- The first beta of Android 16 QPR2 finally brings lock screen widget support to Pixel phones, a feature previously only available on tablets.
- Users can swipe inward from the right edge of the lock screen to access a dedicated page that can be customized to hold multiple widgets.
- The feature’s arrival comes amidst the Pixel 10 launch and complements its new Qi2 support to turn the phone into a mini smart display on a stand.
It’s a big day for Pixel fans. On the heels of the Pixel 10 series launch, Google has released the first beta of Android 16 QPR2. This update is scheduled for a public rollout in December, but the beta is already giving us a taste of what’s to come. While I’ve already shared a few upcoming features in the latest Authority Insights newsletter, digging into the beta has revealed even more. For instance, it confirms that Android 16 QPR2 will finally bring lock screen widget support to Pixel phones!
Last September, Google’s Android 15 QPR1 update introduced lock screen widgets to tablets. This feature added a dedicated page to the lock screen called the “glanceable hub,” which houses a 2×3 grid for widgets. It lets users manage smart home devices, start timers, and view key financial info without unlocking their device. The company held back on bringing the feature to phones, however, as the UI wasn’t optimized for smaller screens. Since then, Google has been refining the experience and confirmed earlier this year that it would arrive on phones in a future Android 16 quarterly release.