New Android 13 beta makes it easier to track battery usage on Pixel phones

Google’s Android 13 QPR1 program launched the second beta version of Android 13, focusing on improving and redesigning certain aspects of the operating system.

If you look at the official release notes(opens in a new tab) there is very little information available. We do know that only Pixel phones will get this beta. More specifically, these devices are the Pixel 4a, 4a (5G), 5, 5a, 6, 6a, and Pixel 6 Pro. However, famed Android expert Mishaal Rahman broke down everything he found in the beta in a Twitter thread (opens in a new tab). He pointed to specific changes made to the Settings app, the addition of new animations, and more battery usage information.

Changes and redesigns

In the Settings app, Rahman spotted a new App Battery Usage page that gives users a brief overview of which apps are using the most battery. The beta also reintroduces the Battery Health feature under Settings Services, which originally appeared on Android 12. This tool goes into more detail about how a Pixel phone uses its battery. It dates back to when the device was last fully charged(Opens in a new tab), but that was a long time ago, and tips on how to extend battery life. Other reports show Battery Health showing users their device habits(opens in a new tab).

New support for predictive back gesture (opens in new tab) found in settings. It’s an animation that lets you see where you’re going before swiping through the app so people can decide if they want to stay or leave. Speaking of animations, a new animation was shown on the Google News Telegram channel for the Pixel’s biometrics tool (opens in a new tab). Now, when your phone’s fingerprint reader has successfully read your fingerprint, a check mark will appear on the screen. Not a big deal, but still a useful indicator.

The final set of notable changes revolves around the redesigned menu. For example, Clear Calling, a feature that reduces background noise during calls, has new images and descriptions, although it’s unavailable, according to Rahman. The Security Center has been slightly redesigned, with tools like Google Security Checkup appearing.

Joining the program

If you’re interested in trying out the beta, you first must sign up for the beta program on the Google website (opens in a new tab) (assuming you have an eligible phone). It may take up to 24 hours to receive updates. You can check if you have it by going to System Updates in the Settings app. Google is also soliciting feedback, which you can provide by sending it directly through the settings or by hopping on to the official Android Beta Program subreddit (opens in a new tab).

Considering this is a beta version, you may experience performance issues. Note that, according to Google, reverting to a more stable version of Android after trying a beta version will require you to clear “all locally saved data” on your device. Therefore, it is best not to use everyday equipment.

The beta was released in the shadow of Google’s release of the Pixel 7 phones, so it went unnoticed.

Read more articles: https://www.facebook.com/RedTomElectronics/