Google has brought back its fun Androidify app, letting you design a unique Android Bot to show off your style. Plus, the Android 16 QPR1 update is here with cool new features for Pixel users. Let’s dive into what’s new and how you can make the most of these updates.

Make Your Own Android Bot with Androidify

The revamped Androidify app is a blast, using AI to turn your photos or text prompts into a custom Android Bot. Powered by Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash and Imagen AI, the app creates a personalized avatar in seconds. You can tweak it further by picking colors, outfits, and accessories, then add backgrounds like “Music Lover” or “Soccer Fanatic.”

Once your Bot is ready, save it as an image, sticker, or even a short video (available every Friday using Google’s Veo 3 model). Download the app for free on the Google Play Store or try it online at Android.com. Share your creations on social media with #androidify to join the fun.

What’s New in Android 16 QPR1

The Android 16 QPR1 update, part of the September 2025 Pixel Feature Drop, brings a fresh look and handy tools to Pixel phones. The standout is the Material 3 Expressive design, which adds smooth animations, colorful themes, and a touch of background blur to make your phone feel lively.

The Quick Settings panel is now more flexible—you can resize tiles, toggle Bluetooth with one tap, and enjoy a sleeker brightness slider.

Another big addition is Desktop Mode, turning your Pixel (Pixel 8 and later) into a mini-computer when connected to an external display. You can move and resize app windows, similar to a laptop, making it great for multitasking. Tablets get an even better experience, with the screen acting as a second monitor.

Live Updates, like iOS’s Live Activities, show real-time notifications on your lock screen or status bar, perfect for tracking tasks. Plus, Auracast support lets you share audio with nearby devices easily, no toggles needed.

Why It Matters

These updates make your Android experience more personal and powerful. Whether you’re creating a fun Bot or exploring the revamped Pixel interface, Google’s latest tools bring creativity and convenience to your fingertips. Check out Androidify and update your Pixel to Android 16 QPR1 to see what’s new!

Google is rolling out exciting updates to make your Android experience even better. The Google Play Games app is getting a big profile upgrade, while Google Messages is adding a quick way to share photos and videos. Here’s what you need to know about these changes.

Google Play Games Profile Revamp

The Google Play Games app is set to launch updated user profiles on September 23, 2025, with a fresh look and new features. These profiles will act like a gaming hub, showing off your gaming stats, achievements, and favorite titles in a way that feels similar to Steam’s public profiles.

You’ll be able to access your profile directly from the Google Play Store, making it easier to check your gaming progress or share it with friends. The new design includes social features, so you can connect with others and show off milestones, like high scores or completed games.

To make this work, Google will collect data about the games you play and when you play them. This helps create a personalized profile but comes with a catch: you can’t opt out of this data collection.

Thankfully, your existing privacy settings will stay in place, so you won’t need to tweak anything when the update arrives. Developers will also continue to get info about your gaming activity to improve the app’s features.

Google Messages Gallery Shortcut

On the messaging side, Google Messages is testing a new feature to make sharing media faster. A recent beta version (20250902_00_RC00) includes a gallery shortcut right in the text input area. This small button, shaped like a picture frame, sits next to the text bar and lets you quickly jump to your phone’s gallery to pick photos or videos to send.

It’s a time-saver compared to digging through the attachment menu.For now, this shortcut is in testing and only available in the beta version. It’s unclear when it’ll roll out to everyone, but it promises to make chats more seamless, especially for those who love sharing snaps or clips with friends.

Why These Updates Matter

Both updates aim to make your Android apps more user-friendly. The Play Games profile revamp adds a fun, social layer to gaming, while the Messages gallery shortcut simplifies sharing. Keep an eye out for these changes to enhance your Android experience!

Google’s Pixel 10 series, which launched with Android 16 QPR1, is now receiving a September 2025 security update for some users. This update, weighing around 70 MB, brings the build number to BD3A.250721.001.B7 and includes the September 5, 2025, security patch.

While the Google Play system update stays at June 1, 2025, this patch likely includes bug fixes, though specific details haven’t been shared. Not all Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro XL owners are seeing this update yet, as Google hasn’t fully released the new factory and OTA images.

The rollout seems to be gradual, and the Pixel 10 series isn’t part of the Android Beta Program at this time.In an interesting twist, some U.S. Pixel 10 users who requested replacement devices due to issues like screen problems have received global versions of the phone.

Unlike the U.S. models, which only support eSIM and lack a physical SIM card slot, these global replacements include a physical SIM slot. This has been a surprise for users, as Google removed the physical SIM slot from U.S. Pixel 10 models to focus on eSIM and mmWave 5G support.

The global version, however, skips mmWave 5G but keeps the SIM slot, offering more flexibility for those who prefer physical SIM cards. The move to eSIM-only in the U.S. sparked some debate, as it limits carrier options for users who rely on physical SIMs. Meanwhile, global units maintain both eSIM and physical SIM support, making the replacement units a unique case.

For now, it’s unclear why Google is sending global models as replacements, but it’s a notable quirk for affected users. If you’re waiting for the September update, check your Pixel 10’s system settings, though it may take time to reach all devices.

This mix of software updates and unexpected hardware differences highlights Google’s ongoing efforts to refine the Pixel 10 experience.