Android 16 Developer Preview 2 has arrived

Google is rescheduling its Android launch, with the final version 16 confirmed to launch between April and June, 2025. Keeping with the schedule, Google has now released its second Android 16 developer preview, which brings a number of optimizations and enhancements compared to last month’s first release.

Android 16 DP 2 is available for Pixel 6 and newer devices and Pixel tablets. Google also announced that its Android 16 beta program will start in January 2025.

Android 16 Developer Preview 2 additions:

System Trigger Profiling
• Profiling Manager now includes system trigger profiling. Apps can use ProfilingManager to register interest in obtaining information about diagnostic data such as start, start type, start time, and throttling.

Richer Haptics

• Android 16 adds the Haptic API that lets apps define the amplitude and frequency curves of haptic effects, bridging the gap between device capabilities.

better work introspection

• Android 16 introduces the Job Scheduler that can report multiple reasons why a job is pending, both due to explicit constraints set by the developer and implicit constraints set by the system.

adaptive refresh rate

• Android 16 DP2 introduces hasArrSupport() and getSuggestedFrameRate(int) while restoring getSupportedRefreshRates() to make it easier for your apps to take advantage of ARR.

performance optimization

• Android 16 introduced the Job Scheduler # getPendingJobReasons(int jobId) that can return multiple reasons for a job to be pending, both explicit constraints set by the developer and implicit constraints set by the system.
• Job Scheduler#getPendingJobReasonsHistory(int jobId), returns a list of the latest constraint changes.
• The API can help you find out why your tasks are not executing. This can also help you better understand if certain tasks are not being completed due to system defined constraints versus explicitly set constraints.

simple use

• As Android 16 rejects DP2 accessibility declarations, developers should use setAccessibilityPaneTitle() and setAccessibilityLiveRegion() for better accessibility support.

Cloud search in photo picker

• The developer preview includes new APIs for the Android photo picker to enable searching from cloud media providers. Search functionality in photo picker is coming soon.

enhance security

• Android 16 adds support for stronger security features in the WiFi space on devices supported with WiFi 6’s 802.11az, allowing apps to enjoy the protocol’s higher accuracy, greater scalability, and dynamic scheduling, with security enhancements including AES-256-based encryption and security. Allowed to combine. MITM attacks.

Looking ahead, Google plans to launch a major SDK release in Q2 2025 and a minor release in Q4 with a focus on behavior change that will iron out any remaining bugs. Android 16 is expected to reach platform stability by March 2025.