Every single new feature in Android 16 QPR1 [Video]

To put it politely, Android 16 QPR1 is the “real” release that we probably should have had earlier in the year. Not only is it a visual overhaul, but it’s also more feature-packed than the first phase OS drop. Here’s everything new.

• Every single new feature in Android 16 [Video]

It’s a shame that Android 16’s naming structure is so fragmented. QPR1 doesn’t quite roll off the tongue quite like Android 16.1 or 16.5 might have. That said, this is the huge introduction of Material 3 Expressive, an update to the now 4-year-old Material You. It has been long overdue and, dare we say it, has been well worth the wait.

If you have picked up a Pixel 10 series device, you should have been enjoying this fantastic update for a little while already. Google has confirmed that Android 16 QPR1 is rolling out for the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 8, 8 Pro, 8a, Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro Fold, and Pixel 9a right now.

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UI changes

Core user interface changes are part and parcel of any Android update as things get tweaked and tuned to help improve the cohesion of specific sections and subsections. All UI changes we have tracked relate to commonly used areas and features within Android 16 QPR1, with changes over the previous Android 16 and Android 15 builds and releases noted.

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Settings app redesign

The Settings app on Android 16 QPR1 has an updated look. Instead of the same old gray colors, each section now has its unique, circular pastel shade icon. This fresh coat of paint makes the app feel a lot more colorful and modern, in line with Google’s softer color scheme for other apps. It’s also worth noting that these icons correspond with specific status bar notification icons where appropriate.

When you go deeper into individual controls for specific settings, sectional headers are now aligned with the top border, with the back button now inside a colorful circle that somewhat mimics the back button gesture animation to indicate that you can tap this to go to a previous section.

In certain Settings sections, you may also see greater separation for areas that help you navigate or manage certain controls. These detached sections will have a mini header, and deeper options will be in tabbed floating panes.

App info page redesign

When entering an application’s details, you will get a new “App info” page with a compact layout for deeper application settings. The icons for Archive, Uninstall, and Force Stop are now floating M3 buttons above this section. Dynamic color theming is applied more liberally, with tabs being more visible against a colorful background.

Lockscreen redesign

There are some changes to how the lockscreen looks with certain clock layouts. For instance, if you use the 2-line layout, which is often applied by default, the At a Glance weather widget will often move below the clock. This changes from the upper-left position that has been standard when locked.

Expanded home grid layouts

The latest Android 16 QPR1 update brings a slight but noticeable change to the At a Glance widget on Pixel phones. Instead of letting us turn it off completely, Google has made the widget smaller. This opens up extra space on your home screen, giving you more room for other widgets and app icons. It’s a nice little tweak that helps you customize your phone a bit more, even if you still can’t eliminate the widget entirely.

Default lockscreen clock gains more options

The default 2-line lockscreen clock has been altered, and we lose one option in favour of a more customizable option that adds 7 distinct font styles to choose from. This is the only lockscreen clock that gains the “Clock style width” tuning, but you can adjust it within Wallpaper & style.

Lockscreen shortcuts selector has new layout

The latest update brings a neat change to your lock screen. Instead of the old, spinning list of shortcuts, they’re now shown in a simple grid. This makes it much easier to see all your options at once. To choose a shortcut for the left or right side of your lock screen, you’ll find a new toggle switch at the bottom of the screen.

Battery settings updated layout

Within Settings, the Battery section now has a more compact layout and a thicker battery capacity icon to better match the M3E design choices.

Enhanced controls for lockscreen notifications

In Android 16 you have very basic lockscreen controls, but in QPR1 that is overhauled to include a full visual control system with the abilty to see what each option will look like. This new section also now houses the “Sensitive notifications” toggle which was previously found in Notifications.

Larger notification panes on lockscreen and Quick Settings

When viewing the expanded notification pane in Quick Settings, the panels are, in most cases, larger now, with the app icon being used for all applications except for system notifications. Previously, these would have a line-style layout; this adds an extra layer of color while also showing larger app icons.

When fully expanded or tapped, each notification takes up marginally more space. However, this still reveals any additional app-specific controls or usability options.

Redesigned Notification history page

The deep dive Notification history section follows the updated Settings page redesign with more colorful tabbed panes for each individual app. Separation is less visible on lighter backgrounds, while the expansion chevron controls are smaller and bolder. App grouping remains the same as previously.

Device unlock page redesign

The Device unlock screen has been altered to separate the “Face” and Fingerprint” options. If Watch unlock is supported or available, this will also be added as a menu option on your device. Further options like Enhanced PIN privacy, lock timeout, and instant power button locks are still found in the “Screen lock” section, but the settings cog icon has been removed.

Media output switcher changes

The media output switcher, which lets you control things like the volume, has a brand new look. This draggable bar has a new smartphone glyph with a longer pull tab. Any nearby devices are below, with the ampersand dropped in favor of “and” for Speakers and displays. The icons for smart speakers and TVs are smaller, and the “Connect device” button is now above the volume slider for ease of reach.

Phone backup page redesign

Simplified with a large “Back up now” button. Backup details allows you to make changes to accounts.

Updated PIN entry screen

Before you unlock your device, you might notice that the PIN entry has changed with bigger text on the numpad. Animations are marginally smoother here, with the “Enter” key also having a larger icon.

New pop-up permissions panel redesign

When accepting new app permissions via the pop-up panel, this now has elongated and full color oblong buttons with each button having greater gaps or separations between. The floating pane is also wider and text is larger. The visuals are kept similar to the previous design for location permissions, but with the updated buttons.

New layout for Ringtone selection

On Pixel 10, when running Android 16 QPR1, the “Ringtone” section layout has been changed to have a grid layout with a Material You style icon at the top of this section to indicate your currently chosen ringtone. This also applies to Notification sound and Default alarm sounds.

App drawer no longer full screen

When you swipe up into the app drawer, you might notice that this no longer envelops the entirety of your screen. Instead, you will get a sliver of the top portion of your homescreen with a bar or pull tab to indicate that this section can be minimized or closed with a downward swipe.

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Usability changes

Google’s latest Pixel update, Android 16 QPR1, features a host of usability enhancements aimed at making everyday device interactions smoother and more intuitive. This section details these core changes to how this affects the Pixel experience, which may also include new functionalities.

Quick Settings redesign

While there are lots of changes and alterations, the biggest is for the Quick Settings controls. Android 16 QPR1 adds the ability to resize all of your QS tiles. This has some added utility for specific options, but you are able to mix and match icons using the 2×1 layout or the 1×1 tile. The maximum allows for 16 individual tiles when the Quick Settings panel is fully expanded or 8 when viewing just notifications.

If you want to add a new tile, there are new sections to quickly locate the tiles you want based on existing Settings sections. If you add a new tile, by default, the tile size is minimized. Just tap any tile to decrease or increase the size using the mini pull tab. When you rearrange, a shadow outline shows exactly where it will appear and makes it easier to find the perfect placement.

If you make a ton of changes and aren’t happy with the layout, just scroll down to the bottom and you’ll find a “reset” button that will restore all Quick Setting tiles to the default layout. It might not be ideal but easier to restore everything to factory defaults this way.

Single-tap QS shortcuts

When adjusted to fit into the new 1×1 layout, some of the Quick Settings tiles forgo the double-tap to activate or open an extra menu in favor of single-tap activation. Annoyingly, this still does not apply to the Internet tile, but the Bluetooth tile and Modes will work in a couple of ways. If you decrease to 1×1, these will toggle on/off. When full-size, you can tap the left side to toggle or tap centrally to bring up the expanded floating menu.

Wallpaper & style redesign

Another major area of change is the Wallpaper & style app. The clock options are now in their own menu, with a visual preview of each style before applying. This menu displays each clock style with a small picture, so you can easily see what they look like before you choose. You’ll also find a new, interactive slider for colors, letting you fine-tune the intensity and shade of your clock.

Choosing your lock screen shortcuts is also much simpler. The old, spinning list has been replaced with a grid of options, which makes it easier to compare your choices at a glance. A new toggle at the bottom of the screen lets you select which side of the screen you want your shortcut to appear on.

You can now access some key notification settings directly from the lock screen menu. The previous simple toggle has been replaced with a full menu that gives you more control. This includes a new feature called “Show seen notifications,” which allows you to hide notifications after you’ve already seen them. The update also moves toggles for silent and sensitive content notifications into this menu, making them easier to find.

Wallpaper & style ‘Effects’ panel

Google Pixel phones are getting some fun new ways to customize your wallpapers with a new “Effects” feature. Now, after picking a photo for your wallpaper, you’ll see a button that lets you apply some creative changes.

One of the new effects is called Shape. It can take the main subject of your photo, like a person or a pet, and fit it into one of five different shapes. It also adds a matching color around the shape, which you can adjust with a slider to get the look just right.

Another cool effect is Weather. This one adds a gentle animation of rain, snow, fog, or sunshine right on top of your wallpaper. You can even set it to automatically match your local weather, so your phone’s background will always reflect what’s happening outside.

The Cinematic wallpaper option, which adds a cool 3D effect to your photos, has also been moved into this new “Effects” menu, putting all your creative wallpaper tools in one place. These updates make personalizing your phone’s look more creative and interactive.

Suggested photos in Wallpaper & style

Before you set a wallpaper, there is a new “Suggested photos” carousel that will pull images from your on-device gallery to set as a wallpaper on your phone. This is visible in the main Wallpaper and style underneath the mini preview, but tapping “more wallpapers” now has this section right at the top for easy access. In our testing it appears to pull from albums of similar photos. For instance, pets or people.

Wallpaper confirmation panel changes

You might also notice that when you’re choosing your wallpaper, a full-screen page will load to confirm or apply it. It does exactly the same thing, just with a new look and clean animations to better fit with Material 3 Expressive overhauls.

Quick wallpaper selector changes

The quick wallpaper picker panel has an ace up its sleeve in Android 16 QPR1. Any changes you have made to the color palette settings will now be remembered when using the quick switcher. This applies to Quick Settings toggles, tones, and hues across all areas of your device.

Desktop mode for Pixel 8 and newer

A huge change for anyone with a Pixel 8 or newer is that, provided you have a USB-C adapter or compatible converter, you can access a dedicated desktop mode offering a simplified DeX-like UI. It somewhat mimics the existing Chrome OS layout with a taskbar that has docked apps on your phone. There are on-screen classic 3-button controls in the bottom right to access the Home, Back, and Recents menus.

You’re able to run this on various display sizes and shapes. Output will try and lock to 60Hz, but it may differ depending on the display you are using. The only downside is that the output will scale but it might be lower resolution than expected. There can be pixelation on larger screens.

App windowing works very similarly to Windows, with the ability to grab the corner of a window and resize it at will. There are no restrictions for resizing, either. Hovering over the “maximize” button also brings up window controls that include snapping to either side of the display. It very much feels like Windows. In Chrome, you also get right-click options that match a long press. Not all applications work well, but for some Android games, it is a great way to play with a mouse and keyboard.

The desktop mode is still technically a developer feature, and you will need to toggle this on from Developer settings. We expect it to continue to progress with more functionality and features. On the Pixel Tablet, you can enable this, but it will not work with an external display. Instead, you can use the tablet screen in a desktop manner, like certain Samsung tablets.

Check enrolled fingerprints option

Thanks to a new ” Check enrolled fingerprints ” option, if you have multiple fingerprints enrolled on your device, you can now check which fingerprint corresponds to which within the Security and Privacy section.

This brings up a new screen, scan your finger and it’ll flash which finger has been recognized from the list of registered digits. You may spot that this option is missing from devices with capacitive fingerprint scanners. Instead, you just touch your finger to the scanner, and it’ll flash automatically.

Recents menu drop-down options

The Recents app menu has been changed with integrated app menus replacing the previous simplified icons. A drop-down menu is also more visible and indicates that you can access further controls, such as splitscreen, app information, Digital Wellbeing controls, and more. It’s unclear if this is related to the dedicated desktop mode, but it is reminiscent of most desktop operating systems.

Volume slider + panel redesign

After pressing the volume buttons on your phone, you’ll see a pill-shaped pop-up with a sleek, more rectangular slider inside. The options for mute, vibrate, and sound are also now a mix of circles and squares, giving them a more modern design.

To add to that, when you’re playing music or a video, a cool, animated sound wave will appear at the bottom of the slider. The full volume panel also has new, thinner sliders for a cleaner feel. This panel is marginally bigger with right-aligned icons.

Audio sharing live

Audio sharing should be live again after being spotted in Android 15, briefly live in Android 16, but it should work now in Android 16 QPR1 with supported devices.

Pop-up app list redesign

Long-press an application on your homescreen and the quick widgets or quick actions have changed. The icons have changed from line-style to filled in icons. There is also a new hourglass icon for timing out distracting applications. The animation is a little bouncier when accessing this floating menu too.

Notification redesign

Along with the Quick Settings panel, notifications have had a big overhaul here in Android 16 QPR1. A large “Clear all” button now appears below your notifications, with quick circular shortcuts to your notification history and settings on either side. These new buttons only show up when you have notifications to clear. You’ll also notice some new, smoother animations and visuals. Each notification is attached with a sticky animation when detaching or sliding away.

Notifications are slimmer, and when multiple notifications are received from a single application, the app icon is no longer centered. If you long-press for more options, you will get smaller options for notification settings, while the “Dismiss,” “Turn off,” and “Done” buttons are rounded for better visibility. The expansion chevrons are smaller than in Android 16.

Clock customization on Pixel Tablet

If you have the Pixel Tablet, you’re able to fully customize the clock for the first time by installing Android 16 QPR1. Some of the clocks work better than others, but all will work with the larger landscape display when docked or locked.

Increased interactivity on sliders

Alongside the updated slider style, interactivity is emphasized when reaching the maximum levels. Icons will move inward, allowing for better fine-tuning. For instance, when using the brightness slider, the sun icon will move inwards when reaching the 95% brightness level, letting you make more micro adjustments.

Performance boosts

Whether it’s refinement or under-the-hood adjustments, there are undoubted performance benefits with Android 16 QPR1. For instance, closing applications when in the Recents menu is marginally faster with zero lag. Opening apps can be quicker in many cases. On older devices, this might be more pronounced.

Haptic feedback improvements

System vibrations are available in more areas across QPR1. The most prominent example of this is when making changes to the app icons on your homescreen, dragging an app icon will give you a vibration to indicate you have found a new cell position. There is also haptic feedback when using the quick wallpaper selector.

Pop-up warnings/messages have smaller arrow toggles

System-level pop-up messages like the USB connection notification will have smaller chevron toggles to maximise or minimize.

Dedicated Always on display toggle in Settings

For the first time in Display and Touch, there is a dedicated “Always-on display” toggle. You can explore this for more information. However, there are no further settings to adjust or tune.

Magnify Keyboard in Accessibility

Within the Accessibility section, you can enable a new “Magnify Keyboard” option.

Updated status bar chips

When you’re making a phone call or talking to Gemini Live, the status bar chips that appear in the upper left can be tapped to launch a mini floating menu that gives you call controls such as Hang up, Mute, or Continue without needing to leave the application you are currently in.

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Cosmetic changes

Material 3 Expressive is not just about functional changes; the bulk of the alterations are simple cosmetic touch-ups to make Android 16 QPR1 feel more cohesive and “alive.” Here are the bulk of the changes added with this latest update.

New system font

One of the most obvious changes from the get-go is the brand new system font that is used across every area of Android 16 QPR1. It’s wider and more bubbly, and though this does the new font a disservice, it does have some elements of Comic Sans about it. Softer, more approachable, and very easy to read, it feels less “techy” and fits in with the playful elements of Material 3 Expressive.

Improved system animations

You will instantly notice how much care and attention have been placed on vast sections of animations in Android 16 QPR1. From subtle bounces to the timing for specific animations, it is all part of what makes this such a departure from other Android builds. You might notice little mini bumps, like on secondary apps in the Recents menu, or how notifications split apart and detach. Lockscreen clocks have more life with playful touches. It is visible across almost every area of this software build.

Media player changes

It’s a running joke that Google cannot leave the media player alone, but luckily with Android 16 QPR1 is it simply limited to a new play-pause button. It’s squat and less circular.

New pull tabs in Settings

In “Sound and vibration” and other Settings areas, there are new pull tabs for sliders that make it easier to adjust the volume for each specific option. This is also visible in other areas where pull tabs are used.

Updated ‘Software updates’ screen

Google has updated the Software update screen to be more compact with a simple “Your device is up to date” message and a smaller icon. You are now able to check for the Google Play System update from this page too, making it easier.

Squiggly line progress bars

Progress bars have been updated to better suit the Material 3 Expressive redesign. In many places, squiggly or wavy lines are used instead of flat progress bars.

Homescreen layout options renamed

When you make adjustments to homescreen layout, these have been renamed to Small, Medium, Large, and XL instead of 5×5, 4×4, 3×3, or 2×2.

Squircle selectors in certain menu sections

Some sections of Settings or menus in system apps now have squircle selectors. Most promeninently in the Wallpaper and style application.

Recents drawer buttons

When you launch into the Recent app menu the Screenshot and Select tools are now housed in M3-style buttons to make it more obvious that these can be pressed.

Updated Quick Settings bottom-right menu buttons

The Settings and Power buttons in the bottom right of the Quick Settings panel have been updated. The Settings icon is thicker and filled, while the power button is marginally thicker.

Altered power menu

The pop-up power menu now supports dark and light theming for the first time, and it also looks like it has marginally thinner icons compared to Android 16.

New Status bar icon style

There is an overhaul to the status bar with new icons for the battery level, signal strength, vibrate mode, and Wi-Fi connection strength. It’s also worth noting that the Wi-Fi and signal strength icons have moved places to mimic the iOS layout.

New ringtones and sounds

Kernel, Fresh Morning, The next adventure have been added to Android 16 QPR1 on Pixel 10. It’s not clear if these are going to come to other Pixel devices.

Flat icons in At a Glance widget

Less definition with icons like Calendar/Weather/etc

Pixel Launcher search bar redesign

The layout of the Pixel Launcher search bar has been altered, with the microphone icon and Google Lens mini shortcuts now housed within a smaller search bar. The AI mode shortcut is found outside this in a mini circular button. This is all in a dynamic color-themed oblong that also has the brand new Google “G” logo.

Filled outline icons within Modes section

Modes now has filled icons rather than the old line-style icons found pre-Android 16.

Improved Gemini activation animation + haptics

When you launch Gemini in Android 16 QPR1, you’ll get a much cleaner animation. Our current screen will appear to shrink inward from the edges, as if the display itself is getting smaller. Then, a new menu for Gemini smoothly slides up from the bottom of the screen. At the same time, your original screen pops back to its normal size, ready for you to ask a question or use the new features. It’s a smooth and stylish way to open up Gemini, making it feel like a seamless part of your phone.

5-bar cellular status bar icon

The cellular status bar icon now has a 5-step strength indicator, which is also present in Settings > Internet > Mobile data. The previous icon only offered a 4-step strength indicator.

Increased spacing in Settings app

Spacing within the Settings app has increased with more padding between various sections and headers.

Improved toggle visibility within Settings app sections

Toggles in the Settings app now have a checkmark to indicate they are active. When inactive or disabled, there will be an ‘X’ in the button.

Dynamic Color theming for Pixel Launcher shortcuts

The Pixel Launcher search bar shortcuts are now fully Dynamic Color themed. This includes the search bar, microphone, Google Lens, and AI mode shortcuts.

Drop shadow on system font in specific areas

Likely to enhance visiblity, you may see greater application of drop shadow on the system font used in Android 16 QPR1. This will depend heavily on the wallpaper you are using, but can be most notable in areas such as the At a Glance widget or the Now Playing widget at the lockscreen.

Enhanced Dynamic Color themes

Deeper colors are available in Android 16 QPR1 and there are more areas where the colors are utilized or applied. You may get different combinations even with the same wallpaper and this will vary from style to style.

Edit QS tiles renames “Reset” to “Undo” with new button

The “Reset” button is now a simple back arrow that undoes any changes made to your Quick Settings tiles or layout.

New battery icons when charging, Batter Saver + more

Google has added some playful new looks to the battery icon when charging to fit the sideways icon. An elongated outline is visible, while a lighting/charging icon is found on the left side. When hitting the 80% charging limit, you’ll see a shield.

A plus icon is visible when the battery saver is active, and the battery changes to yellow. Ordinarily, the battery icon stays white but goes red when it dips below 20% so long as the Battery Saver is not active.

Frames animation when using the wallpaper option

When you’re setting your wallpaper, the pop-up “Set wallpaper” option has been replaced with a dedicated full-screen page that allows you to make any necessary changes.

Phone ringtone renamed to “Ringtone alert”

Within Sound and vibration, notification sound is now “Ringtone alert.”

Default notification sound renamed to “Notification alert”

Within Sound and vibration, notification sound is now “Notification alert.”

Demo gifs transparent in Settings

When viewing Settings sections with visual demos, these are no longer in a black or white outline. The animations are not completely transparent.

Updated Flash notifications Settings page

The Flash notifications section in Settings has a brand new image to show just what the feature does on your phone.

New keyboard clicks and lock sounds

If you’re the kind of person who likes having unlock, tap, and keyboard sounds loud and proud, then you’ll likely enjoy the softer, blunted Android 16 QPR1 system sounds. They are less sharp, but have a great fullness to the audio. They do sound a little more digital to my ears.

Updated homescreen page tabs

The animation of page indicators has changed to have a minor pause when sliding between your homescreen pages. The icon is marginally elongated, but holds for a second before disappearing.

Updated battery icon in Charging optimization

The battery icon in the Charging optimization section has been updated to match the new status bar icon, but that’s not all as the icon now will match your devices Dynamic color theming settings.

What is your favorite new addition or feature in Android 16 QPR1?

After that practically tiny Android 16 update back in June, we have the full-functional QPR1 release to sink our teeth into. Visually, it’s a big upgrade. Functionally, not a great deal as changed. The result is an update that simply fleshes out more of Material You, adds a dash extra playfulness and it’s helped by Google’s first-party apps all being in sync for a change.

There is some great stuff and likely more coming down the line. It’s the best update for a while and the basis for the next few years of Android – but what is your favorite new function or feature? Let us know down in the comments section below.