Google dropped Android 16’s Developer Preview earlier than we expected. The new operating system has just entered its very initial stage of development. Here, in the Android 16 DP1, the Notification Panel and Quick Settings interface remain as intact as the Android 15.
In this page, we explore the Notification Panel and Quick Settings debuted in Android 16 DP1. Here are the key aspects of the most useful interfaces:
- Notification Panel – Sticky Toggles
- Quick Settings – Brightness Slider and Quick Tiles
- Status Bar
- User and Power Menu Toggle
Major design changes are unlikely, even in the next DP and Beta builds. Google refrains from making radical interface changes but focuses on improving the functionality.
Notification Panel – Sticky Toggles
A single-down swipe on the home screen triggers the Notification Panel and sticky Quick Settings toggles. It’s the same way we’ve been using in previous Android versions.
Listed notifications can be extended to display additional content. There’s a downward arrow on each notification tab, letting you expand the notification(s).
Swipe left or right to remove the notification from the interface. Press and hold operation opens the corresponding app’s notification settings, offering Default and Silent suggestions, accompanied by the Turn off button.
Quick Settings – Brightness Slider and Quick Tiles
The above part, which occupies around 20% of screen space, boasts four tiles of Quick Settings. You can easily set your preferred toggles as sticky toggles to paper with the Notification Panel for quick access.
The first four toggles automatically become sticky tiles in the Notification Panel. You need to expand the Quick Settings section to gain access to some of the most useful toggles, such as:
- Brightness Slider
- Paginated Quick Settings Tiles
- Edit button of Quick Settings Section
- User Switcher (if in use)
- System Setting Quick Toggle
- Power Menu Toggle
The brightness slider has cool haptic feedback, giving a mechanical shift feel. Then comes Quick Settings Tiles, which are functional on single-click, while pressing and holding expands a tiny window with additional settings.
Status Bar
Status Bar in Android 16 DP1 is replicated from the most recent Android 15 QPR Beta build. From left to right, the Status Bar contains a digital clock, and date (in Day, Month Date) format, leaving the middle area vacant for notification icons.
From right to left, there’s a battery percentage indicator followed by a battery icon. The rumored network signal bars haven’t debuted in DP1, featuring the older look with a network indicator (LTE/5G) followed by a WiFi icon (if in use).
User and Power Menu Toggle
Pixel phones allow you to create a separate user profile, which can be used by a different user or as a work profile. When enabled, the user profile switch becomes available right before the system Settings toggle in the Quick Settings section.
The system Settings toggle is attached for quicker and easier access. The right-sided toggle allows you to access the power menu, where you can pick the needed option from:
- Emergency SOS
- Lockdown
- Shut Down
- Restart
That’s it for now. We’ve installed the Android 16 Developer Preview 1 on our review unit. Which aspect of the interface do you want to be covered like this, do let us know through the comments section.
