One of Pixel’s most adored features is undergoing a small yet significant change in the Android 16 QPR1 beta release, and not everyone is happy about it. If you’re a Pixel user, you likely love the At a Glance widget, which sits at the top of your home screen, lock screen, and Always On Display (AOD).
This widget has been designed to deliver timely, useful information right when you need it.
Besides showing the date and current weather, the widget also alerts users about:
- Air quality readings
- Severe weather alerts
- Earthquake notifications
- Upcoming events, including calendar appointments, hotel reservations, and reminders
- Status updates for delivery and pickup orders
- Traffic and commute times
- Suggested departure times to make your events on time
- Flight, train, and other travel details pulled from Gmail
- Fitness data from selected apps
- Safety check countdown from the Personal Safety app
- Timer and stopwatch details
- Connection status for Pixel Buds and other connected devices
- Viewing images from your Nest or Ring doorbell cameras
- Shortcuts for turning on the flashlight
- Real-time Google news updates
Many Pixel owners with compatible devices (Pixel 6 and newer) are now running Android 16 QPR1 beta after the stable Android 16 update was already installed. However, some users on Reddit noticed a small, yet noticeable change: the weather icon in the At a Glance widget has switched from its usual vibrant color to a simple white icon. Previously, a sunny day would display a bright yellow sun, but now the same icon appears as a plain white symbol.
This change has led to an ongoing discussion on Reddit. Some users are in favor of the minimalist look, stating, “I actually prefer it without colors. It’s cleaner and less cluttered. The colorful icons were kind of ugly.” Others, however, are not impressed. “It takes up too much space at the top of the screen. I don’t like it,” one user lamented. Another user pointed out the inconsistency: “So, you complained that it took up too much screen space, and now you’re mad because it looks boring? Google can’t win with you guys, just switch to an iPhone.”
Perhaps the most reasonable suggestion came from a user who proposed adding a toggle feature: “Google should let us decide. If we want the colorful icons back, we should be able to turn them on.” For now, it seems like Google’s decision is final, but Pixel users continue to share their thoughts on the matter.
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