📱Lock screen widgets are finally live on Pixel phones in Android 16 QPR2

Android brought back lock screen widget support to tablets in Android 15 QPR1, but the feature has finally been optimized for phones.

Here's a first look 👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/lock-screen-widgets-on-phones-android-16-qpr2-3589668/

🎨 HUGE: Android will finally fix your messy home screen by forcing apps to use themed icons

Android 16 QPR2 adds a FORCED themed icon feature that makes all icons monochromatic, allowing Android to apply icon theming to them.

Details + screenshots👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-icon-colors-3589663/

🔒🥷Google is expanding a key anti-theft feature to make your apps more secure

Identity Check in Android 16 QPR2 will make it harder for phone thieves to gain access to sensitive apps

Here's how👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/identity-check-expanded-app-support-3589693/

🖥🐧Android 16 QPR2 brings support for running FULL desktop graphical Linux apps through the Terminal!

This went live in the 2507 Canary first but is coming in the December stable release!

You can even run full desktop environments!

More details 👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr2-beta-1-features-3586944/#:~:text=Graphical%20apps%20support%20in%20the%20Linux%20Terminal

🔐 Android 16 QPR2 introduces the "Secure Lock Device" feature that I reported earlier this year.

It'll also add a toggle to disable Failed Authentication Lock, which my colleague AssembleDebug first reported would be added.

Details 👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr2-beta-1-features-3586944/#:~:text=Rahman%20/%20Android%20Authority-,Secure%20Lock%20Device,-Android%2016%20QPR2

⏩📱Android 16 QPR2 brings the long-awaited 90:10 split screen ratio!

This feature makes split-screen multitasking much more efficient!

It's heavily inspired by @OnePlus_USA Open Canvas feature, but isn't borrowed from them.

Details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-16-qpr2-beta-1-features-3586944/#:~:text=QPR2%20Beta%201.-,90%3A10%20split%20screen%20ratio,-Android%2016%20QPR2

Hey Google...can you maybe not time these Android releases for the same day as big phone launches 😓

In addition to Android 16 QPR2 Beta 1, there's also a new Android Canary release...

🔦Android finally lets you control your Pixel phone's flashlight brightness

The latest Android Canary release adds support for adjusting your Pixel phone's flashlight strength from Quick Settings

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-update-flashlight-brightness-3589728/

📱Google finally lets you customize icon shapes on your Pixel's home screen

You only have five total icon shape options to pick from, but it's better than nothing.

This is available in the latest Canary release so far.

Screenshots of each shape👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-icon-shape-options-3589736/

📱The Pixel 10 Pro's new always-on display finally shows your full wallpaper

Google has finally launched the 'Ambient AOD' feature I spotted a few months ago! It's available on the Pixel 10 Pro. No word on when or if it'll come to other Pixels.

🔗 https://www.androidauthority.com/pixel-10-pro-aod-wallpaper-3589468/

Remember the Google Jamboard?

That $5,000 digital whiteboard that Google killed off last year?

Three LineageOS developers have brought it back to life! Instead of throwing it out, you can turn it into a cartoonishly large Android tablet or run Android TV on it.

🔗Jamboard escapes the Google graveyard with a new lease on life from LineageOS

RIP: Google has confirmed that it isn't currently working on a new tablet until it "figures out a meaningful future for the category."

The company also confirmed it isn't developing a smart ring, either.

More details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/no-new-pixel-tablet-3590083/

Oooh. Google Play will require developers submitting TV apps (with native code in them) to provide 64-bit versions starting August 1, 2026, in preparation for "upcoming 64-bit Google TV and Android TV devices."

Are we going to start seeing new TV devices with more RAM soon?

🔗https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2025/08/64-bit-app-compatibility-for-google-tv-android-tv.html

👪New Android parental controls make it easier to manage kids’ devices your way

Google confirmed that Android 16 QPR2 will bring new "local" parental supervision controls.

I mentioned this in my Authority Insights newsletter last weekend.

Details👇

🔗https://www.androidauthority.com/android-built-in-parental-controls-3590162/