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Another day, another beta! Android 16 Beta 3 is officially here, bringing some interesting changes to the table. While it may not be a groundbreaking update, it introduces a few notable tweaks that could improve your everyday Pixel experience. Here’s everything you need to know about the latest developments over the past 24 hours.
Pixel’s new battery health stats page
It’s finally happening! After nearly two years of development, Google has introduced a Battery Health stats page for Pixel devices with Android 16 Beta 3.
To check it out, head to Settings > Battery > Battery Health. This new section provides insights into your battery’s lifespan and offers tips to keep it healthy. If everything is fine, you’ll see a reassuring green checkmark.
A key highlight is Battery Capacity, which estimates how much charge your battery can hold compared to when it was brand new. Over time, this number naturally declines, but Google now gives you better visibility into it.
For extra battery care, Google provides links to its official support articles, suggesting:
- Keeping your software up to date
- Enabling Adaptive Charging
- Avoiding extreme temperatures
- Turning off unnecessary features
Google has also relocated Charging Optimization to the bottom of the Battery Health page instead of keeping it in the main Battery menu.
So far, this feature is confirmed on the Pixel 9 series and Pixel 8 Pro. Additionally, Android 16 also lets you check Device Temperature under Battery Diagnostics and view Cycle Count from About phone > Battery information.
Android 16 Beta 3 introduces a new ‘Close’ app option
Google is making it easier to close apps in Android 16 Beta 3.
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Up until now, closing an app from the recent apps menu meant swiping up. That worked fine but wasn’t always the most intuitive for some users. Now, when you tap an app icon in the recent menu, you’ll see a new “Close” option alongside “Split screen” and “Pause app.”
This isn’t the same as a Force Stop, though, which remains buried in the App Info menu. Instead, it simply dismisses the app from the recent apps list, just like swiping up.
While it’s a minor change, it’s a welcome one for those who prefer tapping over swiping. That said, a true Force Stop option in this menu would have been an even better addition.
Google prepares notification summaries, trying to avoid Apple’s mistakes
Google is cooking up a notification summarization feature for Android 16, and Beta 3 gives us the first glimpse of what’s to come.
Strings of code in this release reveal a new setting that will automatically summarize conversation notifications from apps. Users will be able to enable or disable summaries per app, allowing more customization than Apple’s controversial implementation.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming:
- Notification summaries: Bundles and summarizes conversation notifications to reduce clutter.
- Per-app control: Users can exclude specific apps from being summarized.
- Thematic grouping: Notifications with similar themes can be bundled together for a quieter experience.
Apple’s take on notification summaries under “Apple Intelligence” has been widely criticized for being inconsistent, sometimes summarizing things incorrectly or just repeating the name of a group chat. Google’s version, however, appears more targeted and customizable, focusing on conversation-based notifications rather than all notifications.
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While the feature isn’t live yet, signs suggest we’ll see it in future Android 16 updates.
Pixel 9a pre-orders may include a free Google TV Streamer in some markets
Excited about the upcoming Pixel 9a? You might be in for a sweet deal — depending on where you live.
According to a leak from Roland Quandt, certain European markets will offer a free Google TV Streamer with Pixel 9a pre-orders through select Google partners. If true, this is a nice perk, considering the Google TV Streamer’s retail price could be worth around 20% of the Pixel 9a’s total value.
Meanwhile, a previous leak suggests that Pixel 9a won’t come with a free Gemini Advanced trial beyond the standard one.
With the Pixel 9a expected to launch as soon as next week, we’ll know soon enough whether this perk extends to other regions.
Android 16 Beta 3 may not be a massive overhaul, but it’s refining the Pixel experience in small but meaningful ways: Battery Health gives deeper insights into longevity. A new ‘Close’ option makes dismissing apps easier. Notification summaries aim to do better than Apple. Pixel 9a buyers in some regions could get a Google TV Streamer for free!
As we dig deeper, more hidden gems may surface in Android 16 Beta 3. Stay tuned for further updates, and let us know what you think of these changes!
Happy testing, Pixel fans!
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