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Google Unveils Android 16 Beta: New Features and Stability

9/18/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Google released Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2, achieving Platform Stability and finalizing the API for developers.
New features include auto icon theming, an expanded dark theme, PDF annotation, and Phone Theft Protection.
SMS OTP Protection delays message delivery by three hours to prevent hijacking, and Health Connect now tracks steps automatically.
The Android Runtime introduces a new garbage collector for better performance and battery efficiency.
A stable release is expected in December 2025, with developer verification starting in September 2026.

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Story summary

Google released Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2, achieving Platform Stability and finalizing the API for developers.
New features include auto icon theming, an expanded dark theme, PDF annotation, and Phone Theft Protection.
SMS OTP Protection delays message delivery by three hours to prevent hijacking, and Health Connect now tracks steps automatically.
The Android Runtime introduces a new garbage collector for better performance and battery efficiency.
A stable release is expected in December 2025, with developer verification starting in September 2026.