Android 16’s New Beta Makes Changing Call Settings Easier

It’s always fun to look ahead to beta software to see what developers have in store for us, and a dive into the latest Android 16 beta has revealed that Google has some changes planned for how you interact with ongoing calls.

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In the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 build, users can now interact with their call settings directly from a pop-up, rather than dumping your current app view and launching the full screen call app. This means you can change to speaker mode, put your caller on mute, or hang up directly from the bubble pop-up.

A small but helpful upgrade

It’s all about convenience

It might come as a shock to some, but the primary function of a smartphone is to be a phone. But that can get lost among a flurry of loud TikTok videos, selfie snaps, and bright games. Thankfully, Google hasn’t lost sight of that, and is bundling some improvements to the call interface into the latest Android 16 beta build. These upgrades are admittedly small, but they make a big difference in how calls can be interacted with and ended. Specifically, it means you can interact directly with your call from a status bar pop-up, rather than having to jump into the full call app.

The video above from Android Authority shows how it works. While in a call, the usual status bar icon appears, but when tapped, it opens a small pop-up bubble that displays options to hang up, change to speaker mode, and mute the call. This is a big change to call behavior in Android 15, which would open the call app when the call icon is tapped. That may not seem like a big deal, but it means you can hang up or mute a call while staying in whatever app you’re in already. It’s a more seamless experience, and that matters on a device you use each and every day.

It’s not a massive change by any means, but small quality-of-life changes like these can make a big difference across the board. We’re always excited for new Android 16 features, no matter how large or small.

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