Google’s latest platform release beta is live for eligible Pixel phones, and although it comes in the form of more of a matchstick than a fireball this time around, you’ve still got a few significant improvements that provide an early look at what’s on its way to our next Google-powered device feature drop. The marquee enhancements: new icon shape options for the Pixel Launcher, and on‑device step tracking in Health Connect — small but tangible quality‑of‑life improvements.
Icon shape switch returns to the Pixel Launcher
Pixel owners can again tweak the shape of application icons on their home screens. Open Wallpaper & Style, open the Home Screen tab and click Icons to see five choices: the familiar circle and square, plus a “rounded diamond,” a seven‑sided polygon, and an “arch.” It’s a small detail, but one that can help your grid better mirror your wallpaper, Material You theme or accessibility concerns.
That’s a notable turnaround from the previous trend, which began with Android 10 and its old Styles & Wallpapers system. For many generations, Pixels had hinged on adaptive and themed icons with less wiggle room for form customizations. To bring control back to personalization, while still not needing to lean on third‑party launchers or icon packs.
In practice, shape changes marry neatly with auto‑themed icons and dynamic color — it irons out visual discontinuities among, say, first‑ vs third‑party apps. If you prefer that sort of neat, polished feel, opting for an arch or a polygon makes mixed sets so much more cohesive — that’s particularly true on the bigger screen where spacing and symmetry matter.
Health Connect can now track steps on your phone
Health Connect, Google’s on‑device hub for fitness and wellness data, now allows developers to count steps using the sensors of your phone. Open the app after you’ve installed the beta and you’ll get a notice letting you know that steps tracked by your device are now saved in Health Connect, making them accessible to connected apps.
That shift is noteworthy for two reasons. Firstly, it provides a simple native way to expose step data such that people without a smartwatch can feed it into services like Fitbit, Samsung Health, MyFitnessPal or Peloton (it’s far less hassle to manage one permissioned hub than whatever we’re currently doing with many “phone‑based” counters). Second, it eliminates duplication: instead of all four apps polling the motion sensor independently, Health Connect centralizes both collection and distribution which can reduce system‑wide overhead.
From a technical standpoint, many Android‑powered devices offer up hardware step counters and activity recognition to reduce power consumption, which Health Connect utilizes by accessing those standard sensors and saving the data directly onto the device with fine‑grained control over what’s stored on your phone. Google’s developer guidelines say that apps should request per‑data‑type access (steps, heart rate, sleep and so on), so you’re in control of which services can read or write your movement history.
Like any new source in the Health Connect system, individual apps may need an update or a switch to be thrown to leverage phone‑tracked steps. If your preferred fitness app does not immediately show the new data, look for its Health Connect permissions or wait for the developer to update their support.
What this means for Pixel’s next feature drop
There are fewer in‑your‑face changes this time than there were in the first beta, but what has been added to QPR2 Beta 2 makes quite a bit of sense: polish and OS‑level consolidation.
The addition of icon shape control in the Pixel Launcher is a feature that adds even more flexibility, but without overwhelming configuration (and Health Connect as the first‑party step counter reinforces Google’s quest to hoover up sensitive data under one, private on‑device layer).
These will be subject to change, as this is the beta software. If you’re too tempted and just want to try the update, register an eligible Pixel with Google’s official beta program, back up your data and prepare for a few rough edges. Disengaging from the program often leads to a device wipe, so brace yourself.
Should these features ship as they currently appear, Pixel users of all types can look forward to a more personalized home screen and an easier fitness setup that’s friendly toward the broader health app ecosystem — all without compromising their privacy or battery life. It’s not a radical reimagining, but it’s the sort of everyday perfection that stays with you.
