While many Android users eagerly await the rollout of Android 15, Google has already turned its attention to the future by announcing that the first public beta of Android 16 will debut by the end of January 2025. According to Google’s schedule, the stable version of Android 16 is expected to arrive as early as May 2025, which corresponds to the company’s annual I/O developers conference, which is 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 to 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 available to eligible Pixel devices, including the Pixel 6 and newer models. The first public beta is expected to expand access to flagship devices from other manufacturers, such as OnePlus, OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi, etc. This wider availability will provide developers and early adopters the opportunity to explore new features before the official release.
Codenamed “Baklava,” Android 16 is expected to bring significant improvements to the system’s usability and customization. Notable upgrades include improvements to predictive back gesture animation, more advanced haptic feedback, and expanded options for customizing the app’s behavior 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.
Improvements in connectivity and networking are also on the horizon, promising better performance for everyday tasks. If you want to test out upcoming features, the second developer beta is available now, but you are advised to avoid installing it on a primary device as early versions can be unstable and prone to bugs. More details on Android 16’s capabilities will emerge as the beta program progresses.
