Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1: Long-Requested Pixel Features Finally Arrive

khaled.adnan (61)in Hot News Community • 23 hours ago

Google has officially released the first beta for Android 16’s third Quarterly Platform Release (QPR3). While the stable version isn't scheduled for public release until March 2026, this initial build reveals a focus on user agency—bringing back requested customization options and refining how users interact with their hardware.

From granular hardware controls to major home screen changes, here is a breakdown of the most significant updates found in the latest build.

1. Reclaiming the Home Screen: Removing "At a Glance"

For years, the "At a Glance" widget has been a permanent fixture at the top of Pixel home screens, much to the frustration of minimalists. As reported by Android Police, Google has finally added a toggle to remove it. Under the widget’s settings, users will find a new "Show on home screen" option. Disabling this allows users to reclaim that top row for other widgets or apps, though the feature remains active on the lock screen and Always-on Display to ensure critical information is still accessible.

2. Precise Flashlight Intensity

Pixel phones are moving away from the simple on/off toggle for the flashlight. Following a trend seen in other operating systems, Android Authority notes that QPR3 Beta 1 introduces a dedicated "Flashlight Strength" panel. By long-pressing the Quick Settings tile, users can now access a vertical slider to adjust the brightness. The interface includes a visual arc that expands as the intensity increases, allowing for subtle lighting in dark environments without blinding others.

3. "Samsung-Style" Navigation Layout

In a major nod to users switching from other ecosystems, Google has added the ability to swap the order of the three-button navigation bar. Traditionally, Pixels have used a "Back-Home-Recents" order, whereas Samsung Galaxy devices default to "Recents-Home-Back." According to SammyGuru, the new "Button Order" setting allows Pixel owners to flip these keys to match their muscle memory, a small but vital change for accessibility and user comfort.

4. The Blue Dot: Real-Time Location Privacy

Privacy transparency is receiving a significant upgrade. While Android has long used green status bar indicators for microphone and camera access, location tracking was often less obvious. Gadget Hacks highlights a new blue chip/dot that appears in the status bar whenever an app pings your GPS. Tapping this indicator opens an expanded menu showing exactly which apps are accessing your location, providing immediate options to revoke permissions or close the app.

5. Unicode 17.0 and Visual Polish

The update modernizes the platform’s visual language in several ways:

New Emojis: Support for Unicode 17.0 brings over 160 new variations, including a "Distorted Face," "Orca," "Trombone," and "Hairy Creature" (Bigfoot).
"Minimal" Icons: The "Themed icons" setting has been rebranded as "Minimal" icons in the Wallpaper & Style menu.
Folder Animations: A new "Hitchcock zoom" effect has been added to folder transitions, where the folder expands while the background subtly shrinks.

6. Critical Fixes for Pixel 10

For owners of the latest hardware, this beta brings more than just surface-level tweaks. NotebookCheck reports a significant GPU driver update for the Pixel 10 series. The PowerVR driver has been bumped to a newer version specifically to address performance and compatibility issues in high-demand games like Genshin Impact, which some users reported had stability issues on earlier builds.

7. Developer and Power User Tweaks

Wireless ADB: The system now automatically reconnects to trusted networks for wireless debugging, removing a common point of friction for developers.
External Casting: Building on the external display support introduced in earlier Android 16 builds, users can now cast their screen content to external monitors rather than just recording it.

Eligible Devices

Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 is available for Pixel 6 through Pixel 10 models, including Foldables and the Pixel Tablet. As this is early-stage software, it is recommended primarily for secondary devices due to the potential for bugs and battery instability.

References:

#technology #android #google #pixel #android16 #news #software #mobile

23 hours ago in Hot News Community by khaled.adnan (61)

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