Summary
- Google is rolling out Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 to Pixel 6 and above devices with new features and improvements.
- The update brings the ability to control flash brightness and disable the persistent At a Glance widget from the home screen.
- Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 is expected to be the last major Android update before Android 17 lands.
Not to long ago, Google released Android 16 QPR2 stable after rigorously testing the version since August 2025. The update brought a lot of new goodies and improvements to the Pixel ecosystem. Now, the brand has started pushing the first beta of Android 16 QPR3, which could be the last major update before Android 17.
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 brings new Animations
While Google hasn't shared a changelog, the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 update brings some notable additions and improvements. For starters, there are new animations in the Pixel Launcher, followed by a refreshed look when opening folders.
Besides, the update finally brings the ability to adjust flashlight intensity, alongside the ability to finally disable the persistent At a Glance widget from the home screen. Users can also change the button order of the 3-button navigation, making navigation easier if they're coming from, say, a Samsung phone that had inverted on-screen navigation buttons.
Some of the other features include a new Location indicator feature in the Status bar, which now integrates with the Camera and Microphone indicator pills. It shows the apps that are tracking your location. Lastly, Screen Casting is getting an upgrade as it will now allow users to cast the screen contents to a large screen.
The Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 is now available for Pixel 6 all the way till Pixel 10. Users can install it by enrolling in the Android Beta Program to receive an OTA update. The update can also be installed manually using the Android Flash Tool. It weighs around 3 GB in size for those enrolling freshly.
It's worth noting that if you want to exit the beta program without wiping your device, you should not install this update. If you do install, you will not be able to exit the Beta by preventing a data wipe until Android 16 QPR3 stable drops in March 2026.
Google is expected to release more Android 16 QPR3 Betas, including hot fixes, and is expected to introduce new features, so stay tuned.
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