Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 is here, and these are all the notable updates

Google just dropped the first beta for Android 16’s second Quarterly Platform Release, giving eager Pixel owners a sneak peek at the features slated for this December’s big update. Let’s take a look at everything new it has on offer.

The next big Pixel feature drop is taking shape

This release is more than just a standard beta. It represents a major shift in Google’s strategy to get new tools into the hands of developers more quickly. This is the first time a quarterly update is also a minor SDK release, packing fresh APIs that would previously have been held back for the next major Android version.

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This accelerated timeline means developers can start building with new Android and AI capabilities much sooner. Following today’s release, Google plans another beta in September before a code freeze in October, all leading up to the final, polished version landing on Pixel phones this December.

The beta is packed with goodies for regular users. Lock screen widgets are making a comeback on phones, a feature many have been clamouring for. Android is also getting more serious about aesthetics with a function to force themed icons on all your apps, finally banishing any that ruin your home screen’s colour scheme.

The update also introduces native PDF annotation and editing, a useful brightness slider for HDR photos and videos, and a new 90:10 split-screen option for serious multitaskers. Smaller but welcome tweaks include an Expanded Dark Theme, more granular haptic feedback controls, and a dedicated toggle for phone theft protection.

You can get your hands on this beta right now if you own a Pixel 6 or any newer model. Simply enrol your device in the Android Beta programme and the update should appear automatically.

A word of warning is necessary for anyone currently testing the QPR1 beta. If you want to return to the stable public channel without wiping your device, do not install this new QPR2 update. You have a very brief window to opt out and wait for the stable QPR1 build to arrive in early September. Installing this new beta locks you into the beta track until the stable QPR2 release in December.