Google’s upcoming Android 16 release, expected in May or June, is starting to look more promising after a slow start. While early developer previews and betas had focused largely on technical and background improvements, the third beta release — rolled out on March 13 — has introduced a handful of new features aimed directly at everyday users.
The standout change is the redesigned Quick Settings panel. In a noticeable shift, Android 16 separates notifications and Quick Settings into two pages. A swipe from the top left now reveals notifications, while the top right brings up Quick Settings. More than just a layout change, the panel now scrolls vertically and fills the screen, allowing users to view up to 16 toggles at once — double the number currently seen in Android 15.
Google is also testing smaller toggle designs, including compact square icons that take up half the space of standard buttons. This move not only enhances the visual appeal but adds practical value by fitting more functions onto a single screen.
The updated Quick Settings will also offer more user control, bringing stock Android closer to the customisation levels found on devices running skins like One UI and OxygenOS.
However, the full rollout of this revamped panel might not make it into the first stable release of Android 16. It is expected to arrive in a later update within the same version.
Another user-facing addition is coming to the Pixel Launcher: app icon shape customisation. A new “App shape & layout” section allows users to pick from six different shapes — ranging from basic circles to quirky options like “four-sided cookie” or “complex clover”. While the feature hasn’t gone live in Beta 3, it has been enabled through testing and points to more customisation options on the horizon.
Adding to the feature list is the return of lock screen widgets — a long-missed functionality last seen in Android 4.2. Though technically part of the upcoming Android 16 QPR1 update expected in September, these widgets will allow users to place glanceable items like calendar events, shopping lists, or Google Maps shortcuts right on the lock screen.
While Android 16 may not bring a major visual overhaul, these new user-friendly features suggest a more refined and customisable experience is on the way. More details are likely to be unveiled during Google I/O in May.
Read next: Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Han Jong-Hee passes away at 63
