Not long after the stable Android 15 update rolled out, Google has just dropped the third beta of Android 15 QPR1 (Quarterly Platform Release 1), and it’s packed with fixes and improvements aimed at making life smoother for Pixel users. If you’ve got a Pixel 6 or newer, you’re in for a treat when the official release lands this December. Here’s a peek at what’s fixed and what’s coming.
First off, let’s talk about the bugs squashed in this update. Ever had a notification chopped off halfway? That’s fixed now. Android 15 Beta 3 also addresses some frustrating issues with memory management — so no more random crashes or reboots while you’re in the middle of something important.
Here’s what else got a tune-up:
- Bluetooth blues are no more: If your volume buttons stopped working when paired with certain Bluetooth devices, good news: that glitch has been ironed out.
- Icon hiccups fixed: Apps were mysteriously showing default system icons instead of their own logos on the home screen, but this beta has your home screen looking fresh again.
- Multi-user bug: Switching between users on a device could slow things down or even cause crashes. Now, jumping back to your main user account should feel seamless.
- System UI crashes resolved: For those who experienced the dreaded system UI crashes, Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3 has your back.
- Foldables fix: If your foldable screen went blank when you opened it up, that problem is history.
Beyond the big fixes, there are a few smaller — but still very welcome — improvements. Heads-up notifications should behave more predictably, and the system is now better at handling bug reports without crashing. Plus, overall stability and connectivity have been improved, making your day-to-day use feel less glitchy.
Bluetooth also gets some love here, with improvements to LE Audio that let you tweak the volume for each connected device independently. If you’ve ever been annoyed by the volume being too loud in one ear and too soft in the other, this one’s for you. The update also tweaks the color of Themed icons, brings a thicker status bar to the Pixel 9, a new app archiving icon, and so on.
With this beta, it’s clear Google is tightening things up ahead of the final QPR1 release in December. It’s still in the testing phase, so if you’re not in the beta program, you’ll have to wait a couple of months to get these perks. But for those who can’t wait to test it out, the new build (AP41.240925.009) includes the October 2024 security patch to keep your phone safe while you experiment.
As always, remember it’s still a beta, so you might encounter a few rough edges.
Meanwhile, the Google Pixel 10’s Tensor G5 processor details have just leaked, and here’s what to expect.
Hillary Keverenge
2484 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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