift in Google’s approach to releasing new Android versions after many years.
Android 16 Beta 3 introduces several new features, including Auracast broadcast audio support for compatible LE Audio hearing aids and an improved accessibility feature for users with low vision. The latter replaces high contrast text with an outline text option, designed to "greatly improve legibility" by providing a larger contrasting area around the text.
Additionally, Beta 3 begins to offer support for Local Network Protection, a feature currently set for a future Android major release. This will empower users with more control over which apps can access devices on their local network, although, at this stage, it remains an opt-in feature for app developers.
Google expresses that it is "putting additional energy" into collaborations with device partners to ensure that Android 16 reaches as many devices as possible.
