Google Pixel smartphones gain improvements and bug fixes with new beta update

Google has taken the surprising move of turning its attention to its next Android 14 quarterly update (QPR). To recap, the company published QPR1 Beta 2.2 to public beta testers at the start of the month. In summary, Android 14 QPR1 Beta 2.2 brought over 30 changes to Pixel devices, including one aimed at resolving a bug that caused pink text to show in always-on-display (AOD) mode on some Pixel 8 Pro units.

Previously, the likes of 9to5Google had asserted that Google would release a Beta 3 build before moving Android 14 QPR1 to its stable software channel. However, the company has pushed Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 instead, implying that all eligible Pixel devices will soon start receiving their second major Android 14 update after the OS' stable release. Currently, Android 14 QPR1 is expected to reach stable status next month, with Google having already issued November 2023 updates to numerous Pixel devices.

For reference, Android 14 QPR2 Beta 1 is available to the Pixel 5a onwards (curr. US$210.50 on Amazon). As always, there are a few known issues, which Google has detailed in a blog post. Also, Android 14 QPR2 should resolve the following three issues that were outstanding in QPR1:

• Fixed an issue that caused the package manager to crash when installing some apps.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented users from submitting feedback using the Android Beta Feedback app.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes prevented a device from connecting to a 5G network when it was available.

Moreover, Google has bundled various changes, which Mishaal Rahman has detailed in a lengthy Twitter thread. For now, most are minor improvements to Android 14, including the option of setting Screen Record to record a single app rather than everything shown on screen. Google has given the default volume slider a Material You refresh, too. Please see Rahman's thread below for more details.