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What do you think of Android 16’s big redesign so far?

Ben Schoon | May 25 2025 - 9:00 am PT

Google I/O’s big focus was, obviously, on AI, but Android 16 was also a big part of the event thanks to the release of the first QPR1 beta with the Material 3 Expressive redesign. What do you think of it so far?

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It was no secret that Android 16 was getting a redesign thanks to leaked builds floating around, but the mystery was long when it was going to debut thanks to very underwhelming beta releases for Android 16’s first stable launch. The curtain was finally lifted at last week’s Android Show and, this week, Google finally released the first builds that actually contain these new changes.

I’ve been using Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold since Tuesday’s release, and it’s been going really well. The build is stable within reason, and visual bugs are to a minimum given how big of an update this is. There’s some misaligned text in notifications, apps that try to leverage the camera seem unstable in some cases, and I’ve noticed that notifications will occasionally go the opposite direction when swiped away. But, outside of that and some iffy battery life, it’s been a good experience thus far.

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Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 hands-on: Finally, the big update we wanted [Video]

Aesthetically, I’m a big fan of the new design. Material 3 Expressive feels like Material You: The Sequel. The design language doesn’t really feel like anything else out there, but still feels super familiar. Plus, it’s opening the door to Google incorporating more features, like the wallpaper “Effects” that are super cool, but that I’ve yet to find the right subject for.

Google struck an impressive balance, and the platform itself just feels like the beginning.

But what do you think of Android 16’s redesign so far?

I have a feeling this design is going to be polarizing among Pixel fans, so where do you stand? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

This Week’s Top Stories

Google I/O Recap

I/O 2025 is in the books, with yet another AI-focused show revealing some honestly really impressive new announcements from Google. Check out the list below for everything announced.

Android 16 QPR1 – Everything new so far

As mentioned, the first Android 16 QPR1 Beta is here, and it’s the big one. There’s a ton new, so check out our full breakdown.

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Top comment by Brokep

Liked by 26 people

It's a solid upgrade for Android and I think it's the big revision that we've all been waiting for. For the first time ever it feels like Google's actually considered the physics of interactions, so now there's a noticeable level of responsiveness and predictability that hasn't existed before.

I think they have a good foundation for the base of Android, but as with previous releases, the biggest dependency will be Google and whether or not they decide to embrace the design into their own apps.

And if they do, what level of effort will they incorporate into their system apps? Google needs to apply more than a fresh coat of paint to some of them, like the Dialer for instance. The UX is generally quite poor, even from a simplicity standpoint. They can keep it simple, but they really need to address some of the design inconsistencies.

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