Google recently rolled out the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 update for eligible devices. Users greeted the firmware with excitement, hoping for an early glimpse of future improvements and new features. However, it seems to be causing significant problems for a growing number of users. More specifically, there are several reports of a camera focus bug on Google Pixel phones after installing the Android 16 QPR3 Beta 1 firmware.
While beta software is rarely perfect, this specific bug is proving to be a dealbreaker for mobile photographers. It triggers physical vibrations and blurry results that make capturing a clear shot nearly impossible.
Android 16 QPR3 Beta camera focus issues on Google Pixel phones
As the reports say (spotted by PiunikaWeb), the glitch seems to have a specific target: high-resolution photography. Posts on Reddit and the Google Issue Tracker confirmed that while the standard 12MP mode often works fine, switching to 50MP mode causes the camera system to spiral.
Users experiencing these focus issues with their Pixel’s camera describe a “fluttering” or “wobbling” effect. Often, the phone physically vibrates as the lens struggles to lock onto a subject. The result is a foggy, distorted view that persists even if you try to tap-to-focus manually. Whether you are using the main sensor or the wide-angle lens, the software appears unable to stabilize the image at full resolution.
Why this is happening
This isn’t a hardware failure, so there is no need to rush to a repair shop. It is safe to assume that the issue is software-related because it started as soon as build CP11.251114.006 was installed.
Some users suggest the issue could lie within the camera’s Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). Essentially, the new beta code could be sending conflicting instructions to the camera hardware when asked to process 50MP data. This would explain why extreme zoom levels or lower-resolution shots remain mostly unaffected. After all, the “communication breakdown” only happens under specific high-load settings.
Is there a fix?
Currently, there is no permanent workaround for the Android 16 QPR3 Beta camera bug on Pixel phones. Users have tried clearing the camera app cache and even rolling back app updates, but the focus instability remains because the flaw is baked into the operating system itself.
The best temporary solutions include sticking exclusively to 12MP mode and avoiding macro focus settings or manual focus taps when the “wobble” begins. Restarting the camera app for a few moments could also work as temporary relief.
Google has already flagged several of these reports for investigation, assigning them to internal teams. So, you can expect a patch to arrive in a future 1.x minor update. Until then, if you rely on your Pixel for high-quality photography, you might want to hold off on this particular beta build.
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