Google has officially released Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3, and this version is loaded with a mix of refined UI tweaks, Material You upgrades, feature returns, and several crucial bug fixes. If you’re running this beta on a Pixel device (especially the Pixel 9 Pro XL), you’ll appreciate the level of polish that’s finally shaping up in this Quarterly Platform Release.
In this blog post, we’ll explore all the user-facing changes, settings enhancements, UI redesigns, and performance benchmarks introduced in QPR1 Beta 3 — with comparisons from previous builds and a real-world battery test to help you decide whether this build is ready for daily use.
Let’s begin with the lock screen and work our way through the entire system.
🔒 Lock Screen Changes
So far, we’ve seen Android 16 moving toward stability, and the lock screen in Beta 3 proves that with thoughtful tweaks.
1. Solid Notification Pill (Compact View)
- The notification pill now appears with a solid background when using Compact View.
2. Weather Icon is Back in 3D
- The weather icons have reverted to the 3D style, aligning with the stable Android 16 release.
3. At a Glance Widget Font
- Larger font size for better readability.
🏠 Home Screen Refinements
Now let’s move to the next step — the home screen.
1. Widget Animation Reverts to Stable Behavior
- When launching an app from a widget, the animation no longer expands fullscreen, but flows as it did in the stable build.
2. Drag-and-Drop Shows Adjacent Pages
- When rearranging apps, the next screen preview returns — a helpful feature that was absent in earlier QPR1 betas.
🎚️ Quick Settings
Only one change here, but it’s a noticeable detail.
1. Media Output Switcher Layout Change
- The device icon is now on the right instead of the left in the media output panel.
⚙️ System Settings – UI and Structural Updates
The settings app receives major touch-ups in both layout and accessibility.
App-Wide UI Updates:
- Reduced spacing between categories = more visible content per screen.
- Redesigned floating cards with Material 3 expressive styling.
🔗 Connected Devices & Preferences
1. Cross Device Services Moved
- Now found under Connection Preferences, instead of Profile > All Services.
2. NFC > Contactless Payments
- Got a Material You 3 Expressive redesign, offering a cleaner, modern interface.
🔐 App Permissions & Defaults
1. Permission Page Redesign
- App permissions screens follow the Material 3 expressive layout.
2. Default Apps
- Also received the same UI update for consistency.
🔊 Sound & Vibration
1. Alignment Fixes
- Icons aligned properly next to sliders.
- Bold headers removed for a cleaner look.
2. Label Changes
- “Phone Ringtone” → Ringtone Alert
- “Notification Sound” → Notification Alert
🌈 Display & Touch
1. Auto Rotate Behavior
- Now features an arrow indicator to show more options are nested.
- Includes a quick toggle on the same page.
🔋 Battery Settings
1. Battery Health Returns
- For supported Pixel devices, the Battery Health page now shows correct capacity.
- Restores a missing feature from earlier QPR1 builds.
🤳 System > Gestures & Backup
1. One-Handed Mode
- Moved from Accessibility to Gestures tab under System.
2. Redesigned Backup Page
- Features a top banner with device name, backup status, and a bigger “Backup now” button.
- Backup categories consolidated into:
- Photos & Videos
- Other Device Data
- Shows total size and last backup time.
- Includes direct links to Google One for storage upgrades.
🛡️ Security & Privacy
1. Security Page Reverts to Stable Design
- Material 3 redesign removed for now (temporary regression).
2. Privacy Dashboard
- Keeps the Material 3 expressive layout with enhanced visual hierarchy.
🔑 Accounts & Passwords
1. Google Account Picker Redesign
- New arrow icon replaces separate “change” and “open” buttons.
- Cleaner account management experience.
🦯 Accessibility
1. Magnification Improvements
- New toggle to magnify the keyboard, helping users with visual impairments interact better.
🛠️ Bug Fixes in Beta 3
Here’s where the update really shines — Beta 3 addresses many critical issues:
✅ Fixed Issues:
- RTOS Task List Corruption (caused unexpected restarts)
- Launcher Bugs (disappearing home screen icons)
- Notification Render Failures
- Media Player Display Failure
- Kernel and Class Loader Restart Bugs
- Black Screen on Camera Startup
- Status Bar Padding Issues
- Broken Notification Folding in Shade
These fixes bring noticeable system stability and reduce user frustration from crashes or display inconsistencies.
⚡ Performance & Battery
Let’s move to our final area — performance and battery usage.
Geekbench Results:
- Single Core: 1920
- Multi Core: 4538
(Previous Beta 2.1 multi-core score: ~4448)
✅ Slight improvement in multi-core score, consistent single-core performance.
Battery Usage Test (Real World):
- Duration: 2 hours 16 minutes (Wi-Fi, 40% brightness, SIM inserted)
- Battery Lost: 18%
- Usage: Mixed usage with standard apps
For early adopters, this is a reliable build for daily use based on this test — no significant heat, lag, or crash issues observed.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Should I upgrade to Beta 3 now?
A: If you’re comfortable with minor UI quirks and want early access to fixes and features, yes. Otherwise, wait for the stable release.
Q: Is the battery health feature stable in this release?
A: Yes, the battery health page returns with accurate data after being broken in Beta 2.
Q: Why is the Security page using the old design?
A: It seems like a temporary regression in this beta. Expect Material 3 redesign to return in the final release.
🛑 Disclaimer
This article covers features found in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 release, which is part of the beta testing program. These features and designs may change before the stable rollout. Always back up your data before installing beta software.
📝 Final Thoughts
We’ve covered a lot — from visual changes on the lock screen to deep system improvements and critical bug fixes. Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 is easily the most stable beta yet, showing that Google is inching closer to a polished and reliable QPR1 release.
With restored features like battery health, streamlined settings pages, and boosted performance scores, this build is worth installing if you’re already in the beta channel.
Tags: Android 16 QPR1 beta 3, Pixel 9 Pro XL update, Android 16 beta features, Material 3 redesign, Android beta bug fixes, Google battery health, Android 16 performance test, Android 16 backup page, quick settings changes, wallpaper effects Android 16
Hashtags:
#Android16 #AndroidBeta #QPR1Beta3 #PixelUpdate #MaterialYou #AndroidBattery #Geekbench #AndroidBugFixes #dtptips
