The day has arrived: Stable Android 13 is out now for Google Pixel phones

Google has been testing Android 13 for months now, starting back in February with the first developer preview. Thankfully, the wait is finally over as stable Android 13 has been released to the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) and Google Pixel phones.

Google confirmed the news in a blog post today, noting that Pixel phones are getting the stable Android 13 update right now. The update is available to the Pixel 4 and higher as well as the Pixel 4a and higher. So you can go ahead and tap Settings > System > System update to check for the new update. It’s also worth noting that Pixel owners enrolled in the Android Beta Program will need to opt-out of the program after getting the final Android 13 release but before the first Android 13 feature drop beta.

What about third-party Android OEMs though? Unfortunately, the search giant could only tell us that devices from the likes of Samsung, ASUS, HMD, Motorola, BBK brands (Iqoo, OnePlus, OPPO, realme, vivo), Sharp, Sony, Tecno, and Xiaomi would get stable Android 13 “later this year.”

So you’ll need to hear from your specific phone manufacturer for more granular release details. But the release to AOSP means almost any manufacturer should be able to get cracking with stable Android 13 updates.

What to expect from Android 13?

The new update brings a variety of features and tweaks to the table. These changes include more Material You customization options, seamless QR code scanning functionality, Bluetooth LE Audio support, per-app language settings, a secure photo picker, Spatial Audio capabilities, more permissions, and integrated Fast Pair support.

Android 13 also brings a few tablet-focused additions, such as copy/paste between phones and tablets, the taskbar seen on Android 12L (for viewing apps and quickly going into split-screen multitasking), and native palm rejection support.

It’s also worth noting that this is a very early stable Android release compared to bygone years. Last year’s update landed on October 19, 2021, while the stable Android 11 update landed on September 8, 2020.

Curious about the stable Android 13 installation process for Pixels? Or maybe you want to join the beta program for third-party devices? Then you can check out our Android 13 installation guide at the link.