Android 16 release date: Here’s when you’ll get the next major OS upgrade

Google is shaking things up a bit for the release of Android 16. While we typically see a new version of Android in the third quarter of the year, 2025 will mark the beginning of a new annual release target. The tech giant is moving the launch of the next major OS update up by a quarter, meaning the launch will now be planted firmly in Q2. As a result, Android 15’s cycle will be cut short by a few months.

When Google revealed that Android 16 would come sooner than expected, it surprised everyone. So, you may be wondering when the next major OS will debut. Here’s what we know about the Android 16 release date.