By Key Points
- Android 16 Beta 4 reaches second platform stability
- Major OEMs like Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Vivo join the rollout
- Key features include Audio Share, Adaptive Refresh Rate
- Public release timeline expected at Google I/O 2025
After months of exclusivity on Google Pixel devices, Android 16 is officially moving into a broader testing phase. With the release of Android 16 Beta 4, Google has hit the second platform stability milestone, a key moment that signals the OS is nearly complete.
Android 16 Beta 2 is here! 🚀
Pro camera features like hybrid auto-exposure and precise color adjustments, UltraHDR image updates, new AGSL effects, and more. Make sure to test against the latest behavior changes! → https://t.co/DnathOuqg2#Android16 pic.twitter.com/C7YjKlcf26
— Android Developers (@AndroidDev) February 13, 2025
Developers can now start updating their apps for Android 16 via the Play Store, as the app behaviors and system operations have been locked in. More importantly, this beta release opens the door for other smartphone brands to join the testing program.
Leading manufacturers like Honor, Lenovo, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Sharp, Vivo, Xiaomi, and iQOO have confirmed their participation. That means Android 16 is already being tested on phones like the OnePlus 13, Vivo X200, iQOO 13, and Xiaomi 15.
Android 16 Beta 2 (Developer Preview) is now rolling out to these devices.
OPPO Find X8
OnePlus 13
Realme GT7 Pro
iQOO 13
Vivo X200 Pro
Xiaomi 15
Redmi K70 Ultra
Google Pixel 9,8,7, and 6 Series pic.twitter.com/HqS5f0qSCe— TrakinTech (@TrakinTech) April 9, 2025
Chinese tech giant Oppo is pushing Android 16-based ColorOS 15 to the Find X8 in selected markets. Xiaomi, which is already part of the developer beta program, is expected to release a public beta soon for both the Xiaomi 15 and 14T Pro.
As Android 16 goes mainstream, it continues to strengthen Google’s competitive position in the smartphone OS race—especially as rivals like Apple gear up with their AI-powered iPhone 16e (Read more).
Android 16 Beta 4 adds a handy ‘Apps list’ shortcut when long-pressing the Pixel Launcher! pic.twitter.com/ANU0sINcBa
— Rajesh Rajput (Technobuzz) (@iRaj_r) April 18, 2025
Android 16 Brings Smart Features That Matter
Android 16 might not deliver a full visual makeover, but it’s packed with meaningful updates that enhance functionality, performance, and daily usability.
A major highlight is Audio Share, which allows users to stream audio to multiple Bluetooth earbuds or headphones at once. Whether you’re watching a movie or sharing music with a friend, this feature changes the game.
Another powerful upgrade is Adaptive Refresh Rate, which intelligently adjusts the display’s refresh rate to suit the task at hand. This means smoother scrolling when needed and battery savings when you’re reading or viewing static content.
Google is also giving developers more granular control over haptic feedback, opening the door for better gaming experiences and more tactile UI interactions. On the camera side, Android 16 adopts a hybrid exposure system, making it easier to fine-tune ISO, brightness, and exposure settings.
For video recording, users now have access to manual hue and color temperature adjustments, enabling more control over the look and feel of captured footage—bringing smartphones closer to pro-level videography tools.
In terms of health and privacy, Google is updating its Health Connect platform to support FHIR-formatted data sharing, making it easier for health records to sync across apps securely. Accessibility gets a boost too, as LE Audio hearing aids can now switch between their own mics and the phone mic during calls for better voice clarity.
These improvements come as smartphone design across the board pushes forward—just like how Samsung’s Galaxy S25 is now confirmed to have a fresh new look (Read more).
Why This Android Update Matters More Than Ever
The expansion of Android 16’s beta testing to a wide range of manufacturers comes at a critical time. Users are demanding smarter features, better battery efficiency, and more personalized experiences from their devices—and Android 16 aims to deliver on all fronts.
With strong competitors like Apple introducing AI-powered upgrades and companies like Samsung innovating with hardware design, Google’s Android platform must stay agile. Android 16’s rollout to multiple device makers shows that Google is committed to a more collaborative, cross-brand future, making Android stronger and more consistent across phones.
At the same time, security and privacy remain top concerns. While Android 16 focuses on user experience, the tech industry is grappling with growing threats—including major incidents like the recent Volkswagen data breach (Read more).
As Android becomes more connected with health, finance, and personal data, these improvements in system control, privacy sharing protocols, and accessibility tools are not just upgrades—they’re essential.
With Google I/O 2025 just around the corner, we can expect more announcements on Android 16’s final release and which devices will receive it first. But for now, the latest beta proves that Android is moving beyond just Google’s vision—it’s becoming a full ecosystem-wide upgrade.
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