Google officially has rolled out the first Android 16 developer preview as a countdown of its planned public launch in Q2 2025. This early release reflects Google’s strategic plan to hasten API updates in order to prod developers into innovating faster across apps and on devices.
Android 16 Developer Preview
The launch of Android 16‘s developer preview involves a major shift in the way Google handles its platform updates. Developers can now access the new APIs for months in advance, thus providing for easy adaptation and innovation. Two major Android API updates have also been slated by Google for 2025, one primary in Q2 and the other in Q4.
To help more closely align with new device releases, the Q2 update moves forward, developers gain more time to perform compatibility testing for their apps. The Q4 update will add new developer APIs, features, and fix bugs while keeping any core app behaviors unchanged.
Features of the Android 16 Developer Preview
Enhanced Photo Picker: The photo picker feature allows users to share specific photos or videos with apps, enhancing privacy by limiting access to their entire media library. This feature is supported on Android 4.4 (API level 19) and above, requiring minimal code for integration.
Health Records: With the Health Connect preview, developers can access APIs to manage health data in FHIR format. This new capability enables apps to read and write medical records with explicit user consent.
Privacy Sandbox: Google continues its commitment to user privacy with the latest version of the Privacy Sandbox. Key innovations include the SDK Runtime, which isolates SDKs from the app environment.
Android 16 development timeline
Google has outlined a clear timeline for Android 16:
- Developer Preview Period: Starting November 2024, developers will receive updates at key milestones, including system images, SDK tools, and API references.
- Platform Stability: Targeted for late Q1 2025, this phase will introduce final SDK/NDK APIs and system behaviors. Developers will have ample time for compatibility testing ahead of the public release in Q2 2025.
Getting started with Android 16
To explore the Android 16 Developer Preview, developers can flash system images on Pixel 6 or later devices. However, transitioning from Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 will require a device wipe.
Google also plans to expand access by inviting users to join the Android Beta program as more stable beta releases roll out in the coming months.
Related
Android 16 promises so much more than just new features, as it’s a new definition of how developers interact with the platform. It’s built to provide a robust foundation for next-gen apps, including advanced privacy tools and health-focused APIs. The Android 16 developer preview reflects Google’s commitment to innovative solutions that are both high-performance and highly usable, safe, and private.
