Google confirms early release of Android 16, second minor update to follow
Android 16 will be released in the first half of 2025, according to details shared by Google. Unlike the latest version of the company’s operating system that rolled out to Pixel phones in October, Google will launch its next major Android version earlier next year, followed by a minor release towards the end of the year. As a result, the company will be issuing more frequent Android Software Development Kit (SDK) releases as part of its ongoing efforts to bring new features to users while improving app stability.
Google effectively confirms Android 16’s release timeline
In one after on the Android Developers Blog, the company says it will have a major release in the second quarter of 2025 (instead of the typical third quarter launch window), followed by a minor release in the fourth quarter. Google says the decision was made to “better align with the schedule of device launches,” allowing Android 16 to be rolled out more quickly to eligible devices.
Android 16 will be released in the second quarter of 2025
Photo credit: Google Developers Blog
The main SDK release in Q2 2025 will include behavioral changes (affecting the way apps work on Android), as well as APIs and features, according to Google. This is when Android 16 is expected to be released as the company only introduces a major SDK release with a new version of Android.
After Android 16 rolls out, Google will roll out incremental updates in Q3 2025, followed by a second, minor Android 16 SDK release in Q4 2025. Google says this release will include new APIs and features, but not will introduce new behavior. changes that impact apps.
Developers and enthusiasts may be able to test Android 16 soon as the company has teased the arrival of the first developer preview. This isn’t surprising considering it’s still about five months before the company is expected to launch Android 16.
Earlier this year, Google unveiled the Pixel 9 series that arrived out-of-the-box with the year-old Android 14. The company’s smartphones received the update to Android 15 two months later on October 15. The earlier Android 16 release timeline should see the Pixel 10 series running the latest version of Google’s operating system in 2025.
