Android
Android 16 Quick Settings redesign and Google’s lead in the right-to-repair with Pixel 9 manuals
Top 3 Key Points:
- Android 16 could introduce a redesigned Quick Settings and notification shade with a new overlay feature.
- Google is advancing the right-to-repair movement with detailed, easy-to-read Pixel 9 repair guides.
- The Pixel 9 repair manuals are helping to empower users, contrasting with the industry’s traditional resistance to self-repair.
Google is working on a new Quick Settings design that may debut with Android 16. Since Android 12, Quick Settings have remained mostly the same, offering users eight large tiles in a 2×4 grid. Android 15 QPR1 reveals an early redesign that will likely launch with Android 16.
This new layout could include a notification shade overlay, allowing you to still see the app you’re using underneath. While this design is still in development, it shows a large clock and status icons but doesn’t display Quick Settings initially, which seems unusual.
The redesigned Quick Settings panel may come with a modern brightness slider in a pill shape, followed by a 2×2 grid of tiles. Below that, a 4×2 grid of smaller tiles might offer quick access to settings, allowing up to 12-16 tiles per page, improving functionality. Google is also working on a light theme for Quick Settings to enhance the visual experience.
On another front, Google is making strides in the right-to-repair movement. While other companies, like Samsung, have struggled with repair partnerships, Google has excelled by teaming up with iFixit and pushing for repair-friendly laws. Google’s Pixel 9 series manuals stand out for being clear, easy to read, and informative—empowering users to learn more about their devices.
In an interview, Steven Nickel, who leads consumer hardware operations at Google, explained that their goal is to make Pixel phones easier to repair for everyone. While the future of DIY phone repairs might be a long way off, Google is making progress with its repair manuals. These guides provide simple step-by-step instructions, explaining every component of the Pixel 9 devices.
Unlike many repair guides that seem designed for professionals, Google’s manuals are user-friendly, breaking the norm for tech giants. Some users have found these manuals more helpful than even assembly guides from companies like Ikea. This effort by Google to educate its users is a significant step toward removing the stigma surrounding at-home tech repairs. By empowering users with knowledge, Google is leading the right-to-repair movement.
While it’s not yet possible for most people to fix their smartphones at home, Google’s approach to user education is laying the groundwork. The company’s detailed Pixel 9 repair guides are the clearest example of this effort, helping users understand their devices and breaking the barriers set by the tech industry around self-repair.
Google’s May 2025 Android updates bring exciting changes to improve how your phone works and how you message. These updates focus on making devices faster, safer, and more user-friendly.
One big change is to Android’s memory system. By increasing the memory page size from 4KB to 16KB on newer devices, apps can load quicker and use less power. This helps phones, especially those with modern chips, run smoothly and save battery life. Older devices will stick with the smaller page size to avoid issues.
The Google System Updates for May also add new features. Google Wallet now supports more card types and makes transit passes easier to use in apps like Google Maps. The Play Store now shows video previews of apps, helping you decide what to download. There are also fixes to improve battery life, storage, and network performance, making your phone more reliable.
For Google Messages, a new “delete for everyone” feature lets you remove sent messages from group chats within 15 minutes. This works for both RCS and SMS, so you can fix mistakes easily. Other messaging upgrades include better scam detection and the ability to send high-quality photos and videos. These updates show Google’s effort to make Android devices faster, more secure, and better for communication. Keep your phone updated to enjoy these improvements!
Google is rolling out exciting changes to its YouTube, Gemini, and Google Home apps, making them more user-friendly and packed with cool features. These updates, announced in May 2025, aim to improve how you watch videos, edit images, and control your smart home.
The YouTube app for TVs is getting a fresh look. You’ll see better video previews, easier ways to subscribe to channels, and a smoother interface for browsing playlists and comments. Autoplay will also work smarter, keeping you hooked on your favorite content without extra clicks. These changes will hit your screens by summer 2025, perfect for binge-watching on Google TV or Android TV.
Meanwhile, the Gemini app now lets you edit images like a pro. Want to change a photo’s background or add fun elements? Just type what you want, and Gemini’s AI makes it happen while keeping the original picture intact. It even adds a small “ai” watermark to show it’s edited. This feature is available in the U.S. and works on both uploaded and AI-made images, with more countries getting access soon.
The Google Home app (version 3.32) is also stepping up. It now supports more smart devices, like cameras and doorbells, and offers quicker controls for lights and thermostats. A new “Activity” tab lets you see what’s happening with your devices in one place, making your smart home easier to manage.
These updates show Google’s focus on making its apps simpler and more powerful, whether you’re streaming, creating, or managing your home. Keep an eye out for these changes to enhance your daily tech experience
Google is rolling out its May 2025 software update for Pixel devices, making things smoother for phones, tablets, and the Pixel Watch app. This update is all about fixing bugs and adding a small but nice change for Pixel Watch users. It’s available for devices running Android 15, like the Pixel 6, 7, 8, 9 series, and Pixel Tablet. The rollout started on May 7, 2025, and will reach devices over the next week, depending on your carrier.
For Pixel phones and tablets, the update tackles three key issues: better microphone recording, improved Bluetooth pairing, and general performance tweaks. It also includes 28 security fixes, with one possibly being targeted by hackers, so updating soon is a good idea. If you have a Pixel 6 or 8, note that this update locks the bootloader, meaning you can’t go back to older software versions.
On the Pixel Watch side, there’s no major device update this month, but the Pixel Watch app on Android now has a light theme option. This gives the app a brighter, cleaner look, making it easier to use in different lighting.
Google might share more about Wear OS at I/O 2025, but for now, the app’s new style is a welcome touch. To get the update, check your device settings. Pixel users can expect a notification soon, but you can also manually check for it. Stay updated for a better, safer experience.
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