Google Pixel users in the Beta program to finally get new features before public release?

Tired of waiting for the latest Pixel features? Google seems to have finally heard your cries. In the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 release notes, a Google employee notes that Pixel users on the beta “should always get the latest features before, or at the same time, as the rest of the public.” This long-awaited change comes as part of the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 update and could potentially address a major concern among beta testers who often felt left out of the loop.

At the moment, exciting new features are released to the stable channel first via Pixel Feature Drops, leaving beta users feeling like they were missing out on the fun. This sparked frustration and confusion as beta testers began questioning (1,2) the purpose of the beta program in such situations. As someone in the beta program myself, I’ve considered opting out of the beta program for the same reason.

Android expert Mishaal Rahman aptly summarizes the dilemma in his post on X: “If you want first dibs on the headlining features of any new Pixel Feature Drop, you should NOT be in the Android beta program.” This recent uproar against Google started primarily because it rolled out Circle to Search to Pixel 8 series users on the stable channel while leaving those in the beta program hanging.

However, Google has now rectified this issue, noting that beta users should be the first to experience the latest Pixel features. But the question here is whether Google will stick to its word or not? The note made in the release notes was from a Google employee with reference to the availability of Circle to Search. So it’s not immediately clear if this is an official confirmation that beta users will indeed start getting new features ahead of the stable rollout or at least at the same time. We’ll just have to wait and see.

For reference, Apple’s beta releases are simple. Beta users get the new features ahead of the stable release, test them, and share feedback if any. Google, however, has a slightly odd way of running its beta program. Either they skip feature releases for beta users completely and launch them directly with the stable build or Google rolls out features in small batches.

That being said, let’s hope for further clarification from Google on the matter.