🔁Android 16's final quarterly beta is here for Pixel phones

Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 is now available for Pixel phones. This is the first beta for the March 2026 quarterly Android OS update.

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr3-beta-1-release-3616907/

📱Here's every new feature for Pixel phones in Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1

These include flashlight brightness controls, the ability to flip the nav bar buttons, and more.

Details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr3-beta-1-features-3625332/

📍Android 16 QPR3 finally lets you see exactly which app is tracking your location

Android 16 QPR3 adds a blue icon in the status bar that you can tap to see which apps are accessing your device’s location.

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr3-location-indicator-3626212/

🪲Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 brings the wireless ADB fix I spotted last week

The update now automatically turns wireless debugging on when your device is connected to a trusted network, fixing disconnection issues.

Everything else new in QPR3 Beta 1👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr3-beta-1-features-3625332/

📱➡️📺Google continues its desktop push by letting Android 16 QPR3 cast external displays

You can finally cast the screen contents of an external display in the Android 16 QPR3 beta.

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr3-cast-external-displays-3626239/

📱Android 16 QPR3 finally brings the long-awaited GPU driver update for the Pixel 10 series

With this update, the Pixel 10 now supports Imagination's August driver release with Vulkan 1.4.

We'll be testing how the phone performs soon, so stay tuned!

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-10-gpu-update-android-16-qpr3-beta-1-3626234/

👀Android 16 QPR3 introduces over 160 new emoji: Here’s every single one of them

The next quarterly Android update will support the 163 new emoji from the Unicode 17.0 release.

Here's what's coming👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr3-new-emoji-3626480/

This is now official: Androidify now works on Wear OS!

You can now create a custom Wear OS watch face with your personalized Android Bot.

🔗 Download Androidify on Google Play

🔗 Google's blog post

🔗Android Developers blog post w/ implementation details

✨Is Google turning Gemini into the next big Super App?

Gemini may soon become your AI reading assistant, all-in-one super app, and a helper for changing Google Account settings.

We explore these rumors in the latest Authority Insights Podcast👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/authority-insights-podcast-017-3626610/

🛜📶Google may finally reverse this controversial Quick Settings change

Google may finally bring back the separate Wi-Fi and mobile data toggles in a future Android release.

More details in the latest Authority Insights Newsletter👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-split-internet-quick-settings-3626933/

🚗🔒Android Automotive will let you PIN-lock apps to keep them private from passengers

Android Automotive’s new Sensitive App Protection feature lets you lock apps behind a PIN.

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-automotive-sensitive-app-protection-3627645/

Android has taken over the Las Vegas Sphere again!

Google made a cute animation of the Android Bot going through a variety of virtual worlds to highlight the new Android XR platform + Gemini.

Google TV is getting some new Gemini-powered smart features, including:

* Deep dives into complex topics, plus a new response UI with imagery, videos, and real-time sports updates.

* Ability to search through Google Photos for specific people or moments and remix images or create immersive slideshows.

* Image/video creation w/ Nano Banana and Veo.

* Natural-language settings changes, eg. "screen is too dim" and Gemini will auto-adjust picture settings.

Coming to select TCL devices first and other Google TV devices in the coming months.

🔗 Say goodbye to menu hunting: Gemini brings voice control to Google TV settings

I've been quiet these past 2 weeks because there hasn't been much Android news due to the holidays...but rest assured, there's a TON of exciting Android news coming this year!

2026 will be a HUGE year for Android👀

Looking forward to seeing what Google is cooking up this year!

📱Sad news: ASUS won't be launching any new phones this year.

The company will still continue updates and warranty services for existing devices, though.

Still, this is sad because ASUS has been one of the most enthusiast-friendly brands over the years, and their phones offer really clean, stock Android-like experiences.

But the competition is really tough, their phones are expensive, and the number of models they make is low. Not surprised by this decision but not happy that it's happening, either!

🔗A big smartphone name might be done: ASUS confirms no 2026 phones