Android 16 described as ‘25Q2’ release, impact on Pixel update not known

The Developer Preview for the next version of Android usually gets underway in February and progresses to a Beta in April with the public release set for Q3. Work on Android 16 is fully underway and points to an earlier than usual “25Q2” release. 

Android Authority found various references to Android 16 as the “25Q2” (April-June of 2025) release.

…FYI, this is coming in 25Q2/Android W

That is presumably referring to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) release when OEMs can ready their device updates. AOSP and Pixel releases usually occur at the same time, though the latter update has been slipping recently, during the third quarter. 

Google releasing the next version of Android to AOSP in April, May, or June would be pretty early. I’d assume the update comes in June and not any earlier. Google referred to the Android Automotive 15 update that launched this month as the 24Q3 release, while the Developer Preview Program would probably be underway by now if it were set for April. 

A second quarter AOSP release doesn’t necessarily mean the Pixel update would come that much sooner. If the Pixel 10 shipped in late August, it would hopefully run Android 16 out of the box, while all other Google devices would presumably get it in early September. That hypothetical schedule wouldn’t be that different from past years.

As for why Google is doing this? Finalizing Android earlier in the year would guarantee Pixel phones ship with the absolute latest version if they continue launching in the summer instead of the fall. That would be a good reason for making this move as the Pixel 9 and Android 14 situation wasn’t ideal. 

It remains to be seen how soon the Android 16 Developer Preview or Beta would start under this accelerated timeline. You could conceivably see it before year’s end.