With the final version of Android 16 almost here, Google has rolled out the fourth beta build before the major update release. It includes minor UI changes, like forced edge-to-edge mode, the return of do not disturb, and the always-on display (AOD) feature getting a little love.
Although I personally like the always-on display, it is a little bland compared to AODs used by other Android manufacturers. It features a minorly customizable black-and-white layout that includes weather, time, notification symbols, fingerprint unlock, and battery.
Although it looks and remains the same, it adopts the colours your Android system theme is set to. Although it is very subtle, it is a very welcome change. It reminds me of the AOD used on the Pixel Watch 3 to display the time. As mentioned before, it’s not extremely visible, but it is a welcome change to see the system theme applied to the more finite details of the Pixel’s UI.
Another feature expected to be added in the Android 16 release is the return of the Do Not Disturb tile. It was quietly shuffled into a new ‘Modes’ tile in the Android 15 QPR2 update, and Pixel owners have despised the change since its release. Android PoliceĀ shared screenshots showing the new do not disturb button merge with the modes tile. As shown in the new Android 16 beta 4, the button acts as a do not disturb button when quickly touched, but a drop down arrow also allows users to access the modes originally grouped within the original ‘Modes’ tile.
For now, the latest Android update seems to have many welcome additions. If some of the features don’t make it into the Android 16 release, they could be added in QPR1 later this year.
Source: Android PoliceĀ
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