Google Pixel Tweaks Emoji to Match iPhone in Android 16
• Google’s Android 16 QPR3 beta updates Pixel emoji visuals to more closely resemble iPhone designs. • Updated emoji include Melting Face, Face Exhaling, Nauseated Face, Cold Face and Loudly Crying Face. • Many changes are minor stylistic shifts; Emojipedia has cataloged dozens of other adjustments tied to Unicode 17.0. • Updates are live in QPR3 Beta 1 (seen on Pixel 10 Pro XL) but some Unicode 17.0 glyphs remain unavailable system-wide.
Overview
Google has rolled out several emoji design changes in the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 release for Pixel phones. The tweaks, which landed with the recent QPR3 beta, refine a number of face, animal and object emoji to be visually closer to Apple’s iOS set.
What changed
The QPR3 beta refresh touches a range of emoji. Notable face updates include Melting Face, Face Exhaling, Nauseated Face, Cold Face and Loudly Crying Face. Those updates adjust angles, facial proportions and decorative elements—examples include a more forward-facing "Face Exhaling," a smaller mouth on "Loudly Crying Face," and removal of the snow cap from "Cold Face."
Beyond faces, Google altered several animals and objects: raccoon, tropical fish, zebra, flashlight and loudspeaker are among the dozens of designs updated. Small changes, such as adding a second strip of bacon, were made to align with iOS visuals.
Why Google is aligning with iOS
The edits appear aimed at visual consistency for users moving between platforms. Where previous Pixel emoji were sometimes more exaggerated or stylistically unique, the new designs are simpler and more familiar to people who use iPhone or Samsung devices.
Consistency matters in cross-platform conversations—when emoji look different between senders and recipients, meaning or tone can shift. Google’s subtle shifts reduce that risk and standardize expectations across ecosystems.
Rollout details and Unicode 17.0
The changes are tied specifically to Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 and were observed on a Pixel 10 Pro XL running the beta build. Emojipedia has cataloged these updates under Google 17.0 changed designs.
Some Unicode 17.0 additions—like Distorted Face, Orca and Trombone—are visible in browsers but not yet functional system-wide on the beta. Wider availability will depend on future QPR releases and the stable Android channel.
Bottom line
This QPR3 beta is a visual polish release: designers refined dozens of emoji to be less idiosyncratic and more in step with iOS. Pixel users on the Android 16 beta will see the changes immediately; broader rollout will follow in later QPR and stable updates.
