Android 16 is nearing its stable release, likely to be officially unveiled next month at Google I/O. While the developer previews and four betas so far have shown minimal front-facing changes on Pixel phones, the latest Beta 4 build hides several significant UI upgrades beneath the surface—suggesting Google might be preparing a fresh new look for its flagship OS.
These hidden changes, first unlocked by Android expert Mishaal Rahman, reveal a much more modern and polished interface. Among the standout elements is Google’s growing embrace of blur effects—something long seen in OEM skins like One UI and OxygenOS but largely absent from Pixel UI until now. If enabled, users will see soft blur applied behind the Quick Settings, notification panel, app switcher, and even the lockscreen PIN and password input fields.
Quick Settings are also getting a substantial makeover. Gone is the solid black background—replaced by a transparent, wallpaper-tinted interface with customizable tile sizes and more layout control. Notifications may see a centered “Clear all” button and redesigned shortcut placements to refine usability.
Additional UI tweaks include a reworked status bar with bolder icons and a dynamic battery indicator, thicker heading fonts in settings screens, and new options for icon shapes. The lockscreen clock layout could change too—placing the date and weather beneath the central clock instead of tucked into the corner, at least when there are no notifications. Volume sliders are also getting a usability upgrade with draggable lines instead of circular knobs for more precise control.
While these updates aren’t yet live by default—and are currently hidden behind feature flags—they indicate that Google might be prepping the first major Pixel UI overhaul in years. Despite the elegance of the current Pixel experience, it’s started to feel dated next to Samsung’s One UI 7 or OnePlus’ OxygenOS 15. Android 16 could be the point where Google finally refreshes its visual language.
It remains unclear if these changes will make the final cut for the stable Android 16 release in May. However, Google is reportedly working on a more substantial update for later this year, which might serve as the perfect launchpad for a bold new UI.