Google is prone to launch Android 16 sooner than normal subsequent yr, in keeping with particulars noticed on the corporate’s documentation for its smartphone working system. The supply code for Android 15 was released final month, however Google’s Pixel smartphones are but to obtain an replace to the corporate’s newest working system. This purported swap would possibly enable Google to ship its subsequent technology of smartphones with Android 16 out-of-the-box, one thing that wasn’t doable with the Pixel 9 collection. In the meantime, Google is reportedly resetting the alphabet based mostly inside codename for Android 15 and Android 16.
The corporate’s Android 15 Compatibility Definition Doc (CDD) contains references to an “Android 25Q2” launch (via Android Authority) that appears to be the subsequent model of Google’s smartphone OS. The publication additionally noticed a remark from a Googler within the Android Open Supply Challenge (AOSP) that refers to a change that can be launched with “25Q2/Android W”.
Google’s Android CDD refers to an “25Q2 launch”
Photograph Credit score: Screenshot/ Google
Different references to imminent API modifications associated to the purported 25Q2 launch additionally helps the speculation that will probably be a significant launch and never an Android 15 quarterly platform launch (QPR). It’s because Google freezes the addition of recent APIs earlier than releasing a brand new OS model, and no new APIs will be added till the subsequent model replace.
These clues counsel that Android 16 will arrive a lot sooner than earlier variations, which have sometimes been launched in September or October in recent times. It’s presently unclear whether or not Google’s Pixel smartphones may also obtain an early replace to Android 16 subsequent yr.
One purpose for this variation might be in order that Google can make sure that the newest model of Android is able to ship on its smartphones — the Pixel 9 collection is working on Android 14, which was launched a yr in the past.
In the meantime, a separate report claims that Google has reset the alphabet-based codenames for its upcoming Android variations, beginning with Android 15, which was beforehand known as Vanilla Ice Cream. Whereas Android 16 was anticipated to be codenamed with a dessert beginning with the letter W, it seems that the collection has already been reset.
Whereas Android 15 was beforehand known as Vanilla Ice Cream internally, Google’s newest construct numbers counsel that the letter V has been changed with A. Equally, Android 16 can be codenamed ‘baklava’, in keeping with the publication. Whereas the time period has already been noticed in code for the upcoming model, some Google engineers are nonetheless referring to the discharge as Android W.
