Android 16 Beta 4 Released: Bug Fixes and Stability Improvements & Wider OEM Support
Google released Android 16 Beta 4, the fourth version of its smartphone operating system, to developers and testers. The update resolves user-reported issues like as high power drain, delayed haptic feedback, and troubles with the Pixel Weather app. The update also addresses power depletion issues, phone restarts, magnification, and ranging API issues. It also provides fixes for problems that impact system stability and performance. The upgrade is now available for OEMs, allowing Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Vivo, and Xiaomi to modify the operating system for their smartphones. Google intends to deploy a significant SDK update in Q2 2025, including behavior changes, APIs, and features, followed by a minor release in Q4 2025.
Google released Android 16 Beta 4 to developers and testers on Thursday. The most recent testing version of Google’s smartphone operating system, which was first made available to Pixel devices, includes patches for a number of bugs brought to light by developers and consumers in the previous update. This includes fixes for the Pixel Weather app’s problems, delayed haptic feedback, and high power consumption.
The tech giant has extended its support for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with the release of Android 16’s fourth beta, allowing more brands to release it for their smartphones.
Android 16 Beta 4 Released: Highlights
Google’s release notes state that Android 16 Beta 4 is the second major platform stability release, meaning that all of the OS’s app-facing behaviors and developer APIs are final. Before the expected Q2 2025 release, developers were able to incorporate new functionality into their applications after the platform achieved platform stability in March.
The fourth beta addresses a bug that made the radar map in the Pixel weather app vanish. It contains a solution for issues that cause delayed haptic feedback or affected haptic performance. Users complained that the vibrations occasionally seemed “plastic” or “hollow.” A battery drain problem was also noticed, where the device lost about 11% of its charge over night instead of the typical 5-7 percent over seven hours. All these issues have been resolved.
According to Google, further fixes are included in the Android 16 Beta 4 update. One such problem was that the phone would restart when the range API was used, when magnification was turned on, or when a call was answered. Additionally, there are fixes for various flaws that affected the system’s performance and stability, such as the launcher occasionally crashing.
Additionally, OEMs now have more access to the upgrade thanks to the most recent Android 16 Beta.
Google’s Beta Partners for Android 16
Companies like Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Vivo, and Xiaomi are able to customize the operating system for their smartphones, tablets, and foldable devices. According to Google, a major SDK release with behavior changes, APIs, and features is planned for Q2 2025, while a minor release with API changes and features is planned for Q4 2025.