Google rolls out its first Android 16 Developer Preview

Google has officially rolled out the first developer preview of Android 16, offering an early look at what’s in store for its next-generation mobile operating system. The Android 16 developer preview is set to launch publicly in Q2 2025 marking a pivotal moment as Google adopts a more proactive approach to Android API releases, aiming to accelerate app and device innovation.

Android 16 Developer Preview Updates

With Android 16, Google plans to introduce two major API updates in 2025:

• Q2 Release: The primary Android 16 launch, aligned earlier than usual to match global device launch schedules, encouraging developers to finalize compatibility testing ahead of time.
• Q4 Update: Focused on delivering additional APIs, feature enhancements, and optimizations without altering app behaviors, ensuring smoother app compatibility throughout the year.

Quarterly updates in Q1 and Q3 will address incremental improvements, making Android more responsive to evolving user and developer needs.

Key Features in Android 16 Developer Preview

1. Embedded Photo Picker: Android 16 enhances privacy with a revamped photo picker, enabling users to share specific images or videos with apps instead of granting full media library access. Supported on devices running Android 4.4 (API level 19) and above, this feature integrates seamlessly into apps with minimal code changes, boosting security and user control.
2. Health Records API: The preview introduces a Health Connect API for managing medical data in FHIR format. The early-access feature allows apps to securely read and write health records, with explicit user consent, paving the way for improved healthcare app integration.
3. Privacy Sandbox Enhancements: Google’s Privacy Sandbox evolves in Android 16, focusing on safeguarding user data. A standout feature, the SDK Runtime, isolates third-party SDKs in a separate environment from apps, offering enhanced security and privacy.

Android 16 Release Timeline

• Android 16 Developer Preview Period: Begins in November 2024, with updates that include system images, SDK tools, API references, and API diffs to support developer testing.
• Platform Stability: Targeted for late Q1 2025, ensuring final SDK/NDK APIs and system behaviors are available months before the public release, giving developers ample time to finalize their apps.

Getting Started with Android 16

Developers can get hands-on experience by flashing the Android 16 Developer Preview 1 system image on Pixel 6 or newer devices. For those transitioning from Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1, a device wipe is required before installing the preview.

Google plans to open the Android Beta program to users as Android 16 progresses into beta phases, inviting feedback and insights from early adopters. With a focus on privacy, performance, and developer support, Android 16 promises to redefine mobile experiences.