Browse all articles, news, and guides tagged with beta on Droid Tools.
After the official shutdown of Samsung Messages, Google Messages is now likely the only major texting app remaining for Android users. It offers important capabilities like RCS support, end-to-end encryption, and more; however, it has been missing two basic yet important features. Fortunately, both appear headed for release soon, having reportedly surfaced in the app's
Android 17 QPR1 Beta 6 has arrived for Google Pixel devices, bringing a mix of new features and bug fixes. This release also marks the Platform Stability milestone for the operating system, laying the groundwork for its transition toward a stable release. Alongside the specific bug fixes Google detailed for this build, the update introduces
A few hours before Huawei officially unveiled HarmonyOS 7.0 at HDC 2026, the company quietly dropped OpenHarmony 7.0 Beta 1 — a pre-release build that had first surfaced three weeks earlier and has now been formally released as a public testing framework for device makers and developers. OpenHarmony serves as the open-source foundation that device
Garmin has rolled out another beta update for the Venu 4, delivering over a dozen fixes and refinements to the mid-range smartwatch. Beta 17.25 is available globally through Garmin's Beta Program and tackles a notable bug that could cause the watch to enter recovery mode during a software update, among several other improvements. The update
Android 17 QPR1’s latest beta build is centered almost entirely on bug fixes. Google first released the initial QPR1 beta in the third week of April, and just a couple of weeks later, it has now rolled out Android 17 QPR1 beta 2. Because the gap between the two builds is so short, this release
With the final scheduled Android 17 Beta dropping just last week, Google has wasted no time shifting focus — Android 17 QPR1 Beta 1 is already here. Google describes the release officially as the start of “the next round of Beta updates for our September Feature Drop release,” marking the beginning of the QPR1 cycle
Android 17 Beta 4 is now rolling out to Pixel devices, and Google says it is the “last scheduled beta of this release cycle.” After the larger Beta 3 update brought new features and platform stability, this release appears focused on final refinements ahead of a stable launch later this quarter. To install Android 17
Google has launched Wear OS 6.1, based on Android 16's second Quarterly Platform Release (QPR2) — specifically API level 36.1 — which first dropped in December as a minor SDK update. The last comparable release was Wear OS 5.1 in November 2024, which brought a significant jump from Android 14 to 15. Google has confirmed
Now Playing has never been the most talked-about Pixel exclusive, but it's been making headlines lately. Last month, Google gave it a major upgrade by spinning it off into a standalone app — a move that had been telegraphed by leaks well before the official announcement. The app hasn't stood still since launch. Shortly after
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 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
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
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,
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
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
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,
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
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
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
You may soon notice some significant changes if you're using an Oppo or OnePlus phone. In the upcoming Android 16-based updates from OnePlus and Oppo, OxygenOS 16 and ColorOS 16, tipster Yogesh Brar has leaked to some of the most significant changes. New AOD (always on display) A full-screen always-on display is one of the
