Google's latest beta release for its Pixel smartphones is shaping up to be a significant update, addressing long-standing user requests while embracing the latest digital communication standards. Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1, released on December 18, 2025, introduces two headline features: support for over 160 new Unicode 17.0 emoji and, for the first time, the ability for users to remove the previously permanent "At a Glance" widget from the Pixel home screen. These changes signal a shift in Google's approach, offering Pixel owners greater personalization and bringing the platform in line with the latest global emoji set.
A New Era of Emoji Expression Arrives on Android
With the integration of the Unicode 17.0 standard, Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 adds a total of 163 new emoji characters to the platform. This substantial update includes seven new standalone code points, such as the Distorted Face, Fight Cloud, Hairy Creature, Orca, Landslide, Trombone, and Treasure Chest. The remaining 156 additions are emoji sequences, which are combinations that render as a single icon, including various depictions of ballet dancers, people with bunny ears, and people wrestling. This brings the total available emoji count on supported devices to 3,953 when accounting for all skin tone and gender variations. The update marks a dramatic expansion from the previous year's Unicode 16.0 release, which introduced only seven emoji. Users on compatible Pixel devices running the beta can view and use these new pictograms immediately, while other devices will display placeholder boxes or broken sequences.
New Unicode 17.0 Emoji in Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1
- Total New Emoji: 163
- New Code Points (Standalone): 7
- Distorted Face
- Fight Cloud
- Hairy Creature
- Orca
- Landslide
- Trombone
- Treasure Chest
- New Emoji Sequences (Combinations): 156
- Includes variants for ballet dancer, people with bunny ears, and people wrestling.
- Total Emoji Count (with variations): 3,953
Pixel Home Screens Gain Long-Awaited Flexibility
Perhaps the most impactful change for daily Pixel users is the newfound control over the home screen layout. For years, Pixel devices have featured a non-removable "At a Glance" widget at the top of the main home screen panel, displaying weather and calendar information. This design choice, while informative, frustrated users who preferred a minimalist aesthetic or wanted to use that prime screen real estate for other widgets or app icons. Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 is now testing a toggle that allows users to disable this widget entirely. Although the feature is not yet available to all beta testers, its presence indicates Google is preparing to grant users this long-requested level of customization, bringing the Pixel launcher closer to the flexibility offered by competitors like Samsung's One UI.
Other New Features in Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1
- Home Screen Customization: Toggle to disable the permanent "At a Glance" widget.
- Flashlight Controls: Adjustable brightness settings for the LED flashlight.
- Navigation Customization: Option to change the order of the three-button navigation bar.
- Privacy Indicator: Expandable location access indicator.
Additional Quality-of-Life Enhancements
Beyond emoji and customization, the QPR3 Beta 1 build includes several other practical improvements. Users gain new controls for adjusting the brightness level of the phone's flashlight, a feature often requested for low-light situations where full power is too intense. The update also introduces settings to change the order of the classic three-button navigation bar and provides an expandable location indicator for better privacy management. These incremental changes focus on refining the user experience, giving people more precise control over how their device functions in everyday scenarios.
What This Means for the Future of Pixel Software
The changes in this beta release represent a meaningful evolution in Google's philosophy for the Pixel software experience. By allowing the removal of a core, signature widget, Google is acknowledging that user choice and personalization are critical, even on a tightly integrated platform like Pixel. Simultaneously, the rapid adoption of the latest Unicode emoji standard ensures Pixel users remain at the forefront of digital communication, able to express themselves with the full, current lexicon of symbols. Together, these updates make the Pixel feel less like a rigid, managed experience and more like a versatile tool that adapts to its owner's preferences. The stable release of these features, expected in the coming months, will be a welcome upgrade for the Pixel community.