Google is releasing the second beta of Android 16, the latest version of its mobile operating system.

Google exposes camera effects in Android 16 second beta

Aimed at developers, and not consumers, it includes a number of updates. These range from camera updates, custom graphical effects with AGSL (Android Graphics Shading Language), and motion capture, to font API changes, live wallpapers, and APIs in the ADPF (Android Dynamic Performance Framework).

There are also new accessibility features via TalkBack (Android’s built-in screen reader).

Android 16 images
For example, the camera updates include UltraHDR image enhancements. Android 16 adds support for UltraHDR images in the HEIC file format. These images will contain an embedded gainmap, says Google, which is similar to the existing UltraHDR JPEG format. It is also working on AVIF support for UltraHDR, but this isn’t part of the second beta.

Google writes:

“In addition, Android 16 implements additional parameters in UltraHDR from the ISO 21496-1 draft standard, including the ability to get and set the colorspace that gainmap math should be applied in, as well as support for HDR encoded base images with SDR gainmaps.”

There is also support for temperature and tint adjustments for professional video recording applications. For example, controlling white balance settings – a colour correction mode constant will enable precise adjustments based on correlated color temperature (right).

Pixel devices
The final public release of this Android is scheduled for Q2 of 2025. Until then, the system will only be available for certain Google Pixel devices.