Google, the tech giant, continues its tradition of releasing public beta builds of its upcoming Android editions around this time of the year. This time, it’s all about Android 14 for Pixel Phones. The company has already rolled out all preview builds, along with three Android 14 beta versions. Now, we’re eagerly awaiting the fourth public beta, which could be the last significant beta update for Android 14.
Image: Google
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about downloading Android 14 for Pixel phones.
Understanding the Release Pattern
Like clockwork, Google follows a distinct pattern for releasing its developer and beta builds every year. The roadmap commences in February with the first developer preview and culminates in August with the stable public build release. At the moment, we find ourselves in the May release phase. However, be aware that the timeline for the stable build may vary based on the circumstances.
Developer Previews and Public Beta Releases
As per the current roadmap, there will be two developer previews and a total of four public beta releases. This rollout schedule signifies that there will be an update every month leading up to the stable release. However, this will primarily interest users with Pixel phones. If you are a Pixel phone owner, you can begin testing Android 14 today.
Eligible Devices for Android 14
Google has made a few modifications to the list of eligible devices since the previous year that you should be aware of. The following Google Pixel phones are eligible for Android 14:
- Pixel 4a (5G)
- Pixel 5 and 5a
- Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
- Pixel Tablet
- Pixel Fold
What’s New in Android 14?
Since the release of the first developer preview build, Google has introduced a plethora of changes and new features. During the Google I/O event, Google announced several exciting features that will be incorporated into Android later this year. Therefore, we can expect many changes in the upcoming Android 14 build.
Key Changes and Features
The first beta of Android 14 introduces different battery settings, now offering two modes for battery saver. Users can choose between a basic battery saver and an extreme battery saver. Although this feature was available earlier, users had to enable the basic battery saver to access the option for the extreme battery saver.
Other changes in Android 14 Beta include a refined Security and Privacy dashboard, the latest Security patch, the return of screen time usage, the comeback of the Fast Pair option, and more. For a more detailed overview of Android 14 Beta, you can visit this page.
Downloading Android 14 for Pixel Phones
Being Google products, Pixel phones naturally enjoy early access to each Android update ahead of other Android smartphones. As such, the Android 14 public beta is available for the Pixel phones listed above.
So, if you own an eligible Pixel phone, you can effortlessly download and install the latest Android 14 build on your device. You can opt between Fastboot Images and OTA files, depending on your preferred installation process.
Below, we provide the download links for Android 14 Beta 5.3, Beta 5.2, Beta 5, Beta 4.1, Beta 4, Beta 3.1, Beta 3, Beta 2.1, Beta 2, Beta 1.1, Public Beta 1, Developer Preview 2, and Developer Preview 1 Images.
Android 14 Beta 5.3 Images
Android 14 Beta 5.2 Images
Android 14 Beta 5 Images
Android 14 Beta 4.1 Images
Android 14 Beta 4 Images
Android 14 Beta 3.1 Images
Android 14 Beta 3 Images
Android 14 Beta 2.1 Images
Android 14 Beta 2 Images
Android 14 Beta 1.1 Images
Android 14 Public Beta 1 Images
Android 14 Developer Preview 2 Images
Android 14 Developer Preview 1 Images
Precautions Before Installing Android 14
Before you proceed with the Android 14 update, here are a few precautions:
- Backup all your data present on your device to a cloud storage service like Google Drive or to your computer.
- Sideloading the developer preview will erase all of your data (Not Applicable for OTA).
- As it’s the first build, there may be bugs ranging from minor issues to significant ones.
- Keep a copy of the latest stable version of Android for your device on hand. You might need to roll back to it if you encounter any issues.
- The beta version is available only for Google Pixel devices starting from Pixel 4a 5G and all the devices released up to the Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet.
- If you plan to use the OTA image, unlocking the bootloader is recommended.
Do you have any questions or feedback? Feel free to leave comments in the comment section below. Also, don’t forget to share this guide with your friends on social media.
Conclusion
Android 14 brings a host of new features and improvements to the table, enhancing the overall user experience. It offers better privacy controls, more customization options, and improved performance among other things. However, it’s important to remember that while this update is designed to improve your device’s functionality, it may also come with its own set of challenges. Some users may experience issues with certain apps or features after updating. Therefore, it’s always recommended to back up your data before proceeding with any major software update.
Lain Miller