Google Releases Android 13 Beta 2 At I/O

Google released Android 13 Beta 1 in April. During the I/O conference, the search engine giant rolled out Beta 2 version of Android 13. This updated version of Android is being built with a keen focus on privacy and security, developer productivity, and tablet and large screen support.

Google's new operating system will launch this fall with more personalizations, better privacy, and security tools, more RCS messaging support, an upgraded Google Wallet, and better integrations with tablets and smart home devices.

"We’ve added a new permission for sending notifications, a privacy-protecting photo picker, and improved permissions when pairing with nearby devices and accessing media files. We’ve made it easier to support app-specific language settings, match your app’s icons to the user’s selected theme colors, and build with modern standards like HDR video, Bluetooth LE Audio, and MIDI 2.0 over USB," according to the Android developer's blog.

The New Messaging Feature

One of the most important features in Android 13 Beta 2 is RCS. Google worked with several phone manufacturers to build Rich Communication Services (RCS), something similar to iMessage on iPhone. This is a messaging service packed with features that have the potential to replace SMS and MMS text messaging. The service will support high-quality photos, and messaging over Wi-Fi, and will make way for a better group messaging experience.

Google Wallet

Following the steps of Apple, Google is adding digital ID support to Google Wallet in Android 13. The wallet allows you to store digital versions of all essential documents, such as payment cards, transit passes, office badges, vaccine records, car keys, boarding passes, and student IDs.

"Wallet also works with other Google apps — for instance, if you’re taking the bus to see a friend and look up directions in Google Maps, your transit card and balance will show up alongside the route. If you're running low on fares, you can tap and add more. We’ll also give you complete control over how items in your wallet are used to enable these experiences; for example, the personal information on your COVID vaccine pass is kept on your device and never shared without your permission, not even with Google," according to a Google blog post.

Devices Eligible For Beta 2

The Android 13 beta version can be accessed on 10 Google Pixel smartphones along with devices from OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, etc. To access the beta build on a Google Pixel, all you would need to do is sign in to the dedicated microsite and then enroll your device. You will receive an OTA update notification on your phone, asking you to download and install.

Here is a list of phones that are currently eligible for the Beta build:

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