Google is once again shaking up the mobile photography landscape with the second public beta release of Android 16—an update that’s drawing excited murmurs from professional photographers and imaging enthusiasts alike. With a focus on giving users more granular control over their shots, this beta is set to blur the lines between smartphone convenience and dedicated camera rig precision.

For years, Android’s camera app has offered a binary choice: surrender to fully automated exposure or wrestle with every setting manually. Android 16 is now poised to offer the best of both worlds with its new hybrid auto-exposure modes. Photographers can manually tweak key parameters like ISO and exposure time, allowing the auto-exposure (AE) algorithms to handle the rest. This balancing act is especially crucial for those looking to minimize the noise that often accompanies higher ISO settings. Essentially, you get to maintain creative control without sacrificing the benefits of automation—a win-win for professionals aiming to capture cleaner, more dynamic shots.

Another standout feature in this beta update is the enhancement of white balance controls. Previously, users had to settle for a handful of presets such as cloudy, incandescent, or twilight. Now, Android 16 brings precise adjustments for color temperature and tint to the table. This means you can fine-tune your image’s color profile right from the camera, compensating for tricky lighting conditions without relying on post-processing. The result? Images that are not only technically accurate but also artistically rich, with the flexibility to experiment with new creative aesthetics.

In today’s fast-paced world where storage space is as precious as the moments captured, Google’s support for Ultra HDR images in the HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) format is a breath of fresh air. HEIC files deliver higher-quality images compared to traditional JPEGs while consuming less storage—a critical advantage for photographers on the go. These Ultra HDR HEIC files come equipped with a “gain map” embedded in their metadata, ensuring that even older devices with standard dynamic range screens can display your images accurately. On newer devices with high dynamic range screens, expect to see an enhanced spectrum of color, brightness, and contrast, bringing every detail to life.

Following the latest public beta release, Google has announced two more beta iterations before the full rollout is expected sometime in Q2. For now, if you’re using a Google Pixel phone—starting with the Pixel 6—or the Pixel Tablet, you can opt-in to test these groundbreaking features. This phased approach not only allows Google to refine the user experience based on real-world feedback but also gives photography professionals a sneak peek into what’s to come.

The new features in Android 16 are more than just incremental improvements—they represent a significant evolution in mobile photography. By merging manual precision with advanced automation, Google is empowering photographers to push the boundaries of what’s possible with a smartphone. Whether you’re capturing landscapes, portraits, or fast-moving action, these tools offer a level of control and versatility that was once the sole domain of dedicated cameras.