The initial Android QPR2 beta is delivered with an enhanced dark theme and automatically themed app icons.
Essential information:
– Google has introduced Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 immediately following the Pixel 10 series unveiling event.
– This update includes an expanded dark theme, auto-themed icons, and APIs aimed at developers.
– The beta will be active until Q4 2025, with QPR1 expected to be released next month, featuring Material 3 enhancements.
Just when we presumed Google had wrapped up for the day after the substantial Pixel 10 series unveiling, we were mistaken. Shortly after the conclusion of today’s Made by Google event, Google put out the inaugural Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 for developers, revealing what’s in store for the next significant Android 16 update.
For those who may not be aware, Google primarily follows a three-month cycle. There are monthly patches that provide security updates, and every few months, Google issues what it refers to as a Quarterly Platform Release, or QPR, which includes significant new functionalities for Pixel smartphones and various Android devices.
Although the company has yet to launch the stable Android 16 QPR1 update, Google is already distributing the Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 version for developers. If you possess a compatible Pixel device operating on a previous Android 16 beta, you can download the OTA immediately by navigating to Settings > System > Software updates, or if you’re not part of the program, you can enroll in the beta at google.com/android/beta.
Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1 introduces an extended dark mode and auto-themed app icons.
Regarding modifications in Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2, Google states that the new build is centered around enhancements such as elevated user experiences, new APIs tailored for media and productivity applications, and platform features designed to assist developers in debugging and testing their applications.
For user-visible modifications, QPR2 Beta 1 offers an “extended choice under dark theme” that enforces dark mode even on applications that normally display light mode. Additionally, the build features Auto-themed app icons, which generate a themed icon for an application if the developer hasn’t supplied one. The system implements a color filtering algorithm to ensure the icon matches the theme’s style.
The inaugural Android 16 QPR2 beta build carries the build number “BP41.250725.006” and includes the latest August security update. The beta program is expected to continue from August 2025 through to the final public launch in Q4, with several beta builds scheduled in the interim.
It’s important to note that to install the stable Android 16 QPR1 update on your Pixel device, you must first exit the beta program and subsequently update to the stable version once it becomes available next month.
The Android 16 QPR1 is anticipated to introduce the Material 3 Expressive design to Pixel devices, along with Live Updates notifications and Desktop Mode.
