Alongside the Pixel 10 series, Pixel Watch 4, and the Pixel Buds 2a, Google dropped the first beta of Android 16’s second quarterly platform release. Android 16 QPR1 should go stable in September, while QPR2 will roll out to the public in December.
Unlike QPR1, the second Quarterly Platform Release of Android 16 will be a minor SDK release, focusing on enhancing the user experience and providing developers with newer and more powerful APIs. This would be the first instance of Google delivering new APIs via a quarterly Android update.
In its announcement, Google also provided a release timeline for Android 16 QPR2. The next major beta build should land in September, with the October release bringing a code freeze and Platform Stability.
Below is a brief changelog from Google highlighting the changes in Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1:
UI, System Experience, and Accessibility
- Expanded Dark Theme
- Auto-Themed App Icons
- Interactive Chooser Sessions
- Smoother Android Migrations
- PDF Document Annotation and Editing
- Display Topology API
- Device-aware ViewConfiguration
- Granular Haptic Feedback Control
- Quick Settings Tile Categories
- IAMF Decoding Support
- Personal Audio Sharing in Output Switcher
- New AAudio APIs
- HDR/SDR Brightness Slider
- Connectivity
- Companion Device Management Enhancements
- MediaRouter Network Privacy Improvements
- Secure Lock Device
- Phone Theft Protection Toggle
- Widget Engagement Metrics
- Early Warnings for 16KB Page Size Compatibility
- Enhanced Profiling
- More Robust Multi-Display Testing
The highlights include lock screen widget support on phones, forced themed icons for apps, expanded dark mode support, a new 90:10 split-screen option, and controls for HDR brightness when viewing photos and videos.
You can install Android 16 QPR2 beta right away
If your Pixel phone is already enrolled in the Android beta program, the QPR2 beta 1 OTA should automatically show up for download on your device. The update works with all current Pixel phones, from the Pixel 6 up to the Pixel 9 series.
If you want to downgrade your Pixel to Android 16’s stable release, do not install the QPR2 beta. Instead, wait for the QPR1 stable release, which should arrive in early September. Google will then push an OTA to your phone, letting you switch to the public channel without losing data.
