Android 16 release date: Here's when you'll get the next major OS upgrade

Google is shaking things up a bit for the release of Android 16. While we typically see a new version of Android in the third quarter of the year, 2025 will mark the beginning of a new annual release target. The tech giant is moving the launch of the next major OS update up by a quarter, meaning the launch will now be planted firmly in Q2. As a result, Android 15’s cycle will be cut short by a few months.

When Google revealed Android 16 would come sooner than expected, it came as a surprise to everyone. So, you may be wondering when will the next major OS debut. Here’s what we know about the Android 16 release date.

When is the stable Android 16 release date?

The stable release of Android 16 is still months away, so Android 15 still has some room to breathe. However, if you’re a developer, you can access the second Developer Preview of Android 16 right now. The first beta for Android 16 should arrive in January and be followed by a second beta in February. From there, Google predicts it will reach the Platform Stability milestone by March. This leads up to the final release, which should happen sometime between April and June. You can check out the timeline below to see where everything falls.

Although Google hasn’t shared the exact date for the stable launch, a leak suggests Android 16 could be ready by June 3. This report claims that Google will be ready to roll out Android 16 on the date, simultaneously delivering the source to AOSP and releasing updates for Pixel devices. Keep in mind that this date could be pushed back if Google happens to run into a snag during development.

Notably, we first identified this possibility in October 2024 by spotting a line within AOSP‘s Compatibility Definition Document, which referred to the next version of Android as “25Q2.” This document outlines the minimum requirements for Android smartphones to be eligible for the latest version of the OS.

Interestingly, the last version of Android that arrived earlier than August was Android 4.1 Jelly Bean in 2012. So yes, Android has previously arrived before August, but not within the last 12 years.

Milestones

• November 19, 2024 — Developer Preview 1
• December 18, 2024 — Developer Preview 2

Why is Android 16 launching early?

There are several practical reasons for Google accelerating Android 16’s launch.

For one, it allows the company to better sync the OS’s launch with its own smartphone hardware launch. Thanks to its earlier debut, the Pixel 9 launched with Android 14 and only received Android 15 a few months after its release. This made it a less attractive prospect than previous releases. However, there’s now a good chance the Pixel 10 series will land with Android 16.

This isn’t just a pro for Google, either. A Q2 2025 arrival brings the new version of Android closer to OEMs that launch their devices earlier in the year.

As outlined by Google’s 2025 development timeline above, the company has a more defined quarterly release cycle in the pipeline, with a major release (Android 16 release window) in Q2, bookended by feature releases in Q1 and Q3. A minor SDK release, with APIs and features that’ll inform the following version of Android, arrives in Q4. This should quicken the OS’s development cycle while providing the same predictability for OEMs.

Which phones will receive Android 16 first?

With Google separating its Pixel smartphone launch from its Android version launch this year, it’s no longer a sure thing that its phones will receive the latest version of Android first. While Google did announce Android 15’s availability for the Pixel series, some vivo devices received the update a full month prior. This is thanks to AOSP dropping a month earlier, allowing companies to craft their iterations early.

However, considering that Android 16 is now arriving a quarter earlier, we expect the Pixel 10 to debut with the new OS. This allows more manufacturers to launch with or offer the Android 16 update sooner than ever before.

If you own a recent Pixel device, we have instructions for installing Android 16. We also have a list of Pixel devices that support Android 16, if you’re interested.