While many Android users are eagerly awaiting the rollout of Android 15, Google has already turned its attention to the future, announcing that the first public beta for Android 16 will debut by the end of January 2025. According to Google’s timeline, the stable version of Android 16 is likely to arrive as early as May 2025, aligning with the company’s annual I/O developer conference, expected to take place in the same month.
This early release schedule could ensure that the upcoming Pixel 10 series launches with Android 16 pre-installed—an upgrade from the Pixel 9 series, which shipped with Android 14 despite Android 15 being available at the time.
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Android 16: What Do We Know?
The second developer preview of Android 16 is already accessible to eligible Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 and newer models. The first public beta is set to expand access to flagship devices from other manufacturers, such as OnePlus, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi, and more. This broader availability will provide developers and early adopters a chance to explore the new features before the official release.
Codenamed “Baklava,” Android 16 is anticipated to bring significant improvements to system usability and customisation. Notable upgrades include enhancements to the predictive back gesture animation, more advanced haptic feedback, and expanded options for personalizing app behaviour and appearance. Additionally, the update is expected to focus on battery efficiency, introducing refined adaptive refresh rate technologies that optimize power consumption based on usage patterns.
Connectivity and networking improvements are also on the horizon, promising better performance for everyday tasks. If you’re keen to test the upcoming features, the second developer beta is available now, but it’s advisable to avoid installing it on a primary device, as early builds can be unstable and prone to bugs. More details about Android 16’s capabilities will emerge as the beta program progresses.
