Android 14 Beta 1 Is Now Available For Pixel Devices

Google shines again by sticking to its release plan and is currently making the first beta version of Android 14 available for all interested testers to download. The first group of devices to receive the update are the Google Pixel 4a, Pixel 7, and Google Pixel 7 Pro.

Android 14 Beta 1 is ready for downloading and Testing

The first Android 14 beta is just one part of a series of releases from Google before the final and public version of the operating system is shipped. Android 14 – codenamed “UpsideDown Cake” – is expected to officially ship in August 2023. Also, not all of the features planned for Android 14 will be included in this beta, although users should also have a handful of bug fixes in tow.

Backward gestures, weather at a glance, and transparent navigation

In addition to the usual bug fixes and optimizations of services and apps, Beta 1 also contains well-known changes that were already seen in the developer preview of the upcoming Android operating system. These include the predictive back gesture housed in a new button and support for a transparent navigation bar across applications.

On the lock screen, Google allows users to turn on or off the weather widget in the “Glance” section. Some users have noticed that no matter which option you choose, the feature still doesn’t show any changes. However, the redesigned weather widget mentioned in the developer preview is not yet seen in this release.

The Share Nearby button is now visible in the Share window. New customizable action buttons “Create Album” and “Create Link” have been added in addition to the copy shortcut for sharing photos or videos.

The highlight tool in the photo editing tools has been improved, albeit slightly. Highlighters include a preview of the selected color. If you change the hue, this will automatically be reflected in the pencil icons.

How to install Android 14 Beta on a Google Pixel phone

Currently, the beta program is compatible with the Pixel 4a, Pixel 5, Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6a, and Pixel 7 series. If you have one of the eligible Pixel phones, you can install the latest Android 14 versions by signing up for the beta program. you can also upgrade to the next beta version as soon as it becomes available. Alternatively, a downgrade to Android 13 is also supported if you decide to opt out of the beta program.