- The Android 16 QPR1 Beta update brings Material 3 Expressive to supported Pixel devices.
- Material 3 Expressive brings a complete overhaul to the user interface, from the home screen to quick settings.
- There are new features such as new lock screen customizations, split screen, media volume controls, and more.
2025 is turning out to be a big year for Android fans, as Android 16 is set to introduce tons of new features and changes to the UI very soon. Ahead of the Google I/O 2025 event, the company held The Android Show last week and showcased the new Material 3 Expressive design changes coming to Android. While users eagerly await the Android 16 release to test the new design, Google today blessed us with another Android 16 beta with the new Material 3 Expressive design.
Google has released Android 16 QPR1 Beta right after the Google I/O 2025 keynote, bringing the new Material 3 Expressive UI with a complete UI overhaul to Pixel users. This includes changes to the quick settings, lock screen, settings app, and the Pixel launcher.
Besides, the update also adds the redesigned Media and Volume Controls, Customizations, and a lot more. Speaking of which, Google’s At a Glance has been moved to the right rather than appearing on top of the clock.
Material 3 Expressive also brings super details animations when interacting with any element in the new Android 16 build. It induces a bouncy effect on its adjacent element. While the QPR1 Beta sure misses out on the bubble anything feature or a small app dock, it does bring changes to make it easier to enter split-screen mode and manage apps from the recents screeen.
Similarly, QPR1 Beta also brings a new customization option in one of the lock screen clocks, where you can now adjust the thickness of the font with ease. Besides, the revamped settings app includes the ability to view notifications in a compact view and new expressive toggles.
The Quick Settings panel is now more customizable, and the status bar icons have been completely revamped. Lastly, the software update and the system update pages have also gotten a facelift. The Google Play System update loading indicator now shows up as squiggly lines, just like in the Media Player.
Unfortunately, Material 3 Expressive hasn’t rolled out to Google apps yet, but we already know that apps like Google Keep, Calendar, Photos, Files by Google, and more could soon receive the revamp; perhaps by the end of this month.
Abubakar covers Tech at Beebom, with his passion for technology tracing back to 2011 when he received a Dell Inspiron 5100 as a gift. He’s also a passionate advocate for the right-to-repair movement, believing in empowering users to maintain and extend the life of their devices. Outside the tech world, he enjoys watching anime and exploring his newfound enthusiasm for Japanese cars. In his free time, you’ll often find him immersed in Genshin Impact or researching his next gadget purchase. Before joining Beebom, he contributed to leading publications like Android Police, How-To Geek, and Fossbytes.
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