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Android 16 is set to officially launch in June, bringing the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system to Pixel devices first. But if you’re eager for a fresh new aesthetic, you might not have to wait that long. A new beta—likely the first Android 16 QPR1 (Quarterly Platform Release 1)—is expected to arrive before the end of May, offering early access to Google’s bold “Material 3 Expressive” redesign.
Announced during the latest Android Show, this new design language marks one of the most significant visual overhauls to Android in recent years. Dubbed “Material 3 Expressive,” the update brings a cleaner, more dynamic feel to the OS. Think more vibrant blur effects, a revamped lock screen, redesigned Quick Settings, sleeker volume sliders, new icon shapes, and updated status bar indicators—all crafted to give the system a more modern and animated look.
While Android 16 itself has been in beta for months—hitting platform stability back in March and releasing Beta 4 in April to squash lingering bugs—the initial stable release in June will not include the Expressive redesign. Instead, those flashy new visual elements will come in a later feature drop, likely rolling out to Pixels first in the fall or winter, potentially as late as December.
Google is offering an early taste of the redesign for adventurous users who stay enrolled in the Android 16 beta program. Anyone still in the beta by late May will be automatically moved to the Android 16 QPR1 beta, which is set to feature more of the Expressive UI elements. This could give users an exclusive early experience of the redesign—months before it lands on stable builds.
However, this comes with a caveat. Users currently in the Android 16 beta who want to receive the official stable release in June will need to opt out of the beta program in the next couple of weeks. Failing to do so means skipping the stable launch in favor of testing the experimental Expressive features. It’s a trade-off: early eye candy versus long-term stability.
Leaks and reports throughout 2025 have hinted at this vibrant UI refresh, which is part of Google’s continued evolution of its Material You design language. While the current Android 16 betas only show limited elements of this redesign, the upcoming beta promises a fuller expression of Google’s new visual direction.
Beyond visuals, Android 16 will also bring under-the-hood improvements, including better performance, privacy enhancements, and refined notification controls. But for many users, the most noticeable change will be the UI transformation introduced by Material 3 Expressive.
The Android development team also noted that the Expressive elements won’t just be limited to the system UI. Over the course of the year, Google plans to bring the new design style to its core apps, aligning them with the expressive look and feel. This cohesive rollout could reshape how Android feels across the board—from system settings to everyday apps like Gmail, Maps, and Google Photos.
So, the question for Android enthusiasts is this: do you want stability now or the future of Android’s look today? With the QPR1 beta expected by the end of May, the decision is just around the corner.
