Google has unveiled the first beta version of its upcoming Android 16 update, giving Pixel owners a sneak peek at what’s to come in early 2026.
The Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 is now available to Pixel smartphone owners enrolled in Google’s Android Beta program, specifically for Pixel 6 through Pixel 10 devices. To enroll in the program, follow the instructions provided by Google.
The complete version of Android 16 QPR3 will be released to all Pixel owners in March as part of Google’s quarterly ‘Feature Drop’ updates.
While more features are expected to be introduced in future beta versions, here are some of the exciting enhancements and additions that users can anticipate based on the initial release.
Google has reached out to Samsung users by offering the option to customize virtual navigation buttons in a Samsung-style arrangement, with the app switcher and back buttons positioned differently. This feature caters to Samsung’s default navigation method and enhances user experience.
Another notable addition is the adjustable flashlight feature, allowing users to modify the brightness of the flashlight directly from the Quick Settings menu, a functionality commonly found on iPhones and other Android devices.
In a move that has sparked excitement among users, the Android 16 QPR3 update will finally allow users to remove the At a Glance widget from their Pixel phone’s Home Screen, providing greater customization options.
Google has also introduced a new location sharing dot, a small indicator that displays when an app is accessing the user’s location. This feature enhances privacy and security by alerting users to location access in a similar manner to camera and microphone access indicators.
See also Eliminating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Medicaid My Administration has been relentlessly committed to rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in Government programs to preserve and protect them for those who rely most on them. The Medicaid program was designed to be a program to compassionately provide taxpayer dollars to healthcare providers who offer care to the most vulnerable Americans. To keep payments reasonable, billable costs for such care were historically capped at the same level that healthcare providers could receive from Medicare. The State and Federal Governments jointly shared this cost burden to ensure those of lesser means did not go untreated. Under the Biden Administration, States and healthcare providers were permitted to game the system. For example, States "taxed" healthcare providers, but sent the same money back to them in the form of a "Medicaid payment," which automatically unlocked for healthcare providers an additional "burden-sharing" payment from the Federal Government. Through this gimmick, the State could avoid contributing money toward Medicaid services, meaning the State no longer had a reason to be prudent in the amount of reimbursement provided. Instead of paying Medicare rates, many States that utilize these arrangements now pay the same healthcare providers almost three times the Medicare amount, a practice encouraged by the Biden Administration. These State Directed Payments have rapidly accelerated, quadrupling in magnitude over the last 4 years and reaching $110 billion in 2024 alone. This trajectory threatens the Federal Treasury and Medicaid's long-term stability, and the imbalance between Medicaid and Medicare patients threatens to jeopardize access to care for our seniors. I pledged to protect and improve these important Government healthcare programs for those that rely on them. Seniors on Medicare and Medicaid recipients both deserve access to quality care in a system free from the fraud, waste, and abuse, that enriches the unscrupulous and jeopardizes the programs themselves. We will take action to continue to love and cherish the Medicare and Medicaid programs to ensure they are preserved for those who need them most. The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall therefore take appropriate action to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in Medicaid, including by ensuring Medicaid payments rates are not higher than Medicare, to the extent permitted by applicable law. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. DONALD J. TRUMP
Additionally, a subtle update to the folder opening animation adds a touch of refinement to the user interface. When tapping on a folder containing multiple apps on the home screen, the background subtly recedes as the folder expands, creating a visually appealing effect.
Furthermore, Pixel 10 owners will benefit from a GPU upgrade included in the Android 16 QPR3 update. The update introduces a new GPU driver that supports Android 16, Vulkan 1.4, and expanded OpenCL extensions, promising improved performance and efficiency for Pixel 10 devices.
Overall, the Android 16 QPR3 update brings a host of new features and enhancements to Pixel devices, offering users an exciting preview of the latest Android innovations to come in 2026.
