Android 16 Beta 2 coming out soon

The next big update for Android 16 is on its way, with Beta 2 scheduled to launch this Thursday, February 13. Although we knew this update was coming, it’s a bit of a surprise that Google has given us a heads-up. The news was shared via the @AndroidDev account on X on Wednesday: “Keep an eye out for Android 16 Beta 2 coming tomorrow: eyes.”

The first beta in January didn’t bring much for everyday users. It was mainly for app developers, featuring updates like:

• Changes to how broadcasts work
• Improvements to the Android Runtime (ART)
• Support for using three buttons for navigation
• New rules for predictive back navigation
• Better scheduling for tasks that run at fixed intervals
• Layouts that adjust to different screen sizes
• Permissions related to health and fitness apps
• Notifications that focus more on progress
• Descriptions that help with accessibility
• Required fields in forms
• Better night mode for camera scenes
• New ways to measure distances
• Enhanced video features for professionals
• Support for vertical text
• Using your phone as a microphone for voice calls with LEA hearing aids
• Volume controls for LEA hearing aids in ambient settings

It’s still unclear if Beta 2 will offer more for regular users, especially in terms of what you see and interact with on your phone. Google calls this an “Incremental Beta-quality release,” hinting that big changes might not be here yet.

We’ll also have to wait and see how much of Android 16 will be shown off at Google I/O 2025 on May 20. The current plan only mentions Beta 4 in April, but there could be one more build before the conference. In the past, Google has used I/O to showcase major updates, but with the early start to the beta cycle, things might be different this year.