Google has announced the release of Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 for Pixel devices, marking a significant step toward the final version expected in December. This Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) introduces substantial updates beyond the typical monthly patches, aiming to enhance user experience and system stability.
Key Fixes and Improvements:
– Google Play System Updates: Addressed issues where updates failed to install for certain users.
– Home Screen Shortcuts: Resolved the appearance of blank gray circles instead of the intended icons.
– Wallet Icon Display: Corrected instances where the Wallet icon displayed incorrect colors on the lock screen.
– Adaptive Charging: Fixed a bug causing the battery to charge to 100% despite adaptive charging settings.
– Gesture Navigation: Improved the reliability of the swipe-up gesture from the bottom of the screen.
– Theme Application: Ensured that selected themes apply correctly on the first attempt.
– Camera Functionality: Eliminated rainbow artifacts in 50MP images taken with ultrawide or telephoto lenses.
– Battery Performance: Optimized CPU usage by the launcher to prevent excessive battery drain, especially on foldable devices.
– Bluetooth Audio Routing: Fixed issues where calls were incorrectly routed through Bluetooth audio.
– Wi-Fi Connectivity: Enabled access to all 6GHz Wi-Fi networks for users in New Zealand.
– Terminal App Stability: Prevented crashes when changing the device’s UI font size while the Terminal app is open.
– Special Character Input: Restored the ability to type special characters like “, `@`, or `#` in the GUI terminal.
– User Interface Responsiveness: Addressed laggy and unresponsive UI issues caused by simultaneous swiping of lock screen widgets and the notification shade.
– Screen Responsiveness: Fixed instances where the screen became unresponsive or froze upon unlocking the device.
– Display Stability: Resolved display freezes and screen noise issues.
– Unexpected Crashes: Mitigated unexpected device crashes to enhance overall stability.
Developer Notes:
This release represents the second Platform Stability milestone, providing developers with final app-facing behaviors to ensure compatibility and performance. While the system is nearing completion, Google advises that Android 16 QPR2 is still in active development, so the Android system and apps running on it might not always work as expected.
User Feedback:
Pixel users are encouraged to report any issues through the Android Beta Feedback app, accessible via the app drawer or Quick Settings. This feedback is invaluable for refining the final release.
Availability:
Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 (BP41.250916.009) with the October 2025 security patch is available for a range of Pixel devices, including:
– Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a
– Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a
– Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold
– Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a
– Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a
– Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Users can install the update via the Android Beta Program or by flashing or sideloading the update manually.
Conclusion:
The release of Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 underscores Google’s commitment to delivering a polished and stable operating system. By addressing a wide array of issues and incorporating user feedback, this update aims to enhance the overall functionality and user experience of Pixel devices.
