Google’s upcoming Android 16 operating system should bring along some significant upgrades, beginning with basic changes to status bar icons on Pixel devices. Google’s third Beta 3 unveiled some fairly subdued yet significant changes in the UI particulars, namely on battery and Wi-Fi icons.
Among the notable developments is an overhauled battery icon. The battery icon has had a simple white background for years, but that is set to change with Android 16. As uncovered by Mishaal Rahman, the battery icon will have a dynamic color scheme. The icon will remain white if the phone is sufficiently charged or fully charged. The icon will turn red, however, as the battery level drops. More colorfully, a transformation occurs when the phone is charging, with the battery icon turning green, providing a visually pleasing cue.
The battery icon will also be flipped from its previous vertical to horizontal orientation, showing a fresh appearance. Besides the color and orientation change, there will be a new bold font to show the percentage of the battery level, making it easier to read and providing a more contemporary appearance.
Besides the battery icon, Android 16 Beta 3 also introduces a new alteration to the Wi-Fi icon. In previous versions, the strength of the Wi-Fi signal was represented by five segments, but this has now been condensed to three segments, an adjustment that is another contribution to the simplicity of the status bar’s look.
These new UI components are not yet enabled by default in Android 16 Beta 3 and must be enabled manually, indicating that they are still in the testing phase. While these alterations are still in the experimental stage, they indicate the kind of visual overhaul one can anticipate with the final version.
This isn’t the first time Google has experimented with updating status bar icons. Android 15’s developer preview suggested similar changes to the battery icon, but they were ultimately not included in the stable release. It remains to be seen whether these new UI features will make it to the final version of Android 16, but they are certainly shaping up to be a bright addition to the system’s visual appeal.
