- Google is testing new icons for various status bar elements like WiFi, mobile data, airplane mode, and battery level.
- We previously spotted the new designs for the WiFi, mobile data, and airplane mode icons last year, but the battery level icon has been significantly revamped since we last saw it.
- Instead of having a white background at all times, the new battery level icon we spotted in Android 16 has a vivid green background when the device is charging and a red background when it’s low on power.
Months passed by with no signs of the new status bar icons, even though the other changes we spotted—the haptic feedback for the Quick Settings panel and volume slider—landed in the stable release of Android 15. Google experiments with UI changes all the time, so we simply thought that Google may have scrapped its plans to roll out the new icon designs. Fast forward to the release of Android 16 Beta 3 the other day, though, and we now have evidence that Google is back at work on the new status bar icons.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
Android 15 icons charging
The status bar icons for Wi-Fi signal strength, mobile signal strength, and battery level we spotted last year.
While digging through Android 16 Beta 3, we spotted some changes to the new status bar icons for Wi-Fi signal strength and battery level. The Wi-Fi signal strength icon is largely unchanged from last year, except it now displays three segments instead of five.
Mishaal Rahman / Android Authority
The updated status bar icon for Wi-Fi signal strength we spotted in Android 16 Beta 3.
The battery level icon, however, is significantly different, showcasing a dynamic color scheme. Instead of a constant white background, the new battery level icon we enabled in Android 16 Beta 3 has different background colors depending on the battery status. When the battery is sufficient and not charging, the background color is solid white. When the battery is low and not charging, the background color turns red. Finally, when the device is charging, the background color turns vivid green.
The new, more colorful battery level icon that Google is testing in Android 16 Beta 3.
The current battery level icon in Android 15.