The flashlight on the Pixel will get smarter: brightness control will appear in Android 16

The flashlight is a useful feature found in all modern smartphones, and its practicality will increase even more when there’s a brightness adjustment option. Apparently, this option will finally arrive on Pixel phones with the upcoming Android update.

According to Android Authority, the latest Android Canary test build already includes a slider to change the brightness of the flashlight right from the Quick Settings panel. The feature has long been available on top iPhones and Samsung smartphones, and now the Pixel is catching up with the competition. The ability to adjust the brightness of the flashlight can be useful in a variety of situations, from looking for keys in the dark to reading a menu in a restaurant in dim light.

Although the feature was introduced back in Android 13 in 2022, it hasn’t been fully implemented in Pixel phones until now, and you’ve had to use third-party apps to change the brightness.

And while the feature was introduced in Android 13 in 2022, it hasn’t been fully implemented in Pixel phones until now.

Someday in an updateThe new feature is expected to arrive in the Android 16 QPR2 update, which will be released in September 2025. It’s a quarterly update to the platform that should roll out quickly to compatible devices.

• Improved dark mode with more flexible settings.
• Expanded customization options for icons and quick settings panel.
• Widgets on the lock screen.
• Expanding identity verification – biometric authentication will be required for more apps.
• Updated Secure Lock Device remote locking feature.

These features, including the flashlight brightness adjustment, will not only appear on the new Pixel 10 with Android 16 pre-installed, but also on older models. Perhaps it’s the flashlight adjustment that will become one of the most commonly used options in everyday life.