Tag: beta

Android 17 Beta is now available for Pixel phones — here’s how to try it

Google has finally released Android 17 for Pixel phones, following a brief tease yesterday afternoon. This morning, Google said that Android 17 Beta 1 will be available to developers without a Pixel as pictures in Android Studio and as an over-the-air upgrade in the Android Beta Program.

You might be wondering why we aren’t receiving a Developer Preview build first or why this seems so early. We no longer receive developer preview builds, therefore it’s different. You may obtain these new beta builds earlier than ever before since Google is using the Android Canary track, which was released last year, as a developer preview moving forward.

Regarding scheduling, Google declared that Android releases would alter toward the end of 2024. Google shifted to a two-release Android strategy for 2025, with the primary and largest Android 16 release stabilizing by the middle of the year and a secondary release occurring before the year’s conclusion. Android 17 will follow the same timetable. A Platform Stability release is scheduled for sometime in March, although the first release has already begun and will stabilize rather fast. Similar to what happened with Android 16 last year, a small SDK update is scheduled for Q4 of this year.

We will explore all of the exciting new features that Android 17 offers on your own device in a separate post that will be published soon. However, as of right now, Google has simply disclosed the modifications that developers should be aware of. There are various performance enhancements (such as new garbage collection and notification constraints), more professional-grade camera capabilities and media experiences, a redesigned print dialog for improved usability, and restrictions on screen resizability so that apps can run on all devices.

You may receive Android 17 on your Pixel device immediately by signing up for the Android Beta Program. System images are also available to developers (here).

February 13, 2026
One UI 8.5 beta lineup revealed — supported Galaxy devices list
A beta program is released prior to the official release of every significant new One UI update for Galaxy devices that comes with an updated version of Android. Although Samsung has primarily restricted them to their foldable phones, we have also seen beta programs for minor One UI improvements where the Android version stays the same.

For One UI 8.5, Samsung is making some changes this year. It is hosting a conventional beta program in six nations (the US, the UK, Korea, Germany, Poland, and India) that is not limited to Galaxy Z handsets. Which gadgets will be supported? To discover out, you’ve come to the correct spot.

Eligible devices for One UI 8.5 beta

The beta program supports the following devices:
- Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra
Yes, the initial list is rather short. At first, only the initial three models of the Galaxy S25 series are qualified. As usual, neither the Galaxy S25 Edge nor the FE model are receiving the beta.

We’ll make sure to update this list when Samsung expands the beta program to new devices, so be sure to bookmark this site and return at a later time.

Watch the video below to learn what One UI 8.5 has to offer. For more One UI 8.5 material, visit our YouTube channel.
January 6, 2026
HarmonyOS 6.0.1 Beta (API 21) released with major new enhancements
With yet another set of improvements, Huawei has released the HarmonyOS 6.0.1 (API 21) Beta Program for its developers. There aren’t much specifics about the latest software version on the description page. It does, however, include some helpful modifications for ArkUI.

It’s true that this program is in beta. The updated developer version has not yet been made available by the corporation. However, it illustrates the enhancements the build will provide to the chosen devices.

The latest Huawei HarmonyOS 6.0.1 (API 21) Beta will improve the ArkUI capabilities, according to the details. It will enhance the SVG parsing for the image section and introduce new attribute styles to C APIs.

Additionally, the release will improve the ArkWeb and Ability Kit components. It will make it possible for background jobs to facilitate the concurrent development of several long-running operations and greatly enhance map services.

A new edition of DevEco Studio with improved AI-assisted programming features is being introduced by Huawei. Developers will soon be able to access the primary 6.0.1 (21) Beta 1.

HarmonyOS 6.0.1 (API 21) Beta Program

The Mate 60 series, Mate 70 series, Pura X, Mate X5, Mate XT, MatePad Pro 13.2 2025, and MatePad Pro 11 2024 are among the devices that qualify for the latest edition. The updated beta version’s description is available below.
- Further enhance the capabilities of ArkUI components by adding a batch of C APIs for attribute styles and improving the SVG parsing capabilities of the Image component.
- Ability Kit enhances the processing of results when launching an application.
- ArkWeb enhances WebView-related capabilities
- Background tasks now support the parallel creation of multiple identical long-running tasks.
- Map services have further enriched the scenarios in which they can be directly accessed, and so on.
November 13, 2025
HarmonyOS 6 update brings tap-to-pay feature to Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro

With build version 6.0.0.20, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro wristwatch is now receiving a new HarmonyOS 6 update that enables users to tap to pay. The notice states that users who took part in the early testing program are currently receiving this update.

The Huawei Watch GT 5 series, which debuted in September 2024, comes in two models: basic and Pro. Titanium Silver, Obsidian Black, Glacier White, and Ceramic White are just a few of its vivid color choices. It provides a long-lasting backup with a battery life of 14 days.

The most recent HarmonyOS 6 beta update adds a number of new features to the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro in addition to the tap-to-pay feature. These include the following.

Three distinct layouts that are interchangeable have been added to the fun sticker watch faces. You may create your own distinctive watch face by uploading custom stickers, which can display up to five photos at once.

HarmonyOS 6 beta update

The new “Module 2025” watch face boasts that “it looks excellent no matter how you customize it” and supports a free combination of different-sized widgets and simple theme color switching.

Supports Alipay’s “Tap to Pay” feature, which lets you swiftly finish payments without turning it on by just raising your wrist and pressing the screen. In order to verify the payment, you must input the lock screen password if your watch has one.

You should be aware that this feature upgrade is only available to Chinese users; Huawei has not yet made it available to customers worldwide.

November 11, 2025
HarmonyOS 6 beta sets new installation record within 24 hours of release

The HarmonyOS 6.0 Beta has been installed over 3 million times in a single day, according to Richard Yu, Chairman of the Huawei Consumer Business Unit. Before its formal release, the new software version has already broken all previous records.

Today, Richard Yu sent a letter via the Xinsheng Community to his staff. It highlighted some significant developments in Huawei’s software and hardware over the last several months.

HarmonyOS 6 Next coming

This year, Yu emphasized its software development in particular. As of October 22, 2025, the rollout, which began with HarmonyOS NEXT, has more over 23 million installs.

In spite of dire conditions, the company has emerged victorious, as seen by this hit situation. In order to match consumer expectations, he described the process of developing the company’s first operating system.

According to the chief, HarmonyOS 6 is even more significant because it set a new record in the software industry by completing 3 million installations in just one day.

HarmonyOS is not just something made, it’s something used! HarmonyOS 6 received 3 million upgrades within 24 hours of its release, setting a new record for upgrade speed!

AI-powered one-tap video production, family-based fraud detection, dynamic and entertaining themes, and tap-to-share are just a few of the new version’s many noteworthy features.

In order to secure a third of the smartphone OS market, Richard stated that the next stage is to swiftly reach 40 million, 60 million, and even 100 million user coverage in the next months. The executive went on to say:

We must remain true to our original aspirations, focus on user experience, and truly practice our ecosystem culture. […] Each of us can contribute a brick, and together we will build the Great Wall of the HarmonyOS ecosystem! When the mountain flowers bloom, we will raise a glass to celebrate our victory!

November 5, 2025
HyperOS 3 Beta update lifts restrictions, making Hyper Island available for all users

By removing internal limitations in the most recent HyperOS 3 Beta version, Xiaomi has expanded access to its “Hyper Island” feature, which was previously only available for flagship models. All Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices—including tablets and entry-level smartphones – can now use Hyper Island thanks to this upgrade. In an effort to be more inclusive throughout its product line, the business removed device-specific tags (such IS_PAD and isLowLevel) that had previously restricted interoperability.

What is Xiaomi Hyper Island?

Xiaomi‘s integrated notification and background activity control interface, Hyper Island, is located at the top of the screen and was inspired by Apple’s Dynamic Island. Although the functionality was initially designed for high-performance devices, recent advancements have made it possible for it to function properly on devices with less powerful hardware.

This change is in line with Xiaomi’s overarching plan to encourage uniformity and feature parity throughout its network of devices. Xiaomi hopes to improve customer satisfaction and device durability inside the HyperConnect ecosystem by offering flagship-level user interface experiences on more reasonably priced products.

However, the Island can function without animations on certain devices.

Hyper Island with the most recent update will be immediately sent to those that take part in the HyperOS 3 Beta program.

Xiaomi’s continued dedication to providing a consistent and all-encompassing user experience across all device categories is in line with this progress.

October 30, 2025
Samsung One UI 8.5 beta release could come earlier than you think

Early in the upcoming year, Samsung is anticipated to release the One UI 8.5 software along with the Galaxy S26 series. However, in terms of new features and cosmetic improvements, early build leaks have given little room for speculation.

Unfortunately, only a small number of users are able to test-run the program at this time, thus these early builds aren’t available to everyone. Although we are unsure of the exact date, we are aware that the firm will soon formally launch the One UI 8.5 beta program for its flagship phones. With a leak providing information on a possible release date for the initial beta update, that is now altering.

According to SamMobile’s exclusive tip, Samsung might activate the One UI 8.5 beta program before the end of November, possibly “around the week beginning November 24.” In contrast, after a protracted wait, Samsung released the One UI 7 public beta in December 2024, with the stable rollout taking place in April.

Samsung released the first One UI 8 beta in May and the stable version last month, changing things up for the next big software release. The devices that will be compatible with 8.5 and the areas in which it will be accessible are still unknown.

Will your older Galaxy phone get the One UI 8.5 beta update on schedule?

The beta update is likely to be available on almost every device running the Android 16-based One UI 8.0 software. At the top of the list of devices that qualify should be the Galaxy S25 series and the newly released Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.

We should also mention that users of the Samsung flagships from 2024 had to wait about three months to receive the One UI 8 beta. With the next One UI beta, we can only hope that Samsung won’t do the same thing.

The software is expected to be a significant improvement over One UI 8, if the previous leaks of One UI 8.5 are any indication. Because it will be based on Android 16 QPR2, Galaxy owners will be able to use the most recent Android update available. A recently leaked hands-on video gave us a better look at the improvements in the new software.

October 10, 2025
Nothing OS 4.0 open beta launched with AI app-building features

Today, we need to discuss a few significant news from Nothing. First, for those who own a Nothing phone and would like to try out Android 16 before it becomes stable, Nothing has made the Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta (Android 16) available. The other news relates to that since it presents the Playground and Essential Apps, both of which require additional explanation. In summary, Nothing came up with a really great idea.

Download the Nothing OS 4.0 Open Beta:

Let’s start with Nothing OS 4.0, which is now in beta testing. To obtain this, you must have a Phone 3 or any of the Phone 2 and 2a versions. You might be out of luck right now if you own a Phone 3a device, as they haven’t mentioned them yet.

There are a number of changes in the Nothing OS 4.0 beta, all of which we’ve detailed in this post. It includes “generic” enhancements like a more sophisticated design, an additional dark mode, enhanced app optimization, and a better photography experience. Nothing also mentioned two new lock screen clock faces, a new Pop-up View, and support for 2×2 Quick Settings tiles in today’s announcement.

Installing the Nothing Beta Updates app, joining the beta through it, and then installing the beta software are the largely straightforward steps to begin, providing you enjoy testing beta software.

Nothing Essential Apps and Playground: In other exciting news, Nothing has introduced the Playground and Essential Apps that are housed within it since we enjoy fresh concepts. If your Nothing device is running Nothing OS 4.0, you can install programs, Glyph Toys, camera settings, and EQ profiles from the Playground, which is effectively a community storefront. Even while you might not find that concept particularly novel or intriguing, the apps and their origins may be.

Nothing has developed a web gateway that lets you make your own programs that your Nothing phone may install as widgets. You go to the Nothing Playground website (here) and try to explain a phone app you want. To put it another way, you would be describing a widget that isn’t currently on your device but may be a helpful program or action. This Playground site’s AI will install it on your device if it is capable of doing so.

You only need an idea that you can clearly express in a prompt that AI could grasp and then develop from, as this is all happening from AI prompts. You don’t need to know how to code to accomplish this. But in case you were curious, you can see the code it spits out. All of this is a sort of early “alpha” with some obvious restrictions. There has been no indication that it will grow and incorporate agents, APIs, and integrations in the future, which should make this something really amazing.

A Tic Tac Toe app, an F1 timetable, a water intake tracker, a flight reminder, a solar clock, a small calculator, and a breathing tracker are a some of the apps that are now available on the Playground. You may already have some of those features from other apps, but the idea is that you may think of something useful at the time and instruct the Playground to create it. In only a few minutes, that might be on your home screen and be usable. That is a significant idea.

You will be able to download other members’ apps and share your own publicly on the Playground to completely increase the number of apps and ideas available.

October 4, 2025
HyperOS 3 beta now available on 12 additional Xiaomi and Redmi models
The Xiaomi 14 series, MIX Flip, MIX Fold 4, and Redmi K70 range are among the additional smartphones that Xiaomi is releasing HyperOS 3 for. Owners of these phones can now receive an early sample of the Android 16-based upgrade before the stable release occurs later this year, while testing is still ongoing.

A new batch of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have been added to the HyperOS 3 beta program, which enables a small group of customers to test drive the company’s latest software prior to its general release. Owners of the Xiaomi 14 series, MIX Flip, Redmi K70 lineup, and Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro are being invited to participate in the most recent round. They will have the opportunity to test an early build of HyperOS 3, which is based on Android 16, and assist the software team in resolving any significant bugs or issues before the scheduled stable rollout.

The list of gadgets receiving the most recent wave of the HyperOS 3 beta:
- Xiaomi MIX Fold 4
- Xiaomi MIX Flip
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra Titanium Edition
- Xiaomi 14 Pro
- Xiaomi 14 Pro Titanium Edition
- Xiaomi 14
- Redmi K70 Pro
- Redmi K70 Ultra
- Redmi K70 (sold internationally as the POCO F6 Pro)
- Redmi K70E (sold internationally as the POCO X6 Pro)
- Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4
Although the closed beta is now only available for Chinese models, international versions will soon follow. A broader deployment appears inevitable, as Xiaomi has already begun similar beta tests for international models such as the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Xiaomi 14T, POCO F7, Redmi 15C, and POCO C85.

To obtain HyperOS 3, you must apply for a position in the program through the Xiaomi Community app if you possess any of the devices mentioned above that have a China ROM. For every device, two groups of testers will be hired; testers in the first batch will have instant access to the update, while testers in the second batch may have to wait up to ten days. Before beginning, make sure you have a complete backup of your device and have read the instructions.

HyperOS 3 global rollout confirmed for November-December

The Chinese Xiaomi 14 series, MIX Fold 4, MIX Flip, and Redmi K70 devices are expected to receive the stable HyperOS 3 update in November. Global variants such as the Xiaomi 14 series, the Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4, the POCO F6 Pro (a rebranded Redmi K70), and the POCO X6 Pro (a rebranded Redmi K70E) will be released in November, with the full deployment continuing into December.
October 1, 2025
Garmin will push a new update for older high end watches

A new version of some of Garmin’s more expensive smartwatches has been introduced. Beta Version 23.16, which is being distributed globally through its Beta Program, comes ahead of a far more significant stable software update that seems to be imminent.

After revealing the August 2025 Feature Update a little more than a week ago, Garmin has just upgraded a number of its devices. In summary, since releasing its most recent Feature Update, the business has released new stable upgrades for the Fenix 8, Forerunner 970, Instinct 2, Instinct 3, and related smartwatches. Additionally, it has produced significant modifications for its cycle computers, such as the Edge 1050 from the previous year.

Through a new beta update for the Enduro 2, Epix 2, Fenix 7, Marq Gen 2, and Quatix 7, Garmin has now resorted to its more expensive, older smartwatches. In June, Garmin published System Software 22.06, the most recent stable update for these smartwatches. As it prepares to release a new stable build at some point, the corporation has released a number of beta updates in the interim.

Following a wait of more than three weeks, Garmin has begun releasing a new beta version, known as Beta Version 23.16. According to reports, Beta Version 23.16, the fourth v23.xx update to date, fixes two major problems that can lead to problems with CT10 sensor pairing and Hunt activity navigation. When Garmin will complete v23.xx development is still unknown. But given its recent modifications, the shift from v23.08 to v23.16 indicates the corporation may be on the verge of releasing a stable build.

September 7, 2025