The Android 16 QPR1 Beta is finally here, and it’s already generating buzz with a mix of AI-enhanced features, expressive design improvements, and a new emphasis on personalization. Whatever your pixel history or simply your love for Android, there’s much to be excited about.
Material 3 Expressive: A New Bold Look
Google is all-in on its Material 3 Expressive design, and the differences are impossible to ignore. Fonts are now dramatically and more prominently displayed, providing the whole interface, right down to the quick settings and the status bar, —a more striking appearance. As Droid Life aptly describes, “Google has really brought a dramatic change to the system font in places and you can’t get away from it.” Even the battery icon is now redesigned so that it continues to stand out when the battery is charging.
The clock on the lock screen has been reshaped. The date and weather now reside nicely below the clock, and when notifications arrive, they move to the right. It’s a minimal but intelligent adjustment that makes all of it easier to read at a glance.
Lock Screen and Wallpaper: AI Touches and Weather Effects
Android 16 is all about embracing personalization big time. The new wallpaper editor comes with “Magic Portrait” effects that allow you to wrap the subject of your photo into one of five imaginative shapes, such as rounded rectangles, arches, or flowers. The Verge mentions one of the options, “Shape,” as a color-washed background with a framed cutout that makes the main subject stand out, be it a person, pet, or an object.
The headline feature, however, is the all-new AI-based weather effect. Your background can now display current weather conditions, so if it’s raining in real time outside, your lock screen could display rain falling over your image. You can also set a preferred weather look (sun, rain, snow, or fog) if you want a permanent ambiance. Huawei Central features this as a means to bring your screen to life with ambiance such as fog, snow, or sunshine.
There’s also the new “Cinematic” mode, which produces a subtle 3D parallax effect. When you tilt your phone, the subject in your wallpaper seems to shift, giving your screen some depth and a touch of wow factor.
Notifications and Quick Settings: Cleaner and More Useful
Notifications are receiving a major usability boost. You can now select between a compact mod, where notifications appear as plain dots you can tap to view in expanded form, m—or keep the standard full list. This brings Android closer to what Samsung and OnePlus users have had for some time. As pointed out by Droid Life, there’s also a new “Notifications on lock screen” setting that allows you to toggle between these displays.
Quick Settings has been updated, too. The design is less cluttered, the text is more prominent, and you can find things more easily. There is a prominent “Clear all” button in the middle now, together with quick links to notification history and settings. When you expand it, there’s a redesigned brightness slider and a more user-friendly interface for rearranging your tiles.
App Info and Settings: Simpler, Smarter Design
Google has updated the App Info page to reflect its Material 3 design principles. You’ll notice larger icons, clearer labels, and separate tabs for different options. The overall settings menu has also been cleaned up, with color-coded headers and full-screen lists that are easier to navigate. Huawei Central points out that the improvements make everything feel more organized and user-friendly.
Live Updates: Stay in the Know
A new feature called Live Updates brings real-time, useful information directly to your lock screen or notifications. Whether you’re tracking a food delivery, waiting on a ride, or following a navigation route, you’ll see timely progress updates at a glance. Huawei Central explains that this is made possible through a new progress-style template that developers can use to push time-sensitive information.
Volume and Brightness Controls: Smoother and More Intuitive
The volume and brightness sliders have also received a visual refresh. They now align with the overall Material 3 aesthetic, with a simpler design and a more accurate scroll bar that indicates your current setting. It’s a minor tweak, but one that makes daily use feel slightly more refined.
Final Thoughts
Android 16 QPR1 Beta feels like a big step forward. It combines fun, AI-driven features with thoughtful design updates and more control over how your phone looks and works. Whether you’re fine-tuning your lock screen, enjoying live weather animations, or just liking the bolder interface, there’s something here to make your phone feel more personal—and a lot more fun to use.
