From Google Play System Update failures to an unresponsive UI, this release focuses on refining the Pixel user interface.
Google has started rolling out Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 for eligible Pixel devices ahead of the stable launch planned for late 2025. This update aims to enhance the Pixel UI experience before the full stable rollout.
Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 addresses several major bugs present in the previous build.
With this new update for Android 16-compatible devices, the frequent issue of Google Play System updates failing to install has now been fixed. Additionally, the problem where home screen shortcuts appeared blank is resolved in this beta release.
Other fixes include lockscreen Wallet icon color issues, Adaptive Charging reaching 100%, inconsistent swipe-up gestures, and the theme selector not responding on first attempt, all now corrected with QPR2 Beta 3.
A significant improvement in this update is related to camera performance. Pixel phones with ultra-wide and telephoto cameras were previously affected by rainbow artifacts in 50 MP photos, which are now resolved.
This update also enhances battery life by fixing excessive CPU usage by the launcher, particularly benefiting devices like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
Other resolved issues include calls routing incorrectly to Bluetooth audio, Terminal app crashes due to font size changes, inability to type special characters like *, @, or # in the GUI terminal, and laggy UI animations when swiping lockscreen widgets and notification shade simultaneously.
Minor UI and UX problems, such as frozen screens, screen noise, and unexpected reboots, have also been addressed.
Currently, the update is available for Pixel devices enrolled in the Beta Program, covering Pixel 6 through the Pixel 10 series. Users in the Android Beta Program can download and install Android 16 Beta 3 immediately on their devices.
