Google has released Android 16 Beta 4, now available for select Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 and newer models. The update marks a shift in focus from introducing new features to finalising stability improvements, signalling that the stable Android 16 release is likely just a few months away — expected to debut alongside the upcoming Pixel 10 series.
Although Samsung Galaxy devices, including those running One UI, will not receive Android 16 until later this year, Google’s latest beta offers early insights into potential features that may be integrated into One UI 8.0. That version of Samsung’s interface is expected to launch with the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 around mid-2025.
The latest beta brings several modest refinements rather than sweeping changes. Notably, Google has enhanced the Always-On Display by introducing Dynamic Colour, which adjusts to match the user’s wallpaper. The multitasking interface, known as the Recent Apps screen, now includes ‘Screenshot’ and ‘Select’ options, making it easier to capture or highlight content from open apps.
Users will also find an ‘Apps list’ option when long-pressing on the home screen, and the media player widget on the lock screen and Quick Settings appears to feature darker, more subdued artwork. A dot has been added to the end of the volume slider, and a redesigned introduction screen for gesture navigation has been spotted.
One unexpected change is the disappearance of the Battery Health Percentage feature, which had been introduced with Android 15 but is now reportedly missing from most Pixel devices on the latest beta. Meanwhile, Google’s long-tested ‘Themed Icons’ feature seems to have exited beta status, suggesting it’s now considered a stable feature.
As with most beta updates, Android 16 Beta 4 includes general bug fixes, though no major interface overhauls have been made. Given the limited visual and functional changes, One UI 8.0 may also offer only subtle refinements rather than a significant redesign when it eventually rolls out.
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