Google releases a brand new model of Android annually, and since 2013 the releases have all come between August and November. That, nevertheless, may be set to vary with Android 16.
Whereas Android 15 is barely anticipated to begin rolling out to supported Pixels on October 15, Google appears to already be eager about releasing Android 16 a lot ahead of typical – in some unspecified time in the future within the second quarter of subsequent yr in truth, so between April and June.
That might be a reasonably important shift in technique, however then once more Google has this yr equally switched its {hardware} announcement from the same old October to August, thus creating the bizarre state of affairs the place the brand new Pixels launched with Android 14 on board since Android 15 wasn’t prepared.
If Android 16 arrives by the tip of June subsequent yr, and Google sticks with August for its subsequent {hardware} reveal, then the Pixel 10 collection may have no drawback working Android 16 out of the field.
The information relating to Android 16’s launch in Q2 comes from a deep dive in Google’s Compatibility Definition Doc for Android 15 for builders, in addition to a number of patches to the Android Open Supply Venture, which all reference huge adjustments being pushed to “25Q2” or “25Q2/Android W”. W is the letter of the alphabet that is after V, and Android 15 was codenamed Vanilla Ice Cream, so clearly W is Android 16 (that mentioned, Google has apparently determined to skip a number of letters and codename it baklava just lately).
After all these are simply hints, and nothing is about in stone simply but. Even when it was, issues might nonetheless change – each Android 15 and Android 14 noticed delayed releases on account of last-minute points, so that will occur to Android 16 as properly. However with a launch in Q2, it could at the least one-up Apple’s yearly iOS outing, for what that is price.
