Google has released a new Android 16 QPR2 update for supported Pixel devices that brings several new features and bug fixes. The update also includes the December Android security patch.
The update introduces AI-powered notification summaries that condense long messages and group chats directly in the notification shade. It also improves organization by grouping alerts based on priority.
Google is also expanding UI customization with this release. You now get custom home-screen icon shapes, improved themed icons, and an Expanded Dark Mode option that can dim apps that don’t natively support it.
A new low-light mode in the Screen Saver settings can automatically dim the clock on any screensaver based on ambient lighting. Google has also added an Enhanced HDR Brightness toggle under Display and Touch, allowing users to tone down HDR brightness intensity.
Android 16 QPR2 also introduces improved parental controls within the Settings app, now secured with a PIN. Parents can set screen-time limits, schedule downtime, manage app usage with timers, and more.
The update adds a new Expressive Options feature that shows real-time captions with ambient sounds and emotion tags on video messages, live streams, and stories on social media. Users also get new Emoji Kitchen sticker combos in Gboard.
A new Call Reason feature will soon be available in the Phone app that will let callers tag a call as urgent so the recipient can answer or respond faster.
Users can now leave and report group chats in fewer taps than before and can scan for scams in text messages or chats by using Circle to Search. Another new feature is the addition of Pinned tabs in the Chrome browser.
The new Android 16 QPR2 update is now rolling out to Pixel 6 and later devices in a phased manner.
