Android 16 Update Transforms Flashlight: Customizable Navigation Finally Here!

The initial beta for Android 16 QPR3 has just been released, providing a peek into the features expected in the stable version slated for spring 2026. Highlights include a highly practical redesign of the flashlight and a long-awaited feature aimed at enhancing navigation ergonomics.

Google has recently launched the first beta of Android 16 QPR3, the upcoming iteration of its operating system set for release in March 2026. One of the notable new features is a critical location function for user privacy protection that, although tested under Android 13, had not been made available to the public before – hopefully, it will make its debut with the stable rollout of Android 16 QPR3.

In addition to introducing new functionalities, this first beta also brings significant interface advancements. The most apparent change is to the flashlight, which not only receives an aesthetic overhaul but becomes significantly more functional. However, Beta 1 of Android 16 QPR3 also holds other surprises for users, including options that enhance ergonomics.

Also read – Android 16: No more compromises, Google tests the ideal Wi-Fi option to reconcile compatibility and high-speed access

Android 16 QPR3 Redefines the Ergonomics of the Flashlight and Three-Button Navigation

First, let’s look at the updated flashlight. Previously, the tile in the Quick Settings simply functioned as an on/off switch, as noted by SmartWorld. Google has now transformed it into a vertical slider that allows users to adjust the flashlight’s brightness. As you slide the control upwards, a stylized beam widens, and an additional bar now clearly shows the maximum brightness level.

But that’s not the only innovation introduced by the first beta of Android 16 QPR3: the update also includes the option to swap the positions of two navigation buttons on the three-button bar. This bar, as the name suggests, includes three buttons: Home, Back, and Recent.

The new feature allows users to reverse the order of the Back and Recent commands, which proves to be quite convenient whether one is holding their phone with the right or left hand and prefers not to use gesture navigation. With this new feature, accessible via Settings > System > Navigation Mode, Google appears to be catching up to Samsung, which already offers this functionality.