Android 16 Drops Early: Google Just Can’t Wait for Q3

In a surprising twist, Google has announced it’ll release Android 16 a few months earlier than usual, with a planned launch for Q2 2025.

Traditionally, Google has stuck to a late-year release schedule for Android updates, typically after a lengthy period of developer previews and beta testing. But this time, Google aims to align the Android 16 release, codenamed "Baklava," with device manufacturers’ launch schedules, hoping to get the update into users’ hands sooner.

The shift is intended to streamline the rollout for more devices right from launch, giving users quicker access to Android’s latest features and updates. This also grants device makers a head start in integrating and adapting the new OS, cutting down on the long wait that often follows the annual Android reveal.

Alongside the Android 16 news, Google revealed updates for the Play Store, allowing users to personalize their app recommendations further, much like they already do for games. In the realm of development, Android Studio will soon benefit from Gemini AI-powered tools, aimed at helping developers code, refactor, and document more efficiently.