Android 16 Beta 2 marks a significant step toward refining professional-grade camera controls, advanced graphical rendering, and system-level efficiency.
Available for Pixel 6 series and newer devices, this beta introduces hybrid auto-exposure modes, UltraHDR enhancements, and AGSL-powered visual effects while phasing out legacy compatibility options like edge-to-edge opt-outs.
Camera Enhancements for Professional Workflows
Hybrid Auto-Exposure and Precision White Balance
Android 16 Beta 2 introduces hybrid auto-exposure modes via the Camera2 API, enabling manual control over ISO or exposure time while retaining auto-exposure algorithms for dynamic adjustments.
This bridges the gap between full manual and automatic modes, ideal for low-light or high-contrast scenarios. Developers can implement this using CONTROL_AE_PRIORITY_MODE_SENSOR_SENSITIVITY_PRIORITY in code snippets.
For professional video recording, precise color temperature and tint adjustments replace preset white balance modes (e.g., Incandescent, Cloudy).
The new COLOR_CORRECTION_MODE_CCT allows direct manipulation of correlated color temperature (e.g., 5000K) and tint values, critical for studio-grade color accuracy.
Motion Photos and UltraHDR Expansion
Standardized Intent actions (ACTION_MOTION_PHOTO_CAPTURE and _SECURE) streamline motion photo capture, letting developers specify output destinations via EXTRA_OUTPUT or ClipData.
UltraHDR gains HEIC format support with embedded gainmaps, aligning with the ISO 21496-1 draft standard. Google also confirmed ongoing work on AVIF UltraHDR encoding for future updates.
Graphics and Media: AGSL-Powered Customization
RuntimeColorFilter and Xfermode Effects
Building on Android 13's AGSL shaders, RuntimeColorFilter and RuntimeXfermode enable dynamic visual effects like threshold filters, sepia tones, and custom blending.
Developers can apply these via draw calls using shader strings, as demonstrated in the thresholdEffectString example.
TV-Centric Media Quality APIs
A new MediaQuality package standardizes audio and picture profiles for TVs. Streaming apps can dynamically switch profiles—e.g., prioritizing color accuracy for movies or brightness for live sports—to optimize content playback.
System-Level Behavior Changes and Developer Tools
Mandatory Edge-to-Edge and Health Permissions
Apps targeting Android 16 cannot opt out of edge-to-edge layouts, requiring UI adjustments for full-screen compatibility.
Health sensor permissions now align with Health Connect's granular model (e.g., android.permissions.health.HEART_RATE replaces BODY_SENSORS).
JobScheduler and Security Updates
Abandoned background jobs now trigger STOP_REASON_TIMEOUT_ABANDONED to improve resource management.
Intent redirection protections are enabled by default, though developers can bypass them using removeLaunchSecurityProtection() for testing.
Memory Page Compatibility and Measurement Customization
A 16KB memory page compatibility mode allows apps built for 4KB-aligned systems to run on newer devices, albeit with a performance trade-off.
Users can now set imperial/metric units in regional settings, detectable via ACTION_LOCALE_CHANGED broadcasts.
Editor's Comments
Android 16 Beta 2 prioritizes professional creators and developers, particularly through camera and AGSL advancements. The hybrid auto-exposure model could reshape mobile photography workflows, while AGSL democratizes complex visual effects.
However, mandatory edge-to-edge adoption may challenge legacy apps, and Health Connect's permission overhaul underscores Google's privacy-first approach.
With Platform Stability slated for March 2025, expect finalized APIs to accelerate app readiness ahead of the Q2 public release.
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