The next major version of Android is coming this fall, and Google’s latest Android Q beta should make life a little easier for developers working to ensure their apps are compatible.

Android Q Beta 4, which is out today, includes the final APIs and official SDK for Android Q.

System images are available today for Google Pixel devices, and Beta 4 should begin rolling out to other devices enrolled in the Android Q Beta program in the next few weeks.

While non-developers can also participate in the beta, Google does note that this is pre-release software that can lead to stability, performance, or battery issues. Some apps and accessibility features may also not work as expected.

Among other things, Android Q brings:

  • Dark mode theme
  • Dedicated privacy settings
  • Gesture navigation by default
  • Native support for foldables and multi-screen devices
  • Smart replies and actions in notifications

There’s also support for new file types and codecs including AV1 and Dynamic Depth images, and support for desktop mode — although this most likely won’t be visible to end users unless they install a third-party app.

And of course Android Q Beta 4 brings a few minor changes from earlier betas… but they really do seem pretty minor for the most part.

Update: Google has temporarily paused the rollout to investigate reports of some Pixel devices failing to boot after installing Beta 4.

Update 2: The problem has allegedly been addressed, and Google began rolling out Android Q Beta 4 again on June 11, 2019.

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6 replies on “Google releases Android Q Beta 4 (with final APIs)”

  1. As an Android One phone user I am looking forward to the official release of Q. I should get it within a month of formal release. I am looking forward to the dedicated privacy settings.

    1. AndroidOne device updates are NOT pushed out by Google.
      They used to be, and that was the whole concept. The project has been killed/transformed substantially. Now they get pushed out by the OEM and carrier like any SkinnedOS. So there’s a fair chance you either won’t get the update, or will get it later than expected.

      If you want good updates AndroidOne is decent, but a better software support could be had either with Custom ROMs or with the Google Pixel phones. And if that’s not satisfying, there’s iPhone which is the Gold Standard.

      …still beats most Flagship SkinnedOS devices, let alone their mid-range and low-end devices, or those that come from obscure brands, yeah, fragmentation is a big issue in the Android Ecosystem.

  2. available for the Essential Phone as well. I have the Essential phone that I’m using as a back up, might give it a whirl

  3. It still kinda baffles me we had to wait 10 major versions of Android for a dark mode (and 13 of iOS). We had fully customizable themes in Windows 3.1 in 1992! If you wanted an inverted theme, you could set it up in seconds! We’ve been using OLED screens for half a decade now in major flagship phones, was this really such a huge task?

    1. Slight difference. Inverted themes were a hack with little care for the quality of the final effect.

    2. Android was Dark Theme based till Android 4.4 (2013) ir became white from Android 5 (2015).

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