New Android 13 beta gives you a serious customization upgrade

Android 13 QPR2 is now in its second beta for Pixel phones and that indicates a slew of new features ready to be learned — if you know exactly where to look. QPR2 beta 1 arrived out in December with the highlights getting evidence of a clock customization system and screensaver that could display weather conditions circumstances, media and household controls, along with supplemental “At a Glance”-fashion information and facts along with the Pixel’s clock, in both common-light or low-mild predicaments.

This 2nd beta also seems focused on enhanced customization, specially on the lock display screen. But the genuine showstopper is that Google is bringing its Materials You topic to all your phone’s apps no matter if application builders like it or not. 

Android professional Mishaal Rahman posted a prolonged Twitter (opens in new tab) thread just lately on all the capabilities he’s discovered so much in this new Android 13 beta and it appears like this new beta allows end users to produce monochromatic Substance You icons for any application, even if the developer has not provided a monochromatic option. 

It isn’t effortless to entry this characteristic — Google’s beta characteristics for Android typically aren’t, and we really don’t endorse screening them on your each day product. Additionally, you will need to have to root your Android phone to do so. To switch it on, you’ll have to have to go into Settings and toggle “ENABLE_Forced_MONO_ICON.” After that is completed, all applications that aid the aspect will flip monochromatic centered on your current Content You theme.

But that’s not the only exciting update that allows you express oneself on your Pixel cell phone. This most up-to-date beta also adds aid for Unicode 15 emojis, raising the emojis you can use when communicating with your good friends.

Android 13 QPR2 beta 2: New Lock screen features 

Another huge emphasis of this most recent beta is improved Lock display screen shortcuts. Android now appears to support the potential to personalize shortcuts on the lock display screen. The new beta resource code reveals the visual appearance of a “Shortcuts” page in the Lock display screen display options menu that will enable you customise what Google is currently contacting “keyguard quick affordances.” 

When this likely feature update is buried in the resource code and not obvious in the present beta, it appears that Wallet and Home Manage shortcuts are the very first shortcuts Google has in thoughts for lock monitor entry. There is also apparently a QR code scanner shortcut available but it is at present disabled by default and it would seem a digital camera shortcut and a flashlight shortcut are slated for the upcoming. In accordance to Rahman, these shortcuts could be customizable in the very same menu as the Lock screen clock.

Apart from these potential shortcuts, there is just one other Lock display feature hidden in the new beta. Rahman states that Android 13 QPR2 beta 2 now allows you command your smart household products from the lock display, but there is a catch. The respective smart household application requirements to aid this attribute for it to work. To turn on this element for all qualified applications, toggle “Show unit controls” in the Lock screen display screen configurations menu.

Android 13 QPR2 beta 2: Pill-centered features 

Pixel phones aren’t the only ones acquiring some aspect updates in beta 2. The Google Pixel Tablet is receiving a function named “Dock defender” which pauses charging on the pill when it is docked when the battery hits a certain proportion charged. Rahman implies this proportion is probably 80{f5ac61d6de3ce41dbc84aacfdb352f5c66627c6ee4a1c88b0642321258bd5462} and is equivalent to the Pixel phones’ “Battery defender” attribute. 

If you want your battery to hit a comprehensive 100{f5ac61d6de3ce41dbc84aacfdb352f5c66627c6ee4a1c88b0642321258bd5462} you can bypass this characteristic for now. Nevertheless, these options are aimed at extending the life of your device’s battery and are worthy of thinking about. I use a related attribute on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra that caps my charge at 85{f5ac61d6de3ce41dbc84aacfdb352f5c66627c6ee4a1c88b0642321258bd5462} and I have managed to survive so significantly.

There is also a tablet-type taskbar that we saw glimpses of in QPR2 beta 1. This taskbar is movable and hideable fairly than a long term UI fixture and is now enabled by default in this next beta. Though it is available on eligible Pixel telephones, it felt to us like it was intended with the Pixel Pill or rumored Google Pixel Fold in brain. It remains to be seen how significantly of an advancement it is — if at all — above the current Android taskbar on a ordinary smartphone 

Android 13 QPR2 beta 2: Productivity updates and other updates 

There are a handful of other changes in this hottest Android 13 beta truly worth mentioning. First, if you have a do the job profile established up on your Pixel cellular phone, the screenshots you take in an application running in your perform profile will preserve in that profile’s screenshots folder instead than your personal screenshots folder. Certainly a specialized niche adjust, but for individuals who use it the improved filing is likely a positive. 

Android 13 QPR2 beta 2 also delivers a however-in-advancement display-sharing attribute. This aspect permits you to share or record from just an app rather than possessing to share or document your complete display.

Spatial audio also appears to be like established to maybe come to the Pixel 7 when applying the phone’s speakers instead than just when working with headphones. The attribute however appears disabled for now, but Rahman observed a shared library that suggests Google is at least looking at the update.

Lastly, eSIM updates concealed in the beta resource code point out that Pixel phones may soon get elevated eSIM help. Rahman states that these alterations could let you to transfer an eSIM from an outdated Android phone, although it could be minimal to just Pixel telephones to start off. While eSIM has some drawbacks, it also has some main positive aspects — specifically when touring.

If you want to practical experience every thing Android 13 has to offer you, you are going to have to have to get a Pixel cellphone. Specially, you will want a Google Pixel 7 or Google Pixel 7 Professional to ensure you get obtain to all the most up-to-date and finest options. The Pixel 7 Pro in particular sits on our record of the ideal phones we’ve analyzed and there are tons of great specials available on it proper now.