5 new Google Pixel options that make Android 16 higher than ever

Android 17 would possibly already be in early preview, however that does not imply Google is completed engaged on bringing enhancements to its current Android 16 platform launch. The corporate has simply pushed out a surprisingly beefy software program replace to all eligible Pixel units, bringing with it each the Android 16 Quarterly Platform Launch 3 (QPR3) and a March Pixel Drop.

There are a number of small tweaks, high quality of life enhancements, and new options scattered all through this newest stable Android release, starting from a brand new SpongeBob SquarePants theme pack to a refined folder opening animation on the house display. Out of all of the adjustments, listed here are 5 of essentially the most attention-grabbing ones that I am personally most enthusiastic about.

Consolation View

For lowering eye pressure

I am a giant fan of technological improvements that enhance the consolation and value of the show panels we stare in any respect day lengthy, which is why I’ve lengthy praised corporations like Honor and OnePlus for that includes devoted profiles and modes for combating eye pressure. Whereas we’re nonetheless far off from the NXTPAPER-dominated world that I yearn for, I am pleased to see Google taking steps to make utilizing Pixel telephones only a bit simpler on the eyes.

With Google’s all-new Consolation View, which lives alongside the existing Night Light (blue mild filter) inside a brand new Consolation Filters submenu, the corporate is intelligently managing on-screen colours to provide a softer, much less straining visible look when toggled on. The depth of the impact may be manually adjusted with a slider, and it can be configured to dynamically regulate based mostly on ambient environmental situations. The top result’s toned-down colours and fewer distinction, which is nice for, say, unwinding within the hours earlier than mattress.

Customized AI icons

For a splash of dwelling display persona

With this newest Pixel Drop launch for Android, Google nonetheless is not giving us the choice to straight activate third-party icon packs inside the inventory Pixel launcher. That being mentioned, the corporate is introducing an AI-powered customized icon theming system, which works lots higher than I initially anticipated it to. 5 preset choices are current on the time of writing, together with Scribbles, Cookies, Easel, Treasure, and Stardust. Every preset gives its personal set of adjustment parameters (some greater than others), after which on-device AI generates outcomes inside a number of seconds.

I am a fan of those new AI icons not solely as a result of the output is visually pleasing, but additionally as a result of it forces each final icon to stick to the theme. Even when a developer hasn’t put in any work to make their app icon conform with Android’s icon theming system, the AI works its magic with out a hitch. I hope to see Google add extra kinds in a future replace, in addition to an choice to browse and obtain creations made by neighborhood members. Lastly, I would additionally like to see an elective toggle added for theming app drawer icons along with the house display.

Now Taking part in app

For better-integrated music recognition

Now Playing has long been a killer app of the Google Pixel expertise. The characteristic, which works each on-line and offline, identifies music taking part in within the background and mechanically surfaces monitor and artist info on the lock display for straightforward entry. The system works lots like the Apple-owned Shazam, however in a extra ambient style that reduces any and all friction.

With Android 16 QPR3 and the March Pixel Drop on the helm, Google has prolonged the affect of Now Taking part in fairly significantly. Now, slightly than being nestled deep inside Settings, a purpose-built Now Taking part in app lives straight within the app drawer.

This devoted app makes wonderful use of the Material 3 Expressive design language, whereas additionally providing simpler entry to music historical past, and a button to immediately provoke a sound search. There’s even a brand new fast settings tile and lock display shortcut choice for Now Taking part in, each of that are handy additions.

3-button navigation button order

For extra management over your navigation bar

Regardless that gesture-based system navigation is the de facto interface paradigm on fashionable smartphones, I am glad to see Google preserve help for its legacy 3-button navigation model of yore. Placing apart accessibility-related advantages, I’ve always been fond of button-based navigation for its simplicity and comfort. Now, with Android 16 QPR3, a brand new choice exists inside Navigation mode settings for configuring the button order of 3-button navigation, successfully permitting you to flip the situation of the Recents and Again keys.

For customers coming from Samsung Galaxy phones and tablets, this flipped navigation bar order is a nice-to-have addition that saves the necessity to re-learn what has most likely grow to be muscle reminiscence. It is a good quality-of-life enchancment, although I do nonetheless want extra configuration choices have been obtainable (like the flexibility to introduce a fourth button into the combo, the flexibility to lock and unlock the navigation bar, and the return of the Latest key long-press motion for coming into split-screen mode).

Desktop mode

For turning your cellphone right into a PC

I wrote about Android 16’s new, native desktop computing environment again when it first shipped experimentally in QPR1 Beta 2 again in July of final yr. Now, with the discharge of QPR3, desktop mode is on the market in steady kind with out the necessity to soar via any hoops or tinker with Developer Choices inside Settings.

Within the elapsing time, not lots has modified in desktop mode from a performance perspective, however every part definitely does really feel extra refined than it has up to now. The power to rearrange shows from inside the UI may be very desktop OS-like, and the brand new common cursor choice is far appreciated for shortly controlling each your cellphone and exterior monitor on the identical time. The connection dialog is a welcome addition, too, as is the flexibility to place the cellphone show to sleep and proceed engaged on the massive display.

In fact, desktop mode for Android remains to be very a lot a piece in progress. The short settings and notification shade panel characteristic unusual scaling points (I would have anticipated these to look as flyouts à la Samsung Dex or ChromeOS), and exterior monitor decision choices are nonetheless a bit restricted. Nonetheless, the characteristic’s broad deployment is a giant deal, and it has me all of the extra enthusiastic about what’s to return with Aluminum OS, Android PCs, and the way forward for Android’s convergence with ChromeOS.