Is Your Smartphone Eligible for Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1? How to Install? List of Features

As Google's annual developer event, Google I/O 2025, begins, the company has started rolling out the first beta update of Android 16.

This update brings a new design called Material 3 Expressive, and it's now available on some Pixel phones. In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know about this first beta update.

Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 Begins Rolling Out

Google has started rolling out Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1, and it's shaping up to be one of the most transformative updates in recent Android history. This release not only refines the user experience but also lays the groundwork for a more expressive, personalized, and fluid Android interface.

A Bold New Look with Material 3 Expressive

The Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update comes with a Material 3 Expressive redesign-a bold evolution in Android's design language. This new aesthetic direction is focused on providing users with greater visual personality, smoother interactions, and a more intuitive user experience. Material 3 Expressive on Android brings -

• Springy, fluid animations that feel more natural and engaging, offering subtle moments of delight in everyday interactions.
• Dynamic color theming that adapts to your wallpaper and settings, allowing for a highly personalized visual environment. Google is also working to bring these visual choices across its ecosystem, including popular apps like Google Photos, Gmail, and Fitbit.
• Responsive components that adjust based on context and interaction, enhancing usability without compromising style.
• Emphasized typography for better readability and a more polished appearance.
• The Quick Settings panel is now more customizable than ever, letting users rearrange or add more frequently-used actions like Flashlight, Do Not Disturb, and Wi-Fi toggle, making essential tools just a swipe away.
• The all-new Live Updates feature helps you easily track progress notifications from select apps. Whether you're tracking an Uber Eats delivery, following the progress of navigating with Google Maps, these updates stay visible and dynamically refresh without interrupting your workflow.

List of Eligible Devices for Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1

The Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 is "suitable for general use," but keep in mind it's still a beta version, which means some features may not be fully polished. The update is currently available for the following devices: Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9a, and the Pixel Tablet.

The tech giant says, "Today Android 16 Beta continues with the next round of Beta updates for our September Feature Drop release," Google explained to interested Redditors. "These are known as Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs) and delivered to Google Pixel devices as part of Feature Drops. Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 (BP31.250502.008) includes new platform features, bug fixes, performance optimizations, and the May 2025 security patches."

How to Install Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 on Your Pixel Phone?

If you have a supported Pixel device and are signed in with your Google Account, it will show up on this page: https://www.google.com/android/beta#faq

To get the update:

• Go to the link above.
• Find your device and enroll it in the beta program.
• Once enrolled, your phone or tablet will get the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 update over-the-air (OTA).

After joining the beta program, your device will keep getting beta updates (including future QPRs) unless you leave the program. If you decide to leave the beta program, you'll need to reset your device to factory settings, which will erase all your data. These beta updates are test versions, so they might have bugs or issues that can affect how your device works.

It's also worth noting that your device must be running the regular public version of Android (not a Developer Preview) before joining the beta.

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