Everything New in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3.

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 (build BP31.250610.004) has landed, and it's shaping up to be the final polishing step before the stable release expected in September. If you're enrolled in the QPR1 beta on compatible Pixel devices, you’re getting a refined experience with essential bug fixes, minor UI upgrades, and two standout features designed for accessibility and productivity. Let’s explore what's new.

Android's Quarterly Platform Releases (QPR) deliver regular, bug-focused improvements to the OS without introducing major new APIs ideal for stability and polish. Beta 3 marks the last preview of QPR1, heavily focused on enhancing reliability before the stable rollout.

Key Features & UI Enhancements.

Keyboard Magnifier in Accessibility

One of the most meaningful additions in Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 is the Keyboard Magnifier, specifically designed for users with low vision. Found under Settings → Accessibility → Magnification, this new toggle allows users to magnify just the keyboard when it's active, without zooming the entire screen.

This seemingly small change has huge implications for accessibility. Previously, magnifying a screen meant zooming in on all UI elements, which could be disorienting and slow. With the Keyboard Magnifier, the rest of the screen remains static while just the keyboard is enlarged, letting users comfortably type messages, search queries, or login credentials with less visual strain.

Desktop Mode Shortcut Enhancements.

For users experimenting with Android’s Desktop Mode, especially on larger screens like tablets or via external monitors, QPR1 Beta 3 introduces an intuitive feature: the ability to pin and unpin apps directly from the taskbar.

Previously, users had limited control over the taskbar’s appearance in desktop mode. Now, by long-pressing any app icon, a new context menu appears with options to "Pin to Taskbar" or "Unpin." This gives users a Windows-like customization ability, enabling a more streamlined, personalized workspace when using Android as a desktop OS alternative.

Whether you're multitasking between Gmail, Google Docs, and YouTube, or turning your Pixel Tablet into a workstation, this update helps build toward a smoother, more PC-like experience on Android. It also signals that Google is investing more in productive and flexible UX across screen sizes.

5-Bar Cellular Signal UI.

Another quiet—but-effective change in Beta 3 is the update to Android’s cellular signal bar UI, which now consistently displays five signal bars instead of the previous four. This brings Android’s design closer to iOS and offers users a more nuanced view of their signal strength.

Why does this matter? For many users, especially those in rural or congested urban areas, knowing the difference between “barely connected” and “strong signal” can affect how and when they make calls, use data, or switch to Wi-Fi. More signal granularity equals better real-time decisions for users on the go.

Credit: 9to5Google

Refined Settings & System UI Details

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 3 also brings a batch of minor UI refinements to the Settings app, Quick Settings panel, and launcher widgets—subtle but impactful.

For example:

• Spacing between settings options has been slightly adjusted for better tap targets and visual clarity.
• Toggle switches now have a more responsive animation, creating a smoother feel during navigation.
• The At-a-Glance widget on the home screen has been restored to include colorful weather icons, improving both the aesthetic and usability at a glance.

Nine Major Bug Fixes.

This Beta addresses nine headline issues flagged by users:

1. RTOS task list kernel bug causing restarts

2. Launcher display glitches

3. Notification rendering problems

4. Media player malfunction in shade

5. Class loader restart bug

6. Kernel-caused restarts

7. Camera startup black screen fix

8. Status bar padding adjustments

9. Notification folding issues.

With at least nine key problems resolved, the update significantly boosts device reliability.

What's Still Missing?

Several experimental improvements remain absent from Beta 3, including:

• Qi2 charger screen savers

• Enhanced HDR brightness toggle

• Dedicated "Parental controls" menu

• New 90:10 split-screen ratio

• Tablet bubble bar and lock‑screen blur UI.

Google appears to reserve these for future Canary or stable builds.

This release supports Pixel 6 and newer, including Pixel 6a, 7/7 Pro, 7a, Fold, 8 series, 9 series, and Pixel Tablet. If you're enrolled in QPR1 beta and want stability over bleeding-edge features, this is an optimal moment to either remain enrolled or opt out ahead of the September stable release.

Google expects to launch Android 16 QPR1 Stable on September 3, 2025. To ensure you receive it, unenroll post-Beta 3—you’ll otherwise be moved to QPR2.

YouTube Launches A/B Testing for Video Titles in Studio.

Key Takeaway

• YouTube now allows creators to A/B test video titles in Studio to optimize engagement and click-through rates.
• The new “Test & compare” tool lets users experiment with multiple title variants, using watch time data to pick the best one.

YouTube is rolling out a thoughtful update to YouTube Studio, empowering creators with the ability to A/B test video titles separately from thumbnails. This enhancement builds on YouTube’s existing thumbnail testing and aims to boost content performance through data-driven choices.

In a recent announcement, YouTube confirmed that a subset of creators now has access to the “Test & compare” tool, which allows them to experiment with multiple title variants for a single video. The platform will present these versions to different audience segments, tracking metrics like watch time to identify the most compelling title before fully committing to one.

This update is significant because more engaging titles can substantially increase click-through rates (CTR) and overall viewer retention. Social Media Today highlights that creators, particularly top-tier channels with dedicated teams, spend hours crafting and refining both titles and thumbnails. YouTube’s built-in testing mechanism means creators can now validate their instincts with actionable data.

Historically, YouTube released its thumbnail A/B testing feature in 2023 and later expanded it to more creators in 2024. With this title testing rollout, creators gain a more holistic optimization suite to maximize their videos’ reach and growth.

As A/B title testing becomes more widely available, YouTube promises to integrate analytics directly into Studio, giving creators real-time insights into which titles resonate best. The company aims to refine the feature further before a broader launch for all users.

Google Phone App on Wear OS Gains M3 Expressive.

Key Takeaway

• Google's Phone app for Wear OS gets a sleek Material 3 Expressive redesign, enhancing usability and visual clarity.
• The update introduces a revamped in-call screen, easier navigation, and consistent UI with Android 16 and Wear OS 6.

In a notable move toward unifying design across its platforms, Google has begun rolling out a striking redesign of its Phone app for Wear OS smartwatches. This update introduces the Material 3 (M3) Expressive design language, giving the app a cleaner, more intuitive, and visually consistent interface that aligns with Android 16 and Wear OS 6.

The redesign, first spotted by users and detailed by 9to5Google, marks a significant upgrade to the in-call experience and general usability of the app. It’s part of Google’s broader mission to bring Material 3 Expressive aesthetics and functionality to all its core apps across devices, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, and now wearables.

A More Intuitive In-Call Experience.

The most noticeable improvements come to the in-call screen, where UI elements have been repositioned for clarity and ease of use. The iconic red “End Call” button, previously placed among other controls, has now been moved to a prominent location at the bottom of the screen, making it easier to tap quickly and confidently, especially on smaller smartwatch displays.

Expressive UI showing up on pixel watch phone app after Beta 3
byu/sesteele13 inPixelWatch

Other controls, such as mute and the “more options” button, have also been moved upward, improving overall layout symmetry. In addition, the call duration timer is now centered horizontally on the display, offering a more balanced and visually appealing interface.

These changes may appear subtle at first glance, but they significantly enhance usability. They address one of the biggest pain points of wearable tech: the challenge of precise interactions on small screens.

Dialer Improvements and Navigation Enhancements.

Beyond the in-call interface, the update modernizes other key parts of the app. The dialer screen now features updated button styling and improved spacing, allowing for easier tapping and reducing the likelihood of accidental inputs. The new design is not only more functional but also fits naturally within the broader aesthetic of Android 16.

Google has also updated the “More” menu, transitioning from a grid-based layout to a cleaner, scrollable list format, which mirrors the approach used in other Material 3-based apps. This provides a more consistent and familiar experience across platforms.

Interestingly, incoming call screens now support both swipe gestures and button-based controls for accepting or rejecting calls. This dual-method approach gives users more control over how they interact with their devices, whether they're on the move or wearing gloves.

Material 3 Expressive: Unifying Design Across Devices

The updated Phone app is among several apps on Wear OS now embracing Material 3 Expressive, Google's latest evolution of its design system. Unlike the earlier Material You theme, which emphasized dynamic colors and personalization, M3 Expressive brings bolder visual elements, improved legibility, and smarter use of space, especially tailored for smaller, wearable screens.

Google has already started deploying this new design language across apps like Google Maps, Keep, and the revamped Tile system in Wear OS 6. These efforts are not just cosmetic. They aim to make Wear OS devices more consistent, accessible, and user-friendly—whether you're making a call, checking directions, or setting reminders.

What This Means for Users.

This refresh is rolling out gradually to users on the latest Wear OS builds, particularly those testing Wear OS 6 or using Pixel Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch series. Users can expect a smoother, more modern interface that matches the visual tone of their smartphones and other Android devices.

As Google continues to invest in its wearable ecosystem—with Wear OS 6 on the horizon and Gemini AI integrations gaining momentum—the overhaul of core apps like Google Phone signals a deeper commitment to making smartwatches truly independent and intuitive companions.

For users, this means one thing: more power, more polish, and less friction in everyday smartwatch use.