Big news for Android fans—Google recently announced the first look at Android 16! This early version, called Developer Preview, is available now, but before you get too excited, it’s not for regular users just yet. Instead, it is for app developers who need to test their apps with new features and updates before the official release. Why? Because when Android 16 is fully rolled out in 2025, Google wants to make sure that all your favorite apps work seamlessly. This means better performance, fewer bugs, and great new features waiting for you when they finally become available. Let’s take a deeper look at what’s coming, who can try it now, and when you can get your hands on it.

Developer Preview is like a trial version of Android 16 that developers can use to make their apps work smoothly with new features and updates. It’s not ready for everyday users yet—this version is for developers to test and provide feedback.

Google plans two major Android updates in 2025:

-Q2 2025: Major releases with major updates, new features, and potential changes that may impact apps.
-Q4 2025: A small update that will add some features and bug fixes without changing the way the apps work.

What’s new in Android 16?

-Embedded photo picker
Apps can now include a built-in photo picker that will help users select photos and videos without giving them access to their entire gallery. This keeps things more secure and private.

-Health records access

A new feature lets apps access medical records with the user’s consent. It is still in testing and targeted towards healthcare app developers.

-Privacy Sandbox

Google continues to improve privacy with a system that limits the way apps collect and share user data. This ensures that your personal information remains secure.

-Easy app testing

Developers can now test new Android features without worrying about breaking their apps. Google has introduced tools to help test individual updates for major and minor releases.

Who can use Android 16 now?

For now, only app developers can access the Android 16 Developer Preview. Regular users will have to wait until the beta version arrives, which is expected to arrive in 2025.

How can developers get Android 16?

If you are a developer, you can install Android 16 Developer Preview:

-Downloading a system image to your device.
-Flashing the image to install it manually.
-Using Android Studio (Google’s developer tools) to test your app with new features.
-Once installed, future updates will arrive automatically.

Android 16 is designed to make smartphones faster, more secure, and more user-friendly. Developers are testing their apps now, which means there will be fewer bugs and a better app experience for everyone when the final version is released.

For regular users, you will get to explore the features of Android 16 in 2025 as part of the Android beta program. At the moment, the developers are helping to decide what the final version will look like.

Stay tuned as Android 16 develops!