Google’s push to modernize Android’s design continues with the latest Android 16 QPR1 beta update, introducing a more expressive and colorful look to various Settings pages on Pixel devices. These updates are part of Google’s ongoing Material 3 design rollout and bring subtle yet impactful visual enhancements to key features powered by Android System Intelligence.
The redesigned Settings interface, which already launched in Android 16, has now expanded to include tools like Live Caption, Live Translate, At a Glance, Now Playing, and other Pixel-exclusive smart features. These changes are currently only visible to users enrolled in the QPR1 beta and are enabled by a new version of Android System Intelligence.
With this update, Settings menus now feature more rounded UI elements, larger buttons, prominent toggles, and bold headers that improve navigation and clarity. Key sections like Network and Internet, Connected Devices, and Notifications also receive vibrant, colorful icons that make it easier to locate specific options at a glance. These design tweaks aim to make Android more intuitive and visually engaging without sacrificing functionality.
One small but noteworthy tweak is the renaming of the “Show word duration effect” option under Expressive Captions, which now appears as “Lengthen words” with a clearer explanation of its function. It’s a minor change, but it reflects Google’s broader goal of making Settings easier to understand and use, particularly for accessibility features.
These enhancements follow similar Material 3 Expressive updates previously rolled out to apps like Google Keep, Gmail, Wallet, and the Google Phone app. However, unlike those updates, the revamped Settings experience is currently restricted to Pixel devices running the QPR1 beta. Users on stable Android versions won’t see these changes until the QPR1 release arrives later this year.
Google is expected to roll out the stable Android 16 QPR1 update in September for the Pixel lineup, at which point more users will gain access to these refreshed Settings menus. Until then, beta testers will be the first to explore this next step in Android’s evolving design language. For those who value a more polished and modern interface, this update is a preview of what’s to come as Material 3 becomes the new visual foundation across Android.
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