Google just delivered the third and final beta 3 for Android 16 QPR2, and if you own a Pixel, this is great news. This update aims to squash over a dozen bugs that have been causing headaches for users across the entire supported lineup. Every model from the Pixel 6 up to the brand-new Pixel 10 series can get it. That said, there’s a bug that you should be aware of so it doesn’t ruin your experience.
Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs) are more than just routine monthly security patches. With this final beta, Google is hitting that the development work is almost done. Now, it’s time for the final round of quality assurance.
Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 focuses primarily on bug fixes for Google Pixel phones
The list of bug fixes in Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 is extensive. It covers a wide range of daily frustrations that often plague a beta cycle. For instance, users running previous betas often saw their Home screen shortcuts mysteriously disappear into blank gray circles. Others experienced laggy, unresponsive interfaces when swiping down the notification shade and simultaneously interacting with lockscreen widgets. This final beta aims to restore smooth, consistent UI interactions.
Even essential functions were presenting issues. Some devices were incorrectly charging to 100% despite enabling the Adaptive Charging feature. This update corrects that behavior, helping to better manage your battery’s health. A particularly critical fix targets excessive CPU usage by the launcher, a problem that specifically led to poor battery life—especially on foldable devices. This stability patch should be a major improvement for Pixel Fold and other foldable owners. Unexpected device crashes and screen freezing problems also got a fix.
Additionally, Google is applying fixes to the core functionality of the device. The update resolves an issue where high-resolution 50MP images captured with the ultrawide or telephoto lenses displayed unsightly “rainbow artifacts.” On the connectivity side, Beta 3 fixes calls that incorrectly routed Bluetooth audio and even resolves a localized issue that prevented New Zealand users from accessing all 6GHz Wi-Fi networks. Furthermore, problems with Google Play System Updates failing to install for some users should now be resolved.
For developers and advanced users, even the Terminal app gets attention, resolving crashes when changing the font size and finally allowing the use of special characters like the asterisk (*), at (@), and hashtag (#).
Critical warning before installation
If you are thinking about installing this final beta, there is one thing you should know to avoid system crashes. There is currently a bug in QPR2 Beta 3 that causes SystemUI to crash immediately when the experimental Desktop Mode is enabled (spotted by Mishaal Rahman).
Therefore, there’s something you should do before you update to Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3. Basically, you must turn off “enable desktop experience features” in Settings > System > Developer options. Ensure this feature is disabled to keep your device stable after the update.
Already available if you are enrolled in the beta program
If you are already enrolled in the Android Beta program, you should see the OTA update for QPR2 Beta 3 available now. For everyone else, this final beta confirms that a solid, stable update—free of these lingering bugs—will be ready for the wide public release. The latter will happen in early December.
The post Android 16 QPR2 Beta 3 is Here: The Final Stop Before Stable Drop appeared first on Android Headlines.
