Android 16 QPR2: Pixel devices receive second December update

After the larger update to Android 16 QPR2 at the beginning of December, Google has now released a second one for Pixel devices. It fixes some issues. Additionally, the expected driver update for the Pixel 10's GPU will be available soon.

When updating to Android 16 QPR2, Google apparently overlooked a few bugs, even though the list of bug fixes and security patches was already quite extensive. On December 17, 2025, the company released another update for some Pixel devices. According to the latest information, the update is offered for the Pixel series 8, 9, and 10 models. Meanwhile, owners of a Pixel 7a are still waiting for the QPR2 update, which was not delivered at the beginning of December.

Touchscreen errors and more

The update on a Pixel 10 Pro has the build number BP4A.251205.006.A4 (according to Verizon-specific BP4A.251205.006.E1) and is just under 25 MB in size. Google does not provide a bug overview, but – as with the delayed September update and the October patch – the US network operator Verizon does. According to Verizon, the new software update fixes problems with excessive battery consumption. It also addresses an issue where the touchscreen occasionally becomes unresponsive. This bug primarily occurs on the Pixel 10, according to Verizon. The error was also observed on a Pixel 10 Pro from the heise-online editorial team; turning the screen off and on again allowed the device to be used normally.

An error when accessing locally cached content is also said to be fixed with the update. This apparently occurs primarily after upgrading directly to Android 16 from Android 14 or earlier. The security patch level remains at that of December 5, 2025, after the update, and the Play system updates are already dated January 2026.

Pixel 10 will soon receive the “correct” GPU drivers

In addition to the second December update, Google has released the first beta version of the next Android 16 release, “QPR3,” almost simultaneously. According to Android Authority, this not only brings a few new features and visual innovations but also finally the driver version optimized for the Pixel 10 from GPU developer Imagination Technologies, which was already announced in August for the PowerVR-DXT-48-1536 GPU.

According to the developer, version v25.1 for the GPU is intended to optimize Android 16 compatibility, among other things, and offer Vulkan 1.4 support and extended OpenCL functions. The corresponding driver version is part of the QPR3 update, which is expected in its stable version in March 2026. The new driver version is expected to give the Pixel 10's GPU a significant performance boost, allowing more demanding games like Genshin Impact to be played smoothly.

(afl)