The QPR2 Beta 2 of Android 14 is now available for the Pixel 5a, Pixel 6 and later, and Android expert Mishaal Rahman, writing for Android Police, went through the update to report some of the more interesting changes.
The stable version of this update is expected to be released next year, so you may have to wait a few months before you can try it out for yourself. But for beta users looking for new games to play, or anyone who wants to know what to look forward to when they get the final update for themselves, here’s what’s new.
Android 14: Find rogue apps
Scan for rogue apps is a new feature found on the More security and privacy options page, and acts as protection against apps that try to phish your data. The feature works specifically on your device but will of course send a report to Google if it detects anything suspicious in the hopes of preventing others from falling for the same scam.
Private space
Private Space is located under Security & Privacy settings, and allows for the creation of a separate profile on your phone where you can keep certain apps separate from the rest of your phone. You can lock these apps behind the same credentials you normally use to protect your phone or a separate group, so in theory only you will be able to find the apps — even if you hand your unlocked phone to someone else. Notifications and other settings related to these apps are also hidden unless you have a private space open, which ensures they are completely hidden.
Region locked for certain apps and files is already an option in some versions of Android, such as Samsung’s One UI or Xiaomi’s HyperOS, but adding the feature to stock Android means more phone makers can use the feature or add more to it easily. However, this may be one of the Android 15 features undergoing early testing according to Rahman. So, if Private Space doesn’t make it to the stable build of Android 14 QPR2, you’ll know why.
Redesigned notifications and quick settings
The latest Android 14 beta brings a new Bluetooth toggle popup (via Rahman and AP) when you tap and hold on the relevant quick settings tile. Now, in addition to offering a quick way to disable Bluetooth, it’s also easier to switch paired devices or open Bluetooth settings to add a new device or manage an existing connection.
Speaking of quick settings, there’s now a Share Wi-Fi shortcut option (via 9to5Google) that you can add to your toolbar, which is a quick way to generate a QR code to simplify setting up a new device on your network.
Another big change to this part of the Android UI is the new notification panel layout that appears when you hold your phone in landscape mode. Instead of wasting space with an enlarged version of the standard Notification Center, the shadow now appears alongside Quick Settings, which is a smarter use of space when holding your phone sideways. This can be invaluable for Android tablets as well, as they are primarily used in landscape orientation.
App archiving, notification cooldowns, and more
App archiving support is something Google Play Store apps have been able to offer for a few months, allowing you to partially uninstall apps to free up storage space on the device when needed. The Android 14 QPR2 beta adds support for this, meaning you can now archive an app from the phone’s own settings instead of having to do so through the Play Store app.
To keep you sane when you start a group chat, the QPR2 beta adds the option to quiet notifications, either just for your chats or for all apps. Enabling this will prevent push notifications from sending you messages every time, with the option to stop vibrations when the phone is locked on top of that.
The Google Lens search circle is a fun addition that lets you highlight something on the screen to search for by dragging your finger around an object on the screen, saving you copy/paste if you have a sudden urge to find out something to review. But given that this gesture is currently hidden in the developer menu, this may not be available in the full QPR2 release.
There are two other small changes to mention among the beta updates currently discovered: You can now change your address term as part of the Regional Preferences menu, which allows you to set how you are referred to in foreign languages with different grammatical rules across all your apps. There is also a dedicated option to disable touch on the keyboard, to prevent the phone from ringing when you press the keys.
As we mentioned above, without the beta, you will have to wait several months for these changes to reach your phone. It may take longer if some of them are stuck on Android 15, or if your phone maker is a little slow in rolling out the update for your phone. But this is a solid set of upgrades that will help improve the best Android phones, especially Google Pixels.
More from Tom’s guide
The latest beta version of Android 14 has brought with it a range of exciting updates and improvements, particularly in the areas of notifications and quick settings. With changes that promise to enhance overall user experience, this update seeks to streamline and simplify the way users interact with their devices. From revamped notification controls to new quick settings options, the Android 14 beta is poised to bring significant changes to the way users engage with their smartphones.