What do you think of Android 16’s big redesign so far?

Google I/O’s big focus was, obviously, on AI, but Android 16 was also a big part of the event thanks to the release of the first QPR1 beta with the Material 3 Expressive redesign. What do you think of it so far?

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It was no secret that Android 16 was getting a redesign thanks to leaked builds floating around, but the mystery was long when it was going to debut thanks to very underwhelming beta releases for Android 16’s first stable launch. The curtain was finally lifted at last week’s Android Show and, this week, Google finally released the first builds that actually contain these new changes.

I’ve been using Android 16 QPR1 Beta 1 on my Pixel 9 Pro Fold since Tuesday’s release, and it’s been going really well. The build is stable within reason, and visual bugs are to a minimum given how big of an update this is. There’s some misaligned text in notifications, apps that try to leverage the camera seem unstable in some cases, and I’ve noticed that notifications will occasionally go the opposite direction when swiped away. But, outside of that and some iffy battery life, it’s been a good experience thus far.

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Aesthetically, I’m a big fan of the new design. Material 3 Expressive feels like Material You: The Sequel. The design language doesn’t really feel like anything else out there, but still feels super familiar. Plus, it’s opening the door to Google incorporating more features, like the wallpaper “Effects” that are super cool, but that I’ve yet to find the right subject for.

Google struck an impressive balance, and the platform itself just feels like the beginning.

But what do you think of Android 16’s redesign so far?

I have a feeling this design is going to be polarizing among Pixel fans, so where do you stand? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

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