Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 Update Goes Live for Google Pixel Phones

Google is rolling out Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 to eligible Pixel smartphones ahead of its official stable rollout in September 2025. This new update fixes a lot of the issues that were persistent with the QPR1 Beta 2 update. However, unlike the QPR1 Beta 2 update, there is no new major feature this time around.

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 is rolling out to Pixel 6 and above devices with several performance, UI and system stability fixes.

For instance, this new update fixes a known issue with the software-based RTOS app switching component, that used to corrupt the task list, causing restarts. It even fixes the partial launcher display issue that was spotted on the QPR1 Beta 2 update.

Additionally, the problem with partial notification display stands resolved with the QPR1 Beta 3 update, along with broken media player view during the notification pull-down action. Speaking of notifications, the shade message folding break issue has also been taken care of with the Beta 3 update.

Google Pixel 9 Pro app list scrolling experience — Image Credit: Beebom Gadgets

Apart from this, in the previous QPR1beta build, several users reported a major kernel and class loader issue that caused their Pixel smartphones to restart abruptly. Google seems to have fixed both these instances with the beta 3 build of the QPR1 update.

Lastly, the camera app showing a black screen at startup and missing corner padding for status bar icons issues have also been resolved with this new update.

With that said, the QPR1 Beta 3 update can be installed on the following devices:

Pixel 6 series (Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a)
Pixel 7 series (Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a)
Pixel 8 series (Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a)
Pixel 9 series (Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9a, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold)
Pixel Fold (Gen 1)
Pixel Tablet

In addition, the Android Emulator will also be getting the latest QPR1 Beta 3 update. So, users with eligible Pixel phones should get this new update any moment now, considering their devices are enrolled within the Android Beta program.

However, unlike the QPR1 Beta 2 update that brought the Desktop Mode to Pixel Phones, there is no new feature update rolling out with the QPR1 Beta 3 build. It also expands on the Material 3 Expressive design language that Google announced at their I/O 2025 event.