The first beta of Android 13 QPR2 (Quarterly Platform Release) is currently available for specific Google Pixel models, giving us a preview of features and tweaks that should eventually come to more Android phones.
Phones getting the beta, according to Google’s Android Developer Page (opens in a new tab)are the Pixel 4 (4a and 4a 5G), Pixel 5 (the basic model and 5a), the Pixel 6 series, and the Pixel 7 series. The release notes don’t say anything about the contents of the release, but renowned Android expert Mishaal Rahman has broken it all down into one. long twitter thread (opens in a new tab). Everything in the beta can be split into two categories: design changes that all listed Pixel devices will receive, and features exclusive to a few.
For starters, desktop mode on Android 13 got “enhanced windowing options” via a new title bar that makes it easier to move windows around the screen, return to a previous page, or open a toolbar. ‘tools. It’s quite buggy, however, as Rahman posted a video (opens in a new tab) of him dragging around a window in desktop mode only for it to freeze for a few seconds.
Widespread changes
Moving on to other notable changes, Health Connection is now a preloaded app that allows you to consolidate all your personal health data from multiple sources into one app.
A new “transitional taskbar” will make the navigation bar appear on the Pixel home page in navigation apps (possibly others as well) whenever you swipe up from the bottom. As the name suggests, the taskbar is temporary and retracts quickly so as not to distract. Google is reverting to an older design with now separate ringtone and notification volumes. For years you couldn’t adjust them individually, so it’s good to see this return.
Something not mentioned in the Rahman thread is that apps on the home screen have extra space around them (opens in a new tab). This means there will be less room on the launcher and you may have to scroll more to find the app you want, but the new padding makes the menu less cluttered.
Exclusive features
Some of the most interesting features are arguably those exclusive to certain models. The Pixel 6 Pro, for example, has an updated display driver allowing users to select a “1080p screen resolution option”, which is lower than the native 1440p resolution. This option may increase battery life. Additionally, Spatial Audio is coming to the 6 Pro alongside the base Pixel 6, Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro coinciding with the feature coming to the Pixel Buds Pro coming next month (opens in a new tab).
There’s more to the beta than that, but these are the most notable highlights. It’s unclear if and when these features will officially launch, but Rahman says the beta will have a stable release in March. If you want to try the beta, you can join the Android Beta Program for Pixel (opens in a new tab) on the Google website, then install it through the settings. Google says in the release notes that the beta has performance and stability issues, so keep that in mind when trying it out.
Be sure to check out TechRadar best pixel phones list for the year in case you are still hesitant to buy one.
