Android 16 Beta 3.1 boosts Pixel speed and fixes bugs, Wear OS 5.1 hits LTE Pixel Watches

Just days after its big launch, Google has started sending out Android 16 Beta 3.1 to Pixel phones and tablets. This update tackles some annoying problems that were messing with everyday use.
The update, labeled BP22.250221.013, comes with the March 2025 security fix. It works on tons of Pixel models, like the Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Tablet, Fold, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold.

It fixes a bug that made the Settings app crash over and over when the phone wasn’t set to English. Another fix stops the screen brightness from jumping between app settings and the phone’s auto or manual settings. It also solves a battery-draining issue caused by the processor working too hard and stops memory leaks that slow things down. On a Pixel 9, the update is a tiny 6.70 MB download.

If your device is in the Android Beta for Pixel program, you’ll get this update wirelessly. Meanwhile, the Wear OS 5.1 update is now rolling out to LTE versions of the Pixel Watch 3 and 2, plus the first Pixel Watch. Two weeks back, it hit a third of devices, but now it’s ready for more. Before this, only the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Pixel Watch 2 and 3 had it. Built on Android 15, this update also reaches LTE models and the older Pixel Watch.

For the watches, the update codes are BP1A.250305.019.W2 for the Pixel Watch 1 and BP1A.250305.019.W3 for the 2 and 3. The delay might be because of carrier checks, and the first watch uses an older chip. Wear OS 5.1 brings easier logins with passwords or services like Google Sign-In.

Apps can now play music through the watch speaker. Google swapped the yellow accent color for gray in some spots and added a simpler Settings > Modes menu. There’s also a new option for developers to keep the clock clear when the wrist is down. Other perks, like better health tracking and YouTube Music controls, are coming through app updates.