Overview

• The September Pixel Feature Drop (Android 16 QPR1) is reaching Pixel 6 through Pixel 9, plus Pixel Fold models and the Pixel Tablet, bringing the Pixel 10 design language to older hardware.
• Material 3 Expressive adds translucent, blurred surfaces across Quick Settings, notifications and the status bar, the app drawer, and the lock screen, alongside larger controls, fresh colors, and new haptic‑backed animations.
• Google says it is building a system-wide setting to disable the blur following user feedback, though it has not given a date for its release.
• Battery saver modes turn off the blur automatically, which explains why some beta users did not see the effect during testing, and the real-time GPU rendering required can increase power draw.
• Some features are arriving in stages, with animated lock screen effects live now, Pixel Buds Pro 2 additions such as Adaptive Audio, loud sound protection, and head‑gesture call control expected later in September, while Live Updates were not confirmed in Google’s announcement.