Android 13 QPR3 Beta 3 has recently been released with a handful of changes, one of which is a surprising tweak to the design of the 3 button navigation. The most noticeable change is that all the icons, especially the Home circle, are slightly larger than before. This change can be seen in comparison to Android 14 Beta 1, which does not have this change yet and is similar to the stable release of Android 13 QPR2 in April.
Android 13 QPR3 Beta 3: A Surprising Tweak to the 3 Button Navigation Design
Another change is that when “Hold Home for Assistant” is on, there is no longer a distinct ring around the circle. In fact, the circle is even larger when that option is off. However, you still get the four color dots when you tap quickly. Lastly, the triangle features more rounded points, which makes it more delightful for closing an open keyboard.
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The redesigned 3 button navigation may be available in the stable Android 13 QPR3 release. It will be accompanied by other changes, such as the return of battery percentage in the top right corner. You can see this when you initially swipe down for Quick Settings/Notifications. There is also a new fullscreen wallpaper preview and tweaks to Home Controls. Additionally, Enhanced PIN privacy will remove animations.
The setting page for Pixel Launcher search has a new toggle. Google calls it “Device results” and it is for “History-based device results and suggestions.” However, it is unclear what this toggle adds or removes. Lastly, Google has switched the position of App info and Pause (Digital Wellbeing) when long-pressing an app icon on the homescreen, which may disrupt some users.
Android 13 QPR3 will hit stable in June with the next Pixel Feature Drop. The beta program for this update has been somewhat accelerated, with Beta 1 being released a week later than expected, followed by Beta 2 after only two weeks. Now, we’re seeing Beta 3 before the expected May release. The changes to the 3 button navigation and other features in Android 13 QPR3 are significant. They are sure to keep users engaged and excited for the upcoming release.
