NEWS
Android 16 Beta 2 arrives with cool camera features
Google is testing Android 16 for the entire Android ecosystem, meanwhile, Samsung hasn’t even released Android 15-based One UI 7 for its existing devices. Meanwhile, Google has released Android 16 Beta 2 for Pixel devices after announcing the date of its Google I/O 2024 event. The new Android 16 Beta 2 version comes with several enhancements and features for professional camera users, allowing hybrid auto exposure with accurate color temperature and tint adjustments.
The Android 16 beta 2 update is now available for compatible Pixel phones and tablets. The update includes the following camera features:
Google Android 16 beta 2 camera features:
- Hybrid auto-exposure: With Beta 2, Android 16 now supports hybrid auto-exposure on the camera via the Camera2 API. This allows you to manually control specific aspects of the exposure while letting the auto-exposure (AE) algorithm handle the rest. With this feature, apps will allow you can control ISO + AE, and exposure time + AE, providing greater flexibility.
- Accurate color temperature and tint adjustments: The latest version of Android 16 introduces camera support for fine color temperature and tint adjustments to better support professional video recording applications.
- Motion photo intent actions: Android 16 brings a new way to capture and display motion photos using the device’s camera.
- Ultra HDR image enhancements: With Android 16, Google is bringing improvements to Ultra HDR, which supports capturing Ultra HDR images in HEIC format, which was limited to the JPG file format. Also, the company is working on AVIF file format support for Ultra HDR images. Also, it supports HDR images and SDR gain maps. In addition, Android 16 implements additional parameters in UltraHDR, including the ability to get and set the colorspace in which gainmap math should be applied.
Apart from the new camera features, Android 16 beta also brings other notable features that you can check out here.
Know when stable Android 16 will be released?
Google plans to release a stable version of Android 16 at the end of the second quarter of 2025, followed by platform stability in March or April, which means it will likely arrive in June 2025.
On the other hand, older Galaxy smartphone users are still waiting for the Android 15-based One UI 7 update, which could happen around April 2025. Now, we are in February 2025, still two months away from the stable release, so the One UI 8.0 (Android 16) update will also be significantly delayed.
Ahead of the One UI 8 beta version, Samsung has reportedly started testing a new version of its One UI software for the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, which could be One UI 8.5. The first One UI test build has recently surfaced online, showing that Samsung is working on the software for its next S series flagship phone.
A reliable publication has discovered a hidden menu in the Phone app of Galaxy devices, providing a glimpse into Samsung’s plans for a custom One UI 8 and One UI 8.5.
In the One UI 8.5 menu, the Samsung Phone app brings two features, including Enable Screen Call for Global users and Enable Calendar birthday in incoming calls. This indicates that Samsung has started working on a new flagship phone with the updated One UI 8 software.
However, Samsung has not officially confirmed the release of One UI 8.5 yet, so we should take this information with a pinch of salt. Still, it’s clear that both the Galaxy S26 series will feature a new version of One UI.
Earlier rumors revealed that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 are expected to come with One UI 8.0 preinstalled. Following this, One UI 8.5 may first appear on the Galaxy S26 series.
We will have to wait for more updates from Samsung to know when these versions will be launched and what exact version of One UI they will run. Stay tuned for more details.
On the other hand, Samsung may start the Android 16-based One UI 8.0 beta program later this month, starting with the Galaxy S25 lineup.
Samsung’s Android 15-based One UI 7 update is now rolling out to another Galaxy A series phone, the Galaxy A54. The phone has started receiving the major upgrade today and is expected to be rolled out globally within a week.
The Galaxy A54 is currently receiving the Android 15-based One UI 7 update in South Korea. Korean users can identify the update by the build version A546SKSU9DYD7. The firmware weighs around 3.3 GB and includes the new security patch.
Samsung has recently released the One UI 7 update for the Galaxy A35 and Galaxy A55. The new OS is available for both beta participants and non-beta users in Korea. Samsung is yet to release the update in the global market.
Based on Android 15, One UI 7 brings several new features to enhance your phone experience. This update also adds a vertical scrolling app drawer, redesigned icons, and better options for customizing widgets.
Along with new features and improvements, it brings the May 2025 security patch to improve the system security and stability of the device.
If you have a Galaxy A54 Tech in Korea, update now to enjoy the new features and enhancements. For this, you just have to go to the laptop, then tap on the Software Update the section and click on Download, and smartphone placement.
Samsung is internally preparing the One UI 8 beta for Galaxy devices, alongside the stable One UI 7 rollout. After the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S24, and Galaxy S23, new information also indicates that Samsung is already testing the Android 16-based One UI 8 on the Galaxy S22 series.
A reliable tipster has spotted a new One UI 8 build for the Galaxy S22 series, indicating that Samsung is actively working on the next version.
According to the information, the Galaxy S22 Ultra has been spotted on Geekbench, internally running on Android 16-based One UI 8. It scored 1581 and 3680 points in single-core and multi-core tests, respectively, which shows promising performance for a smartphone with the next One UI software.
It is worth noting that this benchmark score is based on an early build of One UI 8 (build S908USQU8GYCB), which only gives information about how the Galaxy S22 Ultra will perform with the upcoming software version.
Notably, Google recently confirmed that Android 16 will be available on Galaxy devices this summer. Developments indicate that the new One UI 8 will be introduced alongside the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 foldable phones in July.
Rumours also suggest that the Korean tech giant may start the One UI 8 beta programme in the third week of May 2025. Initially, similar to One UI 7, it will reportedly be available to a limited number of Galaxy users in select countries.
At the moment, we are not completely sure about the One UI 8 beta program release date in May 2025, as Samsung has not officially confirmed it yet. Stay tuned for more details.
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