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Android 16 is under development, with new features and even an expected release date.
The Google heads at Mountain View, California, have now revealed that Android will release software development kits (SDK) more frequently, with two releases planned for 2025 — meaning you should get your hands on the next software update sooner rather than later.
With Android 16 rumors developing, the emphasis on the next Android version looks to be around driving innovation in apps and devices, with higher stability and polish for users and developers alike.
Here is everything we know so far about Android 16, including the release date, features, and when the first beta will likely come out.
What is Android 16?
Android 16 is the upcoming sixteenth major version of the Android operating system. It is one of the two Android releases Google is planning to roll out in the Spring of 2025.
Earlier in October, an X user, Michael Rahman, tweeted that Android 16 is codenamed “Baklava.” The new OS may introduce features like redesigned Quick Settings and floating bubble apps.
In case you wanted more confirmation that Android 16's code-name will be Baklava, here it is mentioned at the end of a list of every single other Android release's code-name. https://t.co/5ov19MUinK pic.twitter.com/j9mYjIJpvt
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) October 25, 2024
While Android 15 and the accompanying new features are still freshly out of the oven, Google has now confirmed that the successor, Android 16 will be released ahead of the company’s usual schedule in the coming year.
Android 16 Release Date
Expected Release Date: April — June, 2025
The Android 16’s release date is expected to be in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, likely in April, May, or June.
Unconfirmed sources say that Android 16 will arrive on AOSP (Android Open Source Project) and over-the-air to Pixel devices on June 3, 2025, but we will wait until we have that firmed up elsewhere.
Speaking on the development blog, Google has confirmed that the upcoming Android operating system will launch earlier than usual. The update will include a major Android version in Q2 of next year and a minor release in Q4, both of which will include new developer APIs.
This marks a significant shift from Android’s usual timeline, as Google typically launches major Android versions in the third or fourth quarter of each year.
According to Google, this new move will sync better with its schedule of device launches, so devices — including the upcoming Google Pixel 10 — will get a major version of Android sooner, and may even launch with the Android 16 OS out of the box.
This isn’t only an advantage for Google. Releasing the new Android version in Q2 2025 also benefits original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) that launch their devices earlier in the year.
Android 16: Latest News
The most recent and reliable news on the Android 16 development came from Google itself. According to the company, Android will have more SDK releases from now on.
The 2025 Android update will bring two versions of Android — the Q2 major release will include behavior changes that can affect apps, and the Q4 minor release will pick up feature updates, optimizations, and bug fixes since the major release.
Google has also revealed that it will soon begin a developer preview and beta program for Android 16.
Android developer previews typically debut seven or eight months before the public version arrives.
Looking back, the Android 15 first developer preview started in February 2024, with the stable version coming in October. Android 14 and 13 followed a similar preview timeline, too.
So, going by the trajectory, the first developer preview for Android 16 could arrive around December 2024 for an official release in Spring 2025. Android 16 phones will come shortly after.
Expected Android 16 Features: What’s New?
Revamped Quick Settings, Floating Bubble Menu, Rich Ongoing Notifications
Android 16 is expected to feature more changes and updates to step up the game. The new features could include a revamped Quick Settings panel with customizable, resizable, and repositionable controls, along with support for a two-finger gesture similar to Samsung’s One UI.
A potential update to the lock screen with new widgets to improve functionality and accessibility is also anticipated. Other early Android 16 rumors also tipped Google to improve on the Ongoing Notifications, which is similar to the Apple iOS Live Activities.
We may also see Android 16 bring a more refined desktop-like experience through the windowing mode. Google launched the windowing feature for Pixel Tablets with Android 15 QPR1 Beta 2 last September, and we expect it to be more refined in its Android 16.
In the evolving artificial intelligence world, we will be curious to see if Google decides to add AI tools or capabilities at an OS-level, but we will wait for further news on that aspect.
It is important to note that these features are still speculative, so we will keep this post updated as more information on Android 16 features unfolds.
Which Smartphones Will Android 16 Come To?
We expect Google Pixel 10 to launch next year with Android 16 out of the box. Other Google Android partners, including Xiaomi and Samsung, could launch their next devices in 2025 with Android 16.
However, we do not expect to see Android 16 in Samsung Galaxy S25 since the flagship is slated to launch in the first quarter of 2025. It’s still unclear which Android OEMs will offer beta programs — we will update regularly to capture any news.
The Bottom Line
The most interesting thing about Android 16 is its forward release date. It is most likely that the OS will come to new phones faster than this year’s Android 15.
The update could enable a new generation of apps with deeper AI integration when launched. As Google promised, the first Android 16 developer preview could come out anytime soon — so developers and other OEMs can gain earlier access to Google’s latest machine learning and AI tools for their device and app innovations.
We will refresh this post as more details trickle in.
