According to Google’s details, Android 16 will be released in the first half of 2025. Unlike the last version of the company’s operating system, which was released on Pixel phones in October, Google will release the next major version of Android early next year, followed by a minor release before the end of the year. As a result, the company will release the Android Software Development Kit (SDK) more frequently as part of an ongoing effort to bring new features to users while improving app stability.
Google actually confirms the Android 16 release schedule
In a post on the Android Developers Blog, the company says the major release will be in Q2 2025 (instead of the typical Q3 launch window), followed by a minor release in Q4. Google says the decision was made to “better align with device launch schedules,” which will allow Android 16 to be rolled out to eligible devices more quickly.
Android 16 will be released in the second quarter of 2025
Photo: Google developer blog
According to Google, the major release of the SDK in the second quarter of 2025 will include behavioral changes (which affect how apps work on Android), as well as APIs and features. That’s when Android 16 is expected to be released, as the company only introduces the major SDK release with the new Android version.
After the release of Android 16, Google will release incremental updates in the third quarter of 2025, followed by a second minor release of the Android 16 SDK in the fourth quarter of 2025. Google says this release will include new APIs and features, but won’t introduce new behavior. changes that affect programs.
Developers and enthusiasts can soon experience Android 16 as the company has announced the arrival of the first developer preview. This is not surprising, since the launch of Android 16 is about five months away from the company.
Earlier this year, Google introduced the Pixel 9 series, which came with a one-year version of Android 14 out of the box. The company’s smartphones received an update to Android 15 two months later, on October 15. The tentative Android 16 release schedule should ensure that the Pixel 10 series will be running the latest version of Google’s operating system in 2025.