In recent months, leaks have shown that Google has been working covertly on a major update of the Android 16 user interface. While it was previously expected that this significant visual change would not be prepared for the platform’s first stable release, recent events offer a clearer picture.
These hidden changes have been successfully activated in the most recent Android 16 beta release by Android Authority, providing the most thorough preview of the next design to yet. Even if the deployment is scheduled for a post-launch upgrade, their analysis shows that the enabled UI elements currently look “pretty polished,” indicating Google is further along in development than previously believed.
The lock screen interface will soon experience significant user interface changes. The ‘At a Glance’ element is moving from its traditional recognition in the upper-left corner, a significant spatial shift. It now occupies the space just beneath the large, conspicuous clock element visible on the lock screen.
The way incoming notifications are handled has also been improved; when a notice is received, the current weather, day, and date will be dynamically displayed to the right of a smaller clock element usually located in the corner. This is complemented by the addition of an optional visual notification configuration called a “compact notification shelf.”
In contrast to conventional full-width notification summaries, this alternate display technique combines notification indicators into a pill-shaped visual container that only shows the related icons. With a single press on this small shelf, you can then examine comprehensive notifications by accessing the full notification shade.
A creative new way to personalize your app icons will soon be available on the Pixel Launcher homescreen. You’ll have a variety of distinctive, non-circle form possibilities rather than just circles. You can choose between a smooth “arch,” an intriguing “complex clover,” a quirky “four-sided cookie,” a classic-feeling “rounded square,” or a more intricate “seven-sided cookie.” You now have more control over how your homescreen appears thanks to this functionality.
A closer look at possible UI changes for Android 16 is given via leaks. With updated icons on the right, such as Wi-Fi and cellular, and a new, strong typeface for the clock on the left, the status bar is drawing attention. The most notable change is the revised battery symbol, which now displays the percentage within and is turned 90 degrees.
Moving on to Quick Settings, the general structure of this leak is still the same and does not include the rumored severe split layout. Visual enhancements include the brightness slider switching from its former pill shape to the newest Material 3 style and QS tiles that transform from a pill (inactive) to a colored rounded rectangle (enabled).
The visual appearance of Android 16 is going to see significant modifications when it eventually makes its way to Pixel smartphones. The extensive use of blurred backdrops, which will be evident in important system areas, is a notable characteristic.
This includes the Quick Settings panel, the app drawer grid, the Recents multitasking view, and the PIN pad overlay on the lockscreen. The revamp also includes a fresh appearance for the system sliders. Elements like the main volume control and accompanying panel, as well as the interface used to switch between various media output devices, are adopting a distinctly new slider appearance.
Recent leaks revealing features of Android 16 point to an upcoming update for the main Settings app. According to reports, the main page of the redesigned interface will have a series of vivid, colorful symbols linked to each settings area. This change is probably meant to improve visual recognition and navigation speed.
Beyond the main page, each settings menu’s style is also being updated, using a card-based structure to store different options and data in a more modular way. One important clue about when Android 16 will be released is the fact that this thorough overhaul has not been included in the most recent beta builds.
Analysts suggest this means the revamped Settings app isn’t part of the planned June stable release of Android 16 and will instead be introduced later via one of the anticipated Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs) throughout the year.
