Seeing what developers have in store for us through beta software is always exciting, and a glance at the most recent Android 16 beta has shown that Google has some changes planned for how you interact with ongoing calls.
Users may now access their call settings straight from a pop-up window in the Android 16 QPR1 Beta 2 release without of having to exit the app view and open the full-screen call app. This means you can hang up right from the bubble pop-up, switch to speaker mode, or mute your caller.
A little but beneficial improvement
Convenience is the main factor
Some people may be surprised to learn that a smartphone’s main purpose is to be a phone. But in the midst of flashy games, noisy TikTok videos, and selfies, that can be overlooked. Fortunately, Google hasn’t forgotten about it, and the most recent Android 16 beta build includes some enhancements to the call experience. Even though these improvements are minor, they have a significant impact on how calls can be handled and concluded. It implies that instead of launching the entire call app, you can engage with your call immediately from a status bar pop-up.
The way it operates is demonstrated in the Android Authority video above. When the standard status bar icon is tapped when on a call, a tiny pop-up bubble with the choices to mute the call, switch to speaker mode, and hang up is displayed. This is a significant departure from Android 15’s call behavior, which opened the call app when the call icon was tapped. Although it might not seem like much, it allows you to mute or end a call while remaining in the program you are now using.
Although it’s not a significant shift, even minor adjustments to one’s quality of life can have a significant impact on society as a whole. No matter how big or tiny, new Android 16 features always delight us.
