🤖 Android 16 will be released in the second quarter of 2025. Google will release SDK updates more often than once a year.

Currently, the Android update schedule consists of one major update with SDK upgrades and changes in system behavior, and three quarterly updates with stability improvements and new features (Pixel Drop). However, Google has announced changes to the Android update schedule.

There are 2 SDK updates scheduled for 2025: a Major update in the second quarter (Q2) and a Minor update in the fourth quarter (Q4). Both updates include new APIs for developers, but changes affecting app behavior will only be contained in the major (first) update. The minor update will also include new features, bug fixes, and new APIs, but will not affect apps behavior, and developers will not do the same work twice.

The first and third quarter updates will be regular quarterly updates with 'Features only'.

Thus the first stable release of Android 16 'Baklava' will take place in spring 2025, instead of fall. Accordingly, and the first Developer Preview will appear much earlier than February.

Google argues that this change is necessary to “better align with the schedule of device launches across our ecosystem, so more devices can get the major release of Android sooner.”

😎 Google News | En