Android 13 Beta 2:

Google just released Android 13 Beta 2 right after its impressive I/O 2022 developer conference. Here are some of the biggest new features in the second public preview of the next version of Android.

Release date: 11 May 2022, for Beta 2

In this second Android 13 Beta, Google tweaks and tunes the Pixel-specific operating system, but there are only a few minor changes. In any case, Android 13 is likely to arrive later this year alongside the recently teased Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, and we thought you should be aware of some of the notable changes.

Previous Update: Android 13 Beta 1: First Impressions & Details

Android 13 Beta 2 Changelog

• Fixed an issue where some devices were unable to connect to the wireless carrier network after installing Android 13 Beta 1.
• Fixed an issue where QR code scanning would sometimes not work when selected from the Quick Settings tile.
• Fixed an issue where app icons would occasionally fail to appear after the user unlocked the device.
• Fixed an issue where Bluetooth headsets would sometimes fail to accept calls or play call audio.
• Fixed an issue where Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices would crash and reboot if more than 300 apps were installed.
• Fixed an issue where Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro devices would reboot constantly when Bluetooth was enabled.
• Fixed a regression in Android Keystore that caused some apps to crash on launch.
• Fixed an issue where in some cases the system would incorrectly display an empty notification group from an app.
• Fixed an issue where long-pressing Bluetooth from the settings drawer caused the UI to crash.
• Fixed an issue where devices would sometimes get stuck at the Google logo during startup after receiving an OTA update.
• Fixed an issue where suspending the device while a USB-C headset was plugged in would cause the device to crash and restart.

Features and changes:

• Build Number
  • The Android 13 Tiramisu (TPBB.220414.015) pre-release version

• New Developer Options toggles
  • Allow mock modem – This allows you to run mock modem services for instrumentation testing.
  • Network download rate limit – With this toggle, you can set a limit for all connections be that Wi-Fi or mobile data. You can adjust this from 128kbps to 15Mbps. We can foresee this being useful for simulating specific network conditions.
  • Disable Bluetooth LE Audio hardware offload – This toggle may not be usable on your device or grayed out. This option is enabled by default and should reduce delayed audio sync issues with Bluetooth devices.
  • Enable Gabledorsche – Sadly, the option to enable the Gabledorsche option is now removed. This option is said to improve Bluetooth network stability. It’s not clear if it will return

• Vibrate mode icon return

In Android 12 QPR beta paths, we saw the vibrate status bar icon disappear. However, in the Beta 2 build, we saw a dedicated toggle replace it. A buzzing smartphone icon will appear alongside Wi-Fi, signal, Do Not Disturb, and battery icons when the toggle is turned on in Settings. Set it to on and it will appear in the "Sound & vibration" section.

• Dark mode can be scheduled to enable at Bedtime

You can now set up dark mode schedules so that the darkened theme is applied automatically when you enter Bedtime mode on your phone. This does not always work and requires you to set up a Bedtime mode schedule within the Digital Wellbeing suite first.

• Split-screen Improved

When you long-press an icon on your device an icon on this “dock” you’ll also get a quick toggle to enter split-screen mode without ever needing to enter the Recents app menu. This could be a great reachability enhancement when using larger tablets and foldable screens.

• MORE media player tweaks

There are some further adjustments to the button layout of the notification and lock screen media player. Firstly, Quick skip will move the forward and backward controls from either side of the playback program bar to the right of the player. This makes it easier to find all of your controls but these icons have not been fully themed — or at least at this stage look out of place.

A new popup occurs when starting a long press on any media player window as part of the media resumption control. The pop-up will confirm if a player can be hidden with more prominent “Hide” and “Cancel” M3 buttons that you can press. However, the “Settings” button has now been removed in favour of a small cog icon in the upper right of this smaller player.

• Animation tweaks and tuning

In the Android 13 Beta 2 update, there are a number of key animations have been updated and tuned. The most prominent is when unlocking your device. Tapping and pressing the in-display scanner on the Pixel 6 series pulsates in a more prominent manner and once unlocked there is a new expansion animation that sees your home screen icons float into view.

• Battery widget changes

In Android 13 Beta 2, the useful battery level widget that you may put on your home screen to track your smartphone and accessory charge levels has been changed. If you don't have any connected devices, such as Bluetooth earbuds, the widget will now display the current battery level of your Pixel. Furthermore, rather than the somewhat confusing "Settings Services" section, the widget now lives in a specific "Battery" section when placing or searching for it.

• Increased Battery Saver minimum level

The default setting for the Battery Saver mode has been increased from 5% to 10%. This is likely to help extend durability much farther than the lower amount would allow. You can always manually enable the lowest option to get around this, but we're hoping it will return in a future build.

Android 13 Beta 2 Released Devices

Android 13 is now ready for testing on more OEM devices, following several months of development. Apart from Google Pixel, 11 additional brands will release Android 13 releases for their devices:

• ASUS
• HMD (Nokia phones)
• Lenovo
• OnePlus
• Oppo
• Realme
• Sharp
• Tecno
• Vivo
• Xiaomi
• ZTE

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