Two developer previews of Android 14 have already been released, and they have laid a lot of the basis for the next iteration of Android, which is expected to arrive around the end of summer. The first developer preview included customization choices and promised improved battery life, while the second improved device system health and allowed customers more control over their data. The first beta is now available, which improves stability while also introducing some new modifications.

Betas, as opposed to developer preview releases, are more reliable and likely to be usable on a daily basis. We still wouldn’t use this beta as your everyday driving, but it’s more likely to be stable and usable than past developer preview releases.

The most notable features of Android 14 beta 1 include:

• More helpful system UI: Changes to the share menu now allow apps to add custom actions and shortcuts, and there’s a larger back arrow to aid in navigating different apps.
• Data transparency: In Android 14, a new property allows apps to limit the visibility of sensitive data to accessibility services that promise to assist users with disabilities.
• Graphics capabilities: The Android Path API has been updated to provide new features such as morphing effects and interpolation.

When will Android 14 release?

Google normally releases a “platform stability” milestone for Android updates so that developers may know when Google intends to deliver the final SDK/NDK APIs, as well as final internal APIs and app-facing system behaviors. Google plans to establish platform stability in June 2023, with a minimum of “several weeks” before the formal release. In June 2022, Android 13 reached platform stability, and the final version was released in August of that year. Google has given additional information regarding the release timeline, which you can view here.

User interface changes

• New back arrow: Android 14 Beta 1 includes a larger back arrow that matches the user’s wallpaper and device theme. It should also help users comprehend what the back gesture will do.
• Improved share sheet: Apps can now add custom actions to system share sheets, making them more intuitive in the future.

More graphics capabilities

• Paths are now queryable and interpolable: The Android Path API is a versatile tool for producing and rendering vector graphics. In Android 14, you’ll be able to query pathways to see what’s inside of them, and API improvements will also provide the ability to interpolate across pathways whose structures exactly match.

Personalization

• Improvements to per-app language preferences: Android 14 enhances per-app language settings and allows apps to recognize the current app’s UI language. You can configure your app to support per-app languages automatically with Android Studio Giraffe Canary 7 and AGP 8.1.0-alpha07.

Privacy

• Limiting visibility to disability-focused accessibility services: Apps can restrict specific views to only be visible to accessibility services that claim to be useful to disabled users. Play Protect attempts to guarantee that apps make accurate claims, and this attribute is known as accessibility Data Sensitive.

Google has officially released the Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5a 5G, Pixel 5, or Pixel 4a (5G) developer preview update. You can also use the 64-bit system images in Android Studio using the Android Emulator.