Google brings Android 13 Beta to newly released Pixel 6a

Google has delivered on its promise of adding the Pixel 6a to the Android 13 Beta program. As we reported last week, Google hoped to start rolling out Android 13 Beta builds to its latest mid-range smartphone during the first week of August. For context, the Pixel 6a is on the June 2022 security patch with stable Android 12 builds. Surprisingly, Google has pre-loaded a build with the April 2022 set of security patches on Pixel 6a retail units.

Android 13 Beta 4.1 changes that for the Pixel 6a, upgrading it to the July 2022 security patch as well as to Android 13 more generally. However, the beta build contains a bug where the System menu and Security Hub show the June 1, 2022 security patch being installed instead. Incidentally, the July security patch remains the most recent update for Pixel smartphones; Google has not issued a stable August update for any Pixel smartphone yet.

As with other Pixel smartphones, you can manually download and install Android 13 Beta 4.1 on the Pixel 6a. If that is your thing, then we have provided the Factory image and over-the-air (OTA) file below. Alternatively, you can enrol your Pixel 6a via Google's 'Android Beta for Pixel' portal, which will install Android 13 Beta 4.1 for you. Please note that the process is not automatic. Instead, you must agree to unlock and re-lock your device's bootloader, among other minor requirements.

• Android 13 Beta 4.1: Factory image / OTA

Purchase the Google Pixel 6a on Amazon