With the release of the Android 14 Developer Preview 2, we can now get a better idea of what Google is planning for their OS launch this year. Android 14 is set to become the operating system that will power the best Android phones of 2023 and 2024, and its stable build is expected later this summer. While it may not be a big redesign like Android 12, it is still expected to bring quality-of-life improvements such as better battery life, improved accessibility, and a revamped back navigation gesture. In this article, we will explore everything we know about Android 14 so far.
Android 14 Timeline, Potential Release Date, and Supported Devices
Like previous releases, Android 14 follows a similar timeline. Google shared a timeline that shows we can expect two developer previews, with the first one released in February and the second one in March. In April, the first beta is set to be released, but the main release is likely to follow in May, around the time of Google’s developer conference, Google I/O. In June, the third beta will reach platform stability, allowing developers to program their apps using the new features and APIs introduced in Android 14. A fourth beta will arrive in July, with the stable release following after that. If history is any indication, we can expect an August or September release.
Google has announced which phones are currently compatible with the first developer preview, which includes the Pixel 7 & 7 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 6 & 6 Pro, Pixel 5a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 4a (5G). As usual, the developer preview is restricted to Google Pixel phones initially, but more phones from other manufacturers may join the beta program later. Google will almost certainly release generic system images (GSIs), which can be installed on any phone that supports Project Treble.
What’s New in Android 14 Developer Preview 2
With the release of Android 14’s second developer preview, we are getting a better idea of what’s to come in this year’s OS upgrade. Google has highlighted some of the hidden features that were first spotted in DP1 but are now included as official features in DP2. These include the regional preferences page, which makes it possible to set your units and number preferences for Celsius and Fahrenheit, Chinese, Dangi, or Hebrew calendars, and different number systems. The revamped permission control for media files is similar to how iOS works, forcing apps not using Google’s permissionless API to ask for user control options for media. Meanwhile, DP2 focuses on improving system performance, which should provide better battery life and resource management. Non-dismissable notifications will also cause less annoyance in the future since users can now swipe anything flagged as an ongoing event outside of critical tasks if their phone is unlocked.
What’s New in Android 14 Developer Preview 1
Google released the first developer preview of Android 14 on February 8, 2023. Its primary purpose is to help developers get their apps ready for the new release. In terms of notable changes, Android 14 is focused on big screens and cross-device use cases, improving system performance and battery life, and adding more restrictions on apps that use exact alarms to fire a notification or a task at a specific time in the future.
Google continues its mission to make Android and its app ecosystem a perfect match for all screen sizes, from smartphones to foldables, tablets, and Chromebooks. With Android 14, the company is making it easier for developers to program more complicated rules for background tasks, such as only downloading large files when a phone is connected to Wi-Fi. New restrictions are also in place for apps using exact alarms to fire notifications or tasks. Google is optimizing how Android’s internal broadcast system works, and standby battery life has greatly increased.
Conclusion
In summary, Android 14 is set to become the OS that will power the best Android phones of 2023 and 2024. While it may not be a big redesign like Android 12, it is expected to bring quality-of-life improvements, and we can expect it to follow a similar timeline to previous releases. With the release of DP2, we can expect improvements in system performance, better battery life, and improved permission control options for media files. Stay tuned for more updates on Android 14 as we approach its official release later this year.
