Google’s beta programs for Android can be confusing for those who don’t keep up with the updates. Currently, Android 14 is in beta, but Google is also testing Android 13 betas in order to test quarterly Pixel Feature Drops. The March Feature Drop has already been released, and the next in line is the June Feature Drop, for which Google has started its Quarterly Platform Release 3 (QPR3) beta for Android 13 on March 15. Here are some of the changes you can expect in the new release.
The app drawer animation is much smoother
In previous versions of Android, there was a discrepancy in the speeds of the app drawer and keyboard animations. But in Android 13 QPR3, this has been fixed, and the keyboard and app drawer move up at the same speed. This small change makes for a smoother experience.
Small design adjustments
The transcient taskbar for tablets and foldables is back in Android 13 QPR3, which makes it disappear automatically when you don’t interact with it. You can access this feature only when you set your device to a DPI of 600 or higher, and only when you use gesture navigation rather than buttons. The wallpaper preview has also been improved, with a new fullscreen view that makes it easier for you to see whether or not you like it. Lastly, the weather report has been decoupled from the smart space in the top left corner of the home and lock screen on Pixel phones, giving you the ability to disable the weather card on the lock screen.
If you want to see the battery percentage in your status bar, Android 13 QPR3 brings it back to the notification shade, rather than showing a time-based estimate. There are also updates to the long-press menu for app icons, with three boxes to help differentiate the individual sections available: App info, widgets, and other administrative options are in one box, in-app shortcuts in the next, and notifications in another one. The opening animation has also been tweaked a little, with the menu now flying in right from the icon you press.
Further tweaks in Android 13 QPR3 Beta 1
There are a few more changes coming in Android 13 QPR3 Beta 1:
Get Android 13 QPR3 right now
If you want to join Google’s beta program for Android 13 QPR3, you can get an over-the-air update for the beta. However, keep in mind that rolling back to a stable build involves a full reset, so make sure to back up your data if you want to get the beta. You might have to wait three months to return to a stable build without losing your data.
