Android 16 Developer Preview 2 arrives with enhanced features

Key Developer Highlights:

• Enhanced Haptics: New APIs offer finer control over haptic feedback, allowing developers to define precise amplitude and frequency curves for more nuanced tactile experiences.
• Adaptive Refresh Rate Improvements: Building on Android 15’s adaptive refresh rate feature, DP2 further optimizes display refresh rate adjustments to reduce power consumption.
• Cloud Search for Photo Picker: The system photo picker will soon include cloud search functionality for both developers and users.
• Health Connect Updates: A new ACTIVITY_INTENSITY data type (moderate or vigorous) has been added to Health Connect.
• Predictive Back Animations: New APIs support smoother, predictive back system animations in gesture navigation.

Android 16 DP2 is available for a wide range of Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 series, Pixel 7 series, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8 series, and Pixel 9 series, as well as the Android Emulator. This release is primarily for developers and not recommended for daily use. The Android 16 Beta Program will begin next month.

Pixel 9 Gets “Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock”

A notable user-facing feature in Android 16 DP2 is “Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock” for the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and Pixel 9 Pro XL. This allows users to unlock their phone using the fingerprint sensor even when the screen is off, a feature made possible by these devices’ ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanners. Older Pixel models won’t have this capability.

New Emoji Support

Android 16 DP2 also introduces support for seven new emoji from Unicode 16.0: Face with Bags Under Eyes, Fingerprint, Leafless Tree, Root Vegetable, Harp, Shovel, and Splatter. This ensures that Pixel devices running the latest preview can display these new emoji correctly.