Google has issued Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 and subsequently Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 for its Pixel device lineup. Beta 2 concentrated on addressing various system stability, performance, and usability issues across the platform. Beta 2.1 followed approximately four weeks later, incorporating the January 2026 security patch, though its specific bug fixes were not detailed in Google's release notes.
The Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 update focused on improving system stability, overall performance, and usability across Google Pixel devices.
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 Overview
The Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2 update was released for Google Pixel devices with a strong emphasis on refining the user experience. It directly addressed several reported system issues, aiming for a more stable and responsive platform.
Key improvements and fixes in Beta 2 include:
- System Stability: Resolutions for system crashes and device freezes, enhancing overall reliability.
- Battery Management: Correction of issues causing devices to disregard charging limits and excessive overnight battery drain.
- Connectivity: Improvements to Wi-Fi speeds and addressing instances of missed calls.
- User Interface: Fixes for UI glitches within the notification shade and app drawer, alongside optimizations to resolve unresponsive app drawer scrolling.
- Android Auto: Correction for incorrect logging of extensive screen time within the Android Auto application.
- Display: Resolution of graphical glitches and performance degradation in the notification shade, as well as fixing screen flickering observed when waking the device from Always-On Display mode.
- Audio: Improvements to audio routing logic to resolve delays in switching to speakerphone during calls.
- App Compatibility: Fixes for startup crashes experienced by certain applications, including Microsoft Intune apps.
- Charging: Enhancements to the power management system to resolve inconsistent wireless charging and slow wired charging.
- Foldable Devices: Resolution of system crashes that occurred when folding a device with an application open, through improvements in activity lifecycle management.
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 Release Details
Android 16 QPR3 Beta 2.1 was rolled out for Pixel devices approximately four weeks after the release of Beta 2. Notably, this update did not include specific bug fixes detailed in Google's release notes, but it did integrate the January 2026 security patch.
Key details of Beta 2.1 include:
- Build Numbers:
CP11.251209.009: Applicable to Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, and Pixel 7 Pro devices.CP11.251209.009.A1: Applicable to all other supported devices.- The previous update's build number was
CP11.251209.007.A1.
- Over-The-Air (OTA) Update Size: The update measured 123 MB for a Pixel 9a and 98.39 MB for the Pixel 10.
- OTA Images: OTA images are available for manual installation, though the Pixel 10 series is not included in the provision of these images.
Supported Devices and Enrollment
Both updates are available for a broad range of Google Pixel devices, ensuring wide compatibility across the lineup.
Supported models include:
- Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a
- Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold
- Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a
- Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 9a
- Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, Pixel 10 Pro Fold
Users currently enrolled in the Android 16 QPR3 Beta program who have not opted out are scheduled to automatically receive Beta 2.1 and any subsequent beta updates. Google has also indicated that the Android 17 Beta is expected to be released in the near future.