At the start of this month, a rumor circulated suggesting that Google might launch Android 16 earlier than its predecessors. Now, Google officially confirmed the news.
Android 16 Will Launch Early
The finalized version of the upcoming OS update is set to be released in the second quarter of next year, between April and June. Google explained that the earlier release aims “to better align with the schedule of device launches” across the Android ecosystem.
This timing adjustment could have significant benefits. This year, the Pixel 9 series launched in August with Android 14, even though Android 15 was already under development and released shortly after. With Android 16 expected to drop by the end of June, the upcoming Pixel 10 series should debut with the latest software. Additionally, Samsung’s next-generation foldable devices, typically unveiled in July, are also likely to arrive pre-loaded with Android 16.
In a surprising twist, Google also announced a second Android release scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025 (October to December). Described as a “minor release,” this version will deliver feature updates, optimizations, and bug fixes following the major rollout. This suggests we could be looking at Android 16.1 arriving by the end of next year.
Pokdepinion: I suppose they’re trying to get people to experience Android 16 as soon as possible while also getting further feedback on what to work on with the OS, but I myself am not really understanding why they need to rush it out. I would personally want them to slow the releases down a bit.
