Google’s second beta for Android 16 is here, and it’s packed with camera enhancements and performance tweaks. This release gives us a better sense of the direction of Android 16–let’s take a look.
Android 16 is adding new features for professional camera users, including hybrid auto exposure, precise color temperature, and tint adjustments, and easier motion photo capture.
- Hybrid Auto Exposure: The new hybrid auto-exposure modes in the Camera2 API allow for manual control of specific aspects of exposure while letting the auto-exposure algorithm handle the rest.
- Precise Color Temperature and Tint Adjustments: Android 16 also adds camera support for fine color temperature and tint adjustments, which is useful for professional video recording projects.
- Motion Photo Capture Intent Actions: It’s now easier for camera applications to capture motion photos with the new Intent actions in Android 16.
- UltraHDR Image Enhancements: Android 16 will continue to improve UltraHDR images, with support for HEIC encoding and new parameters from the ISO 21496-1 draft standard.
- Custom Graphical Effects with AGSL: Android 16 adds RuntimeColorFilter and RuntimeXfermode, allowing you to create complex effects like Threshold, Sepia, and Hue Saturation and apply them to draw calls.
Graphics and Performance Improvements
Beta 2 isn’t just about visuals–it’s about performance. Developers can now play with RuntimeColorFilter and RuntimeXfermode to create cool graphical effects. The Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) also gets new headroom APIs, which aim to help games and demanding apps run smoother and more efficiently.
Privacy, Security, and Background Tasks
Privacy and security are always a topic of focus in Android updates. The BODY SENSORS permissions are now under android.permissions.health, giving users finer control over their health data. A new job stop reason helps developers manage background tasks better. And, of course, there are security enhancements to keep your device safe.
Beyond the big features, Beta 2 includes some other interesting changes. There are updates to font APIs, page size compatibility, and even how you customize your measurement system. Developers should definitely test their apps for compatibility, especially for edge-to-edge displays.
Android 16 is on track for a Q2 2025 release. This beta gives us a good look at what Google has in store. With its focus on camera improvements, performance, and privacy, Android 16 is shaping up to be potentially a bigger upgrade than we’ve seen in previous years.
Source: Google
