Google has just released the third and last beta of Android 16 before the stable OS launches in early June. This installment doesn’t really add too many new features mainly because it’s so close to stable.
In fact, Google says that with this beta release, Android 16 has officially reached “platform stability.” This means that everything that developers need to release their Android 16 apps is in the final state, so they can release their compatible apps in the Play store right now.
One of the new features that are part of this Android 16 beta is Auracast support. For starters, only Pixel 9 devices on Android 16 beta will support Auracast broadcast audio with compatible LE Audio hearing aids, but we expect more devices to be added to the compatibility list once Android 16 launches in just a few months.
Another new feature that’s part of the third beta of Android 16 is the ability to outline text for maximum text contrast. Users with low vision often have reduced contrast sensitivity, making it challenging to distinguish objects from their backgrounds. Thankfully, Android 16 beta 3 introduces the option to outline text, replacing high contrast text.
Text with enhanced contrast before and after Android 16's new outline text accessibility feature | Image credit: Google
Those who already have Android 16 Beta 2 installed on their devices or are already in the Android Beta program should receive an over-the-air update to Beta 3. Anyone who owns a supported Pixel device can enroll in the Android Beta program to get this and future Android Beta updates over-the-air.
The Mountain View company has already confirmed that this Q2 major Android release will be the only one in 2025 that includes “behavior changes that could affect apps.” Another minor OS update will be released in Q4, which will include feature updates, optimizations, and bug fixes.
Google also revealed that it will continue to have quarterly Android releases. Users and developers should expect Q1 and Q3 updates to provide incremental updates to ensure continuous quality, while the Q2 update will focus on new features.
Did you enjoy reading this article?
There's more to explore with a FREE members account.
Cosmin, a tech journalist with a career spanning over a decade, brings a wealth of experience to PhoneArena. His expertise lies in brands like Samsung and Nokia, and he has a keen interest in innovative technologies. After a brief stint in PR, Cosmin returned to tech journalism in 2016, committed to delivering clear and objective news. When he's not writing or appearing as a guest on TV and radio shows, Cosmin enjoys playing RPGs, watching Netflix, and nurturing his passion for history and travel.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: