Google released the Android 14 Beta 4 update last night and is inching toward its final release. The company might release one more beta version of the update before releasing the public version of Android 14. So, as we reported a few days ago, we can expect Samsung to release the first One UI 6.0 beta update next week.
Since this is the fourth beta release of Android 14, and it reached platform stability with the third beta update, there aren't many internal changes. There are a few user-facing changes, but even those are nothing major. This update is only available for Pixel phones, tablets, and foldable phones right now, going as far back as the Pixle 4a 5G.
We expect Samsung to release the One UI 6.0 beta update to the Galaxy S22, Galaxy S23, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 4, and Galaxy Z Fold 5 over the next few weeks.
What's new with the Android 14 Beta 4 update?
On top of all the features already revealed in the previous Android 14 beta updates, the fourth beta version brings colorful profile pictures for multi-user accounts (via 9To5Google). However, One UI doesn't feature multi-user accounts, and we need to see if Samsung brings the feature with One UI 6.0. The company added multi-user accounts with the One UI 5.0 beta update last year, only to remove it with the stable release.
The new update also brings a feature that Samsung users have had for years. Pixel users can now choose to enter their PIN and not hit the enter button to unlock their devices. This is a quicker, albeit slightly unsafe, method to unlock a device. Android 14 Beta 4 also reveals the year the phone was manufactured.
Google has also changed the mute icon in the status bar. It has also introduced a new action when you long-press an app icon. The split-screen option in the app shortcuts lets you open an app directly in split-screen mode. This is really useful on large-screen devices like foldable phones and tablets. The widget picker now has a dual-column UI for tablets and foldable phones, showcasing a list of widgets on the left and their details on the right. We expect these features to come to One UI 6.0.
Apart from these features and changes, Google has fixed many bugs reported by beta testers. It has also improved the performance of the device and the smoothness of animations across the operating system. It has also fixed app crashes and boot-loop issues.
