Android 16 QPR 1 Beta: Google's Material 3 Expressive can be tried out
Google's new design language Material 3 Expressive lands as a beta version on Pixel devices. Google says the stable version will be released “later this year”.
Android 16 Material 3 Expressive lands as a beta on Pixel devices. According to Google, the stable version will be released "later this year".
(Image: Google)
Google has released a new beta version of Android 16, which introduces the new Material 3 Expressive user interface for the first time. This update is the “Quarterly Platform Release” (QPR), which is expected to be released as a stable version between September and December.
One week after the presentation of the major Android redesign, Google is delivering the first beta with the redesign for Pixel devices. Users who are registered in Google's beta program will automatically receive the new look.
QPR 1 beta with new design and live updates
With Material 3 Expressive, Google is covering Android 16 with a new interface that changes the look and feel of the launcher, notifications, lock screen and quick settings. The system settings have also been given a new look.
(Image:Â heise online)
The previously announced “live updates” function is still missing in QPR 1. During Google I/O, the company said that the feature would be “available soon”. Similar to Apple's Live Activities, progress notifications from selected delivery, ride-sharing and navigation apps will be displayed in real time on the lock screen or in the notifications.
QPR 1: New design comes to Google smartphones with Pixel Drop
The “Quarterly Platform Releases” (QPR), which appear at regular intervals – as the name suggests, on a quarterly basis – differ from the monthly security updates in that they contain a larger number of new functions.
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As a rule, Google releases the QPR updates, also known as Pixel Drops, in March, June, September, and December. However, it is unclear whether Google will maintain this cycle, as the major update to Android 16 is due to be released in June. The company also said that Material 3 Expressive would be released “later this year”.
The new Android beta version can be tried out on Google's smartphones from the Pixel 6 upwards. The Pixel Fold, 9 Pro Fold and Pixel Tablet are also compatible.
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