Tired of the same old look on your Android home screen? For years, Android users have turned to third-party launchers to get a bit of customization. However, a new change coming straight from Google could make that a thing of the past. The latest beta release for Pixel devices, Android 16 QPR2 Beta 2, has a highly anticipated feature that’s finally available for testing: custom app icon shapes.
Android 16 QPR2 ‘custom icon shapes’ feature now available in beta
This new Android 16 feature allows you to ditch the standard icon look and choose from a variety of new shapes that will apply to every app on your home screen and in your app drawer. It’s a small but significant step toward giving users more control over their device’s aesthetics without having to download a separate app or dig deep into developer settings (spotted by Android Authority).
The new icon shapes are the most visible change in this beta. After all, they allow you to transform how your phone’s UI looks. However, Google has also packed in a number of important updates under the hood.
Android 16 improvements beyond changing icon shapes
Android’s core is getting a performance boost with a new “Generational Concurrent Mark-Compact” (CMC) garbage collector. This sounds technical, but what it means for you is a faster, smoother experience with less stuttering and better battery efficiency.
On the security side, Google is taking new steps to protect users. There’s a new developer verification system that aims to make the app ecosystem safer by making it harder for bad actors to distribute harmful software. Additionally, a new security feature will help combat “one-time password” (OTP) hijacking. Basically, it will delay the delivery of certain harmful messages, giving you an extra layer of protection.
Other notable additions include automatic step tracking in Health Connect using your device’s sensors and new options for developers to create richer, more interactive apps. This beta is currently rolling out to a wide range of Pixel phones and the Pixel Tablet, from the Pixel 6 series up to the newest Pixel 10 models. Everything indicates that the final, stable version of Android 16 QPR2 will be ready in time for its December public release.
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