Android 16 could come much earlier than expected

Over the years, Google has typically released major Android updates towards the later part of the year, roughly around Q3 or Q4. With Android 16, it seems that Google could be changing up its strategy considerably which could see the update released much sooner than normal.

According to a report from Mishaal Rahman over at Android Authority, it has been hinted that Android 16 could be released in Q2 2025. This is based on the Compatibility Definition Document (CDD) for Android 15 where Google references “25Q2” as the next possible release timeframe for the next Android update.

As we had previously mentioned, major Android updates are typically released towards the later part of the year. That has been pretty much the case since Android 4.4 where we are looking at release dates ranging from August all the way up to November. Google usually releases the Developer Preview in the early part of the year.

This is then followed by public betas before the release of AOSP, which is followed by the first rollout of the update usually to the company’s Pixel phones. Assuming this document and the understanding of it is accurate, this could mark quite a huge shift in Google’s strategy.

We’re not sure why Google would release Android 16 much earlier than normal. Especially since at the moment even Google’s Pixel phones haven’t received the Android 15 update yet. Either way, we’ll have to wait and see so don’t get your hopes up just yet.