With the March Feature Drop all but ready, Google’s beta program has a new focus
This article covers a developing story. Continue to check back with us as we will be adding more information as it becomes available.
Summary
- Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 is now available for beta testers, giving them early access to the June Pixel Feature Drop.
- The update includes the February security patches and resolves an issue where Circle to Search was unintentionally released only to non-beta users.
- The update has a build number of AP21.240119.009 and a Play Services version of 23.50.14.
Until Android 15 arrives, Google’s beta program will focus on Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) versions, more commonly known as Pixel Feature Drops. Android 14 QPR2, or the March 2024 Feature Drop, has been put through the paces, and it appears that Google is satisfied with its stability, as that beta program has now ended and another one is just getting started.
Google announced Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 on Reddit today, and while most of the user-facing changes expected with the June Pixel Feature Drop aren’t active yet, the new version gives beta testers their first look at the new Circle to Search feature that rolled out to Pixel 8 users on the stable channel last week. The feature is still exclusive to the Pixel 8 series, but this update is being made available to all eligible devices enrolled in the beta program, starting with the Pixel 5a.
Google’s introducing a new Android gesture for its Circle to Search feature
Circle to Search leverages AI to find information about elements on your screen
Today’s update has a build number of AP21.240119.009 and a Play Services version of 23.50.14. The Google Play System Update version is still listed as November 2023, likely an artifact of the buggy January update still being unresolved, but the new firmware does include the February security patches that were released to the stable channel earlier this week. The release notes are minimal and almost read like an apology for letting stable channel users get access to Circle to Search before beta testers:
Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 resolves the following issue and also includes fixes for some issues that are not noted here.
So far, we’ve noticed that the update seems to install quickly, even though it clocks in at 237MB on the Pixel 6 and 301MB on the Pixel 8 Pro. It seems Google’s on-again, off-again app optimization improvements are back on with this version, after we had seen intermittent slow and speedy installation times throughout the QPR2 beta.
Thanks: Eduardo and Moshe
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