Android 13 public beta released for Pixel 6 and non-Pixel phones

Like clockwork, the first Android 13 developer preview was released in mid-February. The initial beta of a new Android OS, like in past years, is aimed at developers. Regular Android users should avoid it until the first public beta, which is expected around the Google I/O conference. This year, Google is taking a new approach. A few weeks before Google I/O 2022, the first Android 13 public beta download is available for Pixel 6 and other Pixel smartphones. More interestingly, the beta isn’t restricted to Pixel devices. Google provides the tools that will allow other Android users to install the Android 13 public beta on their devices.

Although the public release is more stable than the development preview, issues are still to be expected. That is to say, it may not always be in your best interests to run beta versions on daily drivers. Google has released lists of compatible devices for the latest Android public beta release in prior years. That isn't the case right now, as Google has released the Android 13 public beta ahead of I/O 2022. You don't have to wait for the firm to announce a list of Android devices that can run Android 13 beta smoothly. Google provided documentation on its Android Developers that explains you don’t need a Pixel 6 or any other Pixel to experience the first Android 13 public beta.

Instead, Google has made the Android 13 public beta 1 Generic System Images (GSI) accessible. There are four versions available that support both x86 64 and ARM64 architectures. You can get them right away, but you'll need an Android phone that's at least Android 9 (API level 28) to do so. Furthermore, in order to test the Android 13 public beta right now, your device must be Treble-compliant. Finally, to install the new OS, you'll need an unlocked bootloader. If you check these options, you'll get a sneak peek at the latest Android innovations that Google is developing.

However, you should be aware that at least three major Android 13 GSI issues may obstruct your enjoyment. When utilising the integrated dialer, you may not hear any phone audio on the handset. This might be a major issue that prevents you from making calls. Then you should be aware that the GSI has a restarting problem, which may be resolved by entering recovery mode and wiping user data. This might result in the loss of vital information. Finally, the size of the GSI and Google Mobile Services (GMS) files may be larger than your device's default dynamic system partition. This is a problem that you will need to resolve before reinstalling the Android 13 public beta.

The big problems

Some of the Android 13 features were previously covered in the developer preview releases that before the public beta release. However, rather than developer-specific capabilities, the public beta will provide more people access to user-facing functionality. From aesthetic and personalization upgrades to clever new capabilities, 9to5Google has a fantastic rundown of all the Android 13 features you may now enjoy. A new design for the media player, for example, does a better job of displaying playback progress. While the device is locked in Android 13, you may also set up your Android phone to operate smart home devices. Face Unlock support appears to be available for some devices, while it is not included in the initial public beta.

The new features