Android 16 will be released earlier than usual this year, arriving in June, according to Android Police. The report cites a statement by Sameer Samat, president of Google’s Android Ecosystem division, made during MWC 2025.
“So far, so good. I haven’t had a release where the number of bugs in the code was minimized, but the team is working hard, and we’re happy to get there,” Samat said. Traditionally, new Android versions have launched in August or later, often alongside flagship Pixel smartphones. However, this year, Google has adopted a new, more efficient Trunk Stable development model.
A New Development Approach
“Trunk Stable development means that everyone working on Android is making changes to the same branch of the code. We can build the system more regularly and more often. This is the opposite of everyone developing different branches and then merging them at the end. Then it takes a long time to solve problems and tasks,” Samat explained.
In previous years, Android development followed a schedule where code branches were merged in June, requiring additional months to resolve issues. With the new approach, Google is working toward finalizing Android 16 much sooner.
Faster Updates and Modular Improvements
Google has been expanding Android’s capabilities through continuous updates, but major releases remain a key focus. “We’re going to do more this year to highlight what’s in a release. We know we have a lot of fans around the world who want to understand more about the depth of [Android]. Many users also want to get new features faster and for us to update [Android] more often,” Samat noted.
To achieve this, Google has redesigned Android into modules and components, allowing for more frequent updates outside of major releases. Some fundamental changes still require a full OS upgrade, but others can now be introduced through quarterly updates. “We’ve had a great response to Android releases because it feels like your phone is constantly getting better,” Samat added.
Android 16 Beta 2.1 is now available for current Pixel devices, reminds NIX Solutions. Google will share more details about the final release at the Google I/O 2025 conference on May 20. We’ll keep you updated on any new developments as they unfold.