What it is advisable know
- Android 16’s subsequent Beta begins rolling out to enrolled Pixel customers at present, with the all-new Materials 3 Expressive.
- QPRs are often known as Quarterly Platform Releases, they usually come loaded with platform options, bug fixes, and safety patches.
- Eligible gadgets embrace the Pixel 6 collection and up, and the Pixel tablets will obtain an over-the-air (OTA) replace to the newest Beta variations.
Google I/O nearly wrapped up, and it got here with a shock drop for Pixel customers. The tech big has began rolling out a preview of the primary Quarterly Platform Launch (QPR) for Android 16, forward of its official launch slated later this 12 months.
The Android 16 QPR1 (BP31.250502.008) Beta 1 comes filled with platform function updates, which means customers get a preview of the brand new options that may seem on the secure model. This quarterly replace guarantees simply that — it brings the all-new Materials 3 Expressive UI improve, which is alleged to be the evolution of Materials Design 3.
Constructing on Materials You, the M3 Expressive is alleged to be extra vibrant and interesting at an emotional degree. It leans on 5 key substances, akin to coloration, form, measurement, movement, and containment, that may make you take note of the icons that matter in your machine.
The UI brings large adjustments in how we work together with it. For starters, you get a revamped notification shade that provides a customizable, kind of clear design. The short toggle part can now match 12 or extra icons, and you’ll customise their sizes and make them bigger and higher outlined or smaller and extra compact.
Apps like Gmail may also see a much-needed redesign. The M3 Expressive locations probably the most distinguished motion icons proper the place you’ll be able to see them as an alternative of hiding behind menus.
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The notification shade is probably the most playful a part of the UI, but you’ll be able to see a number of notifications stack up collectively, and dismissing a notification delivers a satisfying “snap” off the group, with the remainder of them “bumping” again collectively.
M3 Expressive additionally makes transitions a lot faster and extra fluid, actions like swiping away an app in recents, adjusting the quantity slider, or bringing down the notification shade really feel extra “alive”.
The UI applies background blur results to the “Fast Settings” panel, app drawer, and recents menu. All the UI revamp offers your machine a extra aesthetically pleasing look, which is extra customizable than the earlier model.
Moreover, Beta testers additionally get a sneak peek of Gemini’s newest reside notifications and display recording capabilities. Moreover, it brings a colourful Settings app redesign as properly, grouping icons with totally different colours — sound settings take a shade of pink, community icons are blue, show icons are coral, and so forth, as seen beneath.
Whereas that may be a main chunk of adjustments that include the brand new Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, it additionally contains bug fixes, efficiency optimizations, and the August 2025 safety patches, which Google particulars in its launch notes.
Customers who’ve enrolled within the Beta program and have Pixel 6 and newer, or the Pixel Pill collection gadgets, will obtain an over-the-air (OTA) replace to the newest Beta variations.
It is very important observe that in case you have been beforehand enrolled in Android 16 Beta (and haven’t opted out), you’ll robotically obtain this replace and any future Beta updates.
