Android 16 Developer Preview 2 rolling out for Pixel

Ahead of the Q2 2025 launch, Google is rolling out Developer Preview 2 of Android 16 to Pixel devices. This should be the last Android update of the year, with 15 QPR2 Beta 2 arriving earlier this week.

Android 16 DP2 features “changes designed to enhance the app experience, improve battery life, and boost performance while minimizing incompatibilities. Developer highlights include:

New APIs in Android 16 will let applications offer richer haptics. To date, the mobile OS has “exposed limited control over the haptic actuator,” with Android 11 making possible more complex haptic effects. Android 16’s haptic APIs allow apps to “define the amplitude and frequency curves of a haptic effect while abstracting away differences between device capabilities.”

Android 16 DP2 will make it easier for apps to take advantage of the recently introduced adaptive refresh rate:

Adaptive refresh rate (ARR), introduced in Android 15, enables the display refresh rate on supported hardware to adapt to the content frame rate using discrete VSync steps. This reduces power consumption while eliminating the need for potentially jank-inducing mode-switching.

The system photo picker is adding cloud search. This will be available to both apps/developers and end users (“coming soon”).

Health Connect is adding a new ACTIVITY_INTENSITY data type (moderate or vigorous). 

New APIs help “enable predictive back system animations in gesture navigation such as the back-to-home animation.”

Android 16 Developer Preview 2 system images are available for the 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, and Pixel Pro Fold, as well as the Android Emulator.

DP2 (BP21.241121.009) with the December 2024 security patch is still just “for developers only and not intended for daily or consumer use.” The Android 16 Beta Program will be available next month.

Devices running Android 16 DP1 will get an OTA update to DP2. Meanwhile:

If you’ve already installed Beta 2 from the Android 15 QPR2 Beta program and would like to flash Android 16 Developer Preview 2, you can do so without having to first wipe your device.

• Pixel 9 Pro Fold: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 9 Pro XL: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 9 Pro: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 9: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 8a: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 8 Pro: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 8: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel Fold: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel Tablet: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 7a: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 7 Pro: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 7: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 6a: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 6 Pro: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA
• Pixel 6: BP21 — Factory Image — OTA