Android
Android 16 Quick Settings redesign and Google’s lead in the right-to-repair with Pixel 9 manuals
Top 3 Key Points:
- Android 16 could introduce a redesigned Quick Settings and notification shade with a new overlay feature.
- Google is advancing the right-to-repair movement with detailed, easy-to-read Pixel 9 repair guides.
- The Pixel 9 repair manuals are helping to empower users, contrasting with the industry’s traditional resistance to self-repair.
Google is working on a new Quick Settings design that may debut with Android 16. Since Android 12, Quick Settings have remained mostly the same, offering users eight large tiles in a 2×4 grid. Android 15 QPR1 reveals an early redesign that will likely launch with Android 16.
This new layout could include a notification shade overlay, allowing you to still see the app you’re using underneath. While this design is still in development, it shows a large clock and status icons but doesn’t display Quick Settings initially, which seems unusual.
The redesigned Quick Settings panel may come with a modern brightness slider in a pill shape, followed by a 2×2 grid of tiles. Below that, a 4×2 grid of smaller tiles might offer quick access to settings, allowing up to 12-16 tiles per page, improving functionality. Google is also working on a light theme for Quick Settings to enhance the visual experience.
On another front, Google is making strides in the right-to-repair movement. While other companies, like Samsung, have struggled with repair partnerships, Google has excelled by teaming up with iFixit and pushing for repair-friendly laws. Google’s Pixel 9 series manuals stand out for being clear, easy to read, and informative—empowering users to learn more about their devices.
In an interview, Steven Nickel, who leads consumer hardware operations at Google, explained that their goal is to make Pixel phones easier to repair for everyone. While the future of DIY phone repairs might be a long way off, Google is making progress with its repair manuals. These guides provide simple step-by-step instructions, explaining every component of the Pixel 9 devices.
Unlike many repair guides that seem designed for professionals, Google’s manuals are user-friendly, breaking the norm for tech giants. Some users have found these manuals more helpful than even assembly guides from companies like Ikea. This effort by Google to educate its users is a significant step toward removing the stigma surrounding at-home tech repairs. By empowering users with knowledge, Google is leading the right-to-repair movement.
While it’s not yet possible for most people to fix their smartphones at home, Google’s approach to user education is laying the groundwork. The company’s detailed Pixel 9 repair guides are the clearest example of this effort, helping users understand their devices and breaking the barriers set by the tech industry around self-repair.