Google has released the second Developer Preview of Android 16 (DP2) for Pixel devices, ahead of its official launch in Q2 2025. This update is expected to be the last major Android release of the year.
Android 16 DP2 focuses on enhancing the app experience with features such as improved battery life and performance, while minimizing incompatibilities. The new APIs will enable apps to offer richer haptics, allowing for more complex effects and defining amplitude and frequency curves of a haptic effect.
The update also includes improvements for adaptive refresh rate, making it easier for apps to take advantage of this feature. Additionally, the system photo picker is adding cloud search, available to both developers and end users in the coming months.
Health Connect will be adding a new data type for activity intensity, while new APIs enable predictive back system animations in gesture navigation. Android 16 Developer Preview 2 system images are now available for various Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 series and Pixel Fold.
It’s essential to note that this update is intended only for developers, with the December 2024 security patch, and is not suitable for daily or consumer use. Devices running DP1 will receive an OTA update to DP2, while those who have installed Beta 2 from the Android 15 QPR2 Beta program can flash Android 16 Developer Preview 2 without wiping their device.
Source: https://9to5google.com/2024/12/18/android-16-developer-preview-2-pixel