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Google may have yet to roll out the stable Android 14 update to Pixel devices, but it has already begun preparations for the next major feature update based on the new Android version. It has released the Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 for eligible Pixel phones, the Pixel Tablet, and the Pixel Fold.
Quarterly Platform Releases, aka QPRs, are quarterly feature updates for Pixels. Google pushes new features, improvements, and other changes that don’t require an OS upgrade through these releases. QPRs come once every three months throughout the year. Ahead of that, the company tests the update with beta builds. The beta updates are relatively stable, though they do need some finishing touches.
The first QPR or QPR1 usually follows a major Android OS update. Google has delayed the Android 14 release this year for reasons best known to itself. However, this hasn’t stopped the company from pushing the first Android 14 QPR1 beta. The update will be automatically available to Pixel users enrolled in the Android 14 beta program. They don’t need to do anything from their end. The stable QPR1 release will come in December.
The beta update comes with the build number U1B1.230908.003 and bundles the September 2023 security patch. As far as the eligible models are concerned, this beta update is available for the Pixel 5a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel Fold. It’s available for the Android Emulator as well. The Pixel 4a 5G and Pixel 5, both of which will get Android 14, are not eligible for further feature updates.
Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 known issues
The Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 isn’t completely free of bugs. The official release notes provided by Google state that the device may occasionally fail to connect to cellular service after swapping SIM cards. It’s unclear if this is a temporary issue or a more severe one. We hope it’s the former. The battery level in the status bar may also sometimes show up as 0% temporarily. You can use the Android Beta Feedback app to report bugs if you find any.
This update brings a major new feature as well, particularly for large-screen devices such as foldables and tablets. It lets you change the aspect ratio of apps. A newly added settings menu allows you to manually force apps such as Instagram to go full screen on the Pixel Tablet or Pixel Fold. If the full-screen UI looks too stretched, you can select from other preset aspect ratios such as 4:3 and 16:9.
If you are on the latest Android 14 beta build and don’t want to install Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1 on your Pixel, you can opt out of the beta program by visiting this official website. You will be prompted to downgrade to Android 13, but you can ignore the update. Downgrading will wipe out your device’s data. Keep ignoring the Android 13 downgrade until you receive the stable Android 14 update, which has a build version starting with UP1A.