What’s New in Android 16 Beta 4
As the stable release of Android 16 draws nearer, Google has released Android 16 Beta 4 to users in the beta program. At this stage, the changes won’t be massive, but there are still several that are worth pointing out. Here are the top 5 that I’ve noticed, with a few coming from this excellent article at 9to5Google.
Changes
Recents Screen shows Screenshot and Select
Themed Icons “Beta” badge is removed again
Folders no longer slightly change colors
Media playback artwork appears darker
Gesture Navigation now has a demo
Apps List appear when long pressing on the launcher
In addition to those change, we also have a few other bug fixes.
Bug Fixes
Fixed issue that caused the radar map to disappear in the Pixel weather app. (Issue# 407282089)
Fixed issues that impacted haptic performance and delayed feedback (Issues # 400455826, 398829454)
Fixed issue that caused excessive power drain on some devices (Issue # 395519809)
Fixed issue that caused a system restart when a call was answered in some situations (Issue # 402639338)
Fixed issue that caused restart when screen magnification is enabled (Issue # 408330740)
Fixed issue where screen saver did not start (Issue # 398963286)
Fixed issue where phone restarted when ranging API used (Issue # 406577030)
Fixed various other issues that impacted system stability and performance, including a launcher crash
And the last thing of note is that the Pixel 9a is now part of this beta, so welcome to those new users! The stable version of Android 16 is expected sometime around June of 2025. For a rundown of some earlier additions to Android 16, check out the embedded video.