Android 16 Developer Preview 2 is now available for Pixel devices. It brings new developer features that include more control over haptics, a way to know when a device has adaptive refresh rate support, and cloud search support in the photo picker.
For end users, it brings changes designed to enhance the app experience, improve battery life, and boost performance while minimizing incompatibilities.
What’s new in Android 16 Developer Preview 2?
Here’s everything Google told us about the features introduced by Android 16 Developer Preview 2, including features for developers as well as for end users.
Android 16 gives apps better control over haptics:
The operating system, Android 16 will provide apps more control over the haptics (feedback produced by an electronic device that relays information to the end user) of your phone.
New haptic APIs of Smartphones will allow apps to define the amplitude and frequency curves of a haptic effect.
And this will help apps to customize the duration and strength of vibration.
Because of this, developers don’t need to think about the specific device they’re creating custom haptic effects for.
Also read: Android TV 16 to arrive in 2026 based on Android 16
Android 16 Developer Preview 2 brings Adaptive refresh rate support:
Developer Preview 2 introduced a feature that supports apps to take advantage of the adaptive refresh rate in Android 16.
This feature works only for those devices, which implemented the required system-level code changes.
“To adapt to the content frame rate, display refresh rate gets enabled on the supported hardware using discrete VSync steps by the Adaptive refresh rate(ARR). It helps in reducing power consumption without potentially jank-inducing mode-switching.”
Photo Picker will add cloud search support:
At I/O developer conference, Google confirmed that the search functionality will be added to the photo picker, and it is coming soon to Android 16 and older versions through System updates.
New APIs have been released by Google, which will enable search from the cloud media provider for the Android photo picker.
Wi-Fi Ranging becomes more secure in Android 16:
Android 16 will make Wi-Fi ranging more secure as AES-256-based encryption and protection against MITM attacks have been introduced by Google.
After this, technology will be used more safely in “proximity use cases, such as unlocking a laptop or a vehicle door.”
Health Connect now supports activity intensity
Android 16 DP 2 is bringing more updates to Health Connect. A new datatype centered around activity intensity support has been added by DP2.
Every ACTIVITY_INTENSITY record requires the start time, end time, and whether the activity intensity is moderate or vigorous.
Predictive back gesture support:
Android 16 brings Predictive back gesture support for Android devices which will help users to go back so that they don’t accidentally exit the app when performing the gesture. For example-
A new API, PRIORITY_SYSTEM_NAVIGATION_OBSERVER, is added by Android 16, which allows apps to receive the regular onBackInvoked call when the system handles back navigation so as to not impact the normal back navigation flow.
Other features:
- Note-taking chat head + lock screen shortcut
- Screen-off Fingerprint Unlock
- Bluetooth battery ring
- Fix for narrow Settings toggles
Eligible devices for Android 16 Developer Preview 2:
Devices that are eligible for Android 16 Developer Preview 2 are:
- Pixel 6
- Pixel 6 Pro
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7
- Pixel 7 Pro
- Pixel 7a
- Pixel Tablet
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel 8
- Pixel 8 Pro
- Pixel 8a
- Pixel 9
- Pixel 9 Pro
- Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Pixel 9 Pro Fold
