Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 Brings Visual Refinements and Subtle UX Tweaks
It's a more stylish, intuitive, and visually refined experience.
If there’s one word that’s been flung around to describe Android 16, it’s "Expressive", and based on what we’ve seen so far, Google is leaning into that as much as it can. The latest Android version from Google now features slightly more “alive” animations, extra splashes of colour, and a few UI upgrades that some users may find more visually appealing.
While Android 16.0 focused more on tightening up AI features and optimising performance, QPR1 Beta 1 feels like the beginning of Android’s stylistic phase, a more visual, intuitive, and visually refined experience. It’s not a total overhaul, but it’s easily the most personality-packed update we’ve seen from Google in a while.
Louis Eriakha
A Friendlier, More Expressive Android
One of the most noticeable shifts in this update is how Android looks and behaves. It’s softer, more fluid, and clearly aiming for a friendlier vibe. The Material 3 Expressive design really comes alive in QPR1. You’ll first see it in the Quick Settings panel, which now has a subtle glassy blur. It’s a small touch, but it adds visual depth compared to earlier builds.
Other areas of the interface have been fine-tuned too. The notification shade feels lighter, the volume and brightness sliders are now rounder and smoother, and even the home screen gets a minor tweak with a more compact “At a Glance” widget — freeing up room for apps and widgets. All these refinements don’t drastically change how Android works, but they make it feel more human. It’s a visual refresh rather than a major feature overhaul.
Closing apps and swiping up now features a smooth new animation, and in the recent apps menu, a new pill overlay offers quick access to options like screenshot, select, and pause for each app. These refinements don’t drastically change how Android works but make it feel more human and alive.
Deeper Customisation, Right on Your Home and Lock Screen
Customisation gets a clever update too, especially when it comes to wallpapers. Google is doubling down on its AI tools — this time, to make your home screen feel more alive. The new AI-powered wallpaper effects can respond to the weather, showing fog, rain, or snow overlays in real time. It’s subtle but satisfying, and it plays into the overall expressive theme.
Image Credit: Android Authority
There’s also a new “Magic Portrait” feature in wallpaper settings that lets you put your wallpaper into customizable frames. While resizing isn’t available yet and some frames may crop images awkwardly, it offers new creative flair. Frame colours automatically match the dominant wallpaper hues, enhancing visual harmony. As an added bonus, the subject in your image could even pop out a bit, kind of bringing your wallpaper to life.
Complementing these, the lock screen clock gains a new slider allowing you to resize it dynamically, adjusting both size and width in one smooth movement. This feature currently works only on the default clock style with a reactive font, but it signals a push toward more flexible lock screen personalisation.
Another neat addition is a feature called “Shape,” which lets you create stylised cut-outs around subjects in your photos, turning everyday shots into something more artsy. Compared to iOS, which is expected to add new wallpaper and lock screen customisations in version 19, Android is clearly trying to stay a step ahead by making customisation dynamic, not just aesthetic.
Small Touches to the UI Experience
Google has refined system UI elements for clarity and usability. The status bar has been redesigned with Apple-inspired tweaks: the battery icon now shows the percentage inside its shape for the first time, making it easier to read at a glance. The Wi-Fi symbol adopts a more distinctive three-part design, and dual-SIM users get an improved signal bar arrangement for carrier connections.
In Settings, coloured icons line the left side, making it easier to scan categories quickly. This update makes the app feel more navigable and visually appealing.
QPR1 doesn’t just look different — it works smarter too. The volume slider, for example, now includes a waveform-style animation and a slightly redesigned layout that feels more polished. You’re not getting new controls here, but the existing ones are easier on the eyes and smoother to use.
Image Credit: Android Authority
On the lock screen, you’ll notice more intelligent behaviour. Android now knows when you’ve seen a notification already and can hide it accordingly, which keeps things cleaner. There’s also support for “live” updates — think delivery statuses, rideshare progress, or sports scores — appearing in real time without you needing to unlock your phone. These aren’t groundbreaking changes, but they remove small frictions that can add up throughout the day.
Even the Settings app gets a tiny facelift, with bolder colour accents and smoother transitions between sections. It’s another example of Google doubling down on subtle enhancements that make the OS feel less robotic and more responsive.
Fingerprint Security Made Clearer
Security settings gain a useful addition: a “Check enrolled fingerprints” button. Tapping it opens a black screen with a fingerprint icon. Touching the screen confirms if your fingerprint is recognised and highlights which enrolled print unlocked the device. If no fingerprint is recognized, you’ll see a “Fingerprint not recognised” prompt. This is great for verifying if unauthorised fingerprints have been added or if your prints are properly registered.
A More Functional Recent Menu
The recent apps menu now includes an expandable pill overlay on each app card, providing quick access to useful functions like taking screenshots, selecting text, or pausing app activity. This streamlines multitasking and increases productivity.
Who Can Try It?
Google isn’t locking this beta behind a developer wall — if you have a fairly recent Pixel, chances are you're eligible. The QPR1 Beta 1 is rolling out to Pixel 6 and newer devices, including the Pixel 6a, 7 series, 8 series, and the latest Pixel 8a. It also supports the Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet, as well as the just-announced Pixel 9 lineup, including the Fold and XL models.
If you’re already enrolled in the Android 16 Beta program, the update should have rolled out to you automatically. Otherwise, joining the beta is as simple as enrolling your device on the Android Beta for Pixel site.
Should You Try It?
Getting into the beta is relatively risk-free these days, thanks to Google’s over-the-air rollout system. But as always with pre-release software, there are a few caveats. While QPR1 is mostly stable and polished, you might still come across the occasional bug or visual glitch. If you rely on your phone for mission-critical stuff, it’s smart to back up your data just in case.
That said, this isn’t a developer-only playground. Google has made this beta stable enough for regular users who want an early taste of what’s coming, and based on what we’ve seen, it’s worth the spin.
Final Thoughts
Admittedly, there aren’t many major upgrades compared to Android 16 Beta 4, but the small UI and UX improvements scattered throughout QPR1 are what really make it shine. It’s not trying to reinvent Android, it’s trying to refine it.
QPR1 Beta 1 isn’t flashy, but it’s definitely more expressive in its design approach. And if this update is any sign of what’s coming in the stable release, Android 16 might end up being one of the most visually satisfying versions yet even though they may or may not have drawn heavy inspiration from Apple.
Kelechi Edeh
