New messaging capabilities
Google is rolling out Android 16 QPR2 for Pixel 6 series devices and later models. One of the key changes is AI summarization, which shortens long messages and group chats directly in notifications, as well as a priority-sorting mechanism that makes it easier to spot important messages.
The feature set also gained the ability to mark calls as urgent via Call Reason, faster exit from group chats, the ability to check suspicious messages with Circle to Search, and support for pinned tabs in Chrome. The update is being delivered in stages.
Interface, display and accessibility
Users can change the shape of icons on the home screen and use improved themed icons. A forced dark mode for apps without official support was added, along with an HDR brightness reduction toggle and automatic dimming of the clock on the ambient display in low-light conditions.
There is also an Expressive Options feature that displays captions with emotional tags in videos, streams and stories. Gboard received new sticker combinations. Parental controls gained PIN protection, the ability to limit screen time, set timers for apps and define downtime periods.
In addition, Google is allowing members of the Pixel Superfans program to try a new smartphone before its official release. During testing of the new foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold, there was a battery incident during a crash test — the battery exploded.
