Google launches Android 11 Beta 2 with final APIs and behaviors

Google today launched Android 11 Beta 2, or the sixth preview of its next mobile OS version. Beta 2 marks Android 11’s Platform Stability milestone, which means that the APIs and behaviors have been finalized. As a result, developers can make final compatibility updates and focus solely on testing their apps and games.

Android 11 has had a rocky beta schedule. Google launched Android 11 DP1 in February (the earliest it has ever released an Android developer preview), Android 11 DP2 in March, and Android 11 DP3 in April. Android 11 Beta 1 was supposed to arrive in May, but we got Android 11 DP4 as a stopgap measure, and then Beta 1 arrived in June. Beta 1 would have normally been shown off at Google’s I/O developer conference, where the first Android beta typically debuts, but the event was canceled due to the coronavirus. #Android11: the Beta Launch Show was supposed to happen in lieu, but Google postponed and then ultimately canceled that as well due to protests over systemic racism and police brutality.