Android 16 for TV Beta Is Here—Gemini, Spatial Audio, and More

Google has released the Android 16 for TV beta, giving developers early access to tools and features set to roll out later this year.

The announcement came during Google I/O, following news from January that Google’s AI assistant Gemini would soon come to Google TV.

This beta is aimed at developers who want to test new features and prepare their apps for the next major update. It includes access to new APIs, design tools, and features designed to improve the overall TV experience.

Gemini is expected to officially launch on Google TV in the fall. In the meantime, developers can begin using the new Video Discovery API and take advantage of Jetpack Compose for TV, which has now left beta.

Key Highlights of Android 16 for TV Beta:

• MediaQualityManager: Lets developers control picture profile selection.
• IAMF Spatial Audio Support: Through Eclipsa Audio codec, enhancing immersive audio experiences.
• Improved Playback: Better media speed, stability, and efficiency.
• HDMI-CEC Optimizations: Increased performance for 64-bit systems.

For regular users, the new features will become available later this year. Developers, however, can now start exploring the tools to get ready for the upcoming release.