No More Blinding Glare: Google Pixel Phones Will Get Flashlight Brightness Controls

It’s one of those features we all use almost every day, often without a second thought: the trusty flashlight on our smartphones. Whether you’re fumbling for keys in the dark or trying to find something under the couch, it’s a simple, essential tool. But on most Android phones, it’s always been a rather blunt instrument – either on or off, with no in-between. Good news for Google Pixel users: a future Android 16 build will bring native flashlight brightness controls right to your fingertips.

A future Android 16 build will bring flashlight brightness controls to Google Pixel phones

Imagine needing just a subtle glow to find your way in a dark room without blinding yourself or others. Or perhaps a super-bright beam when you’re truly in an emergency. With Android 16, this kind of granular control will finally become a standard part of the OS for Google Pixel phones. You won’t be stuck with a single intensity anymore.

As spotted by Android Authority, you’ll be able to adjust the flashlight’s brightness directly from your Quick Settings panel, likely via a simple slider. This isn’t a custom trick implemented by individual phone makers. It will actually be a core feature baked into Android itself. Some manufacturers, like Samsung, have offered similar controls on their devices for a while through their custom skins. But soon, this much-requested functionality will be available by default in Android, starting with its Pixel lineup.

A small change, a big difference

It might seem like a simple or small detail. However, these “quality of life” improvements often make the biggest difference in day-to-day phone usage. No more fumbling with third-party apps or wishing for less (or more) light. This native integration via an upcoming Android 16 update ensures a smooth, consistent experience across Pixel devices.

Interestingly, the underlying technology for controlling flashlight intensity has actually been present in Android’s developer tools for a while. This means other phone brands and app developers have been able to integrate similar controls into their products. It’s strange that it hasn’t arrived as a native option on the world’s most popular mobile OS in years. Anyway, let’s hope this handy utility doesn’t take much longer to become available.