Google Pixel users can get a taste of Material 3 Expressive UI as early as this month, but there's a catch

Pixel owners anticipating the next big Android release might get a peek at some significant visual changes very soon. While the stable version of Android 16 is set to arrive next month, Google appears to be prepping something extra for its beta testers even before that. It looks like an upcoming beta build will give users an early hands-on experience of the new Material 3 Expressive design language.

Word circulating, including details shared with Android Police by a Google spokesperson, suggests a new Android 16 beta is on its way before the end of May. This particular beta is expected to unlock more of the expressive design elements that haven’t fully appeared in previous test versions.

We’ve already seen leaked screenshots of the UI in its early phases, along with official teasers by Google. If early screenshots are anything to go by, we should see enhanced background blur effects, updated icons, and a cleaner overall interface.

It’s important to note that this expressive redesign won’t be part of the initial stable Android 16 release slated for June. The revamped UI will likely be part of the Android 16 QPR1 update, and we will likely see further refinements with each update following that.

However, for those eager to see the changes sooner, the forthcoming beta will provide that opportunity. Here’s where the catch comes in for current beta participants. If you are already enrolled in the Android 16 beta program and want to receive the stable June release, you’ll need to manually opt out of the beta soon.

Staying in the program means you’ll automatically be enrolled in this new beta by the end of the month. This will grant you early access to the Expressive UI elements, but it means you’ll miss the initial stable launch of Android 16. It’s a choice between getting the stable build first or getting a head start on the new look.