Google has released Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2 for Pixel devices, introducing features like customizable icon shapes, step tracking in Health Connect, improved developer verification testing, SMS OTP hijacking protection, and more efficient garbage collection, with a stable release expected in December.
Google and Samsung are changing the traditional Android update cycle, with Google releasing more frequent, staggered updates like Android 16 QPR1, and Samsung shifting focus from Android OS updates to One UI X.5 updates, making the significance of Android version upgrades less prominent and emphasizing UI updates instead.
Google's Android 16 release process has become highly confusing due to rapid development, multiple preview stages, and the introduction of Android Canary, a new and unpredictable release track that complicates the timeline for new features, leaving enthusiasts frustrated despite minimal impact on average users.