Barely a month after Android 15’s release for Pixel phones, Google is already preparing for Android 16. The first Developer Preview is now available, and the operating system may finally arrive in the second quarter of 2025.
It will come with new Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and behavior changes. Google also plans a second API update for Q4 2025 that will focus on boosting features without app-impacting changes.
Android 16 brings two major updates, and developer previews
Android 16 will have two major API releases in 2025. The first one is in Q2 2024, while the smaller update will come in Q4 2024. According to the timeline, only new features make appearances in the first and third quarter.
The second quarter will focus on how the Software Development Kit (SDK) works, as well as introduce new tools and features. The fourth quarter is where we’ll see a smaller update with no serious impact to how the OS works.
Here’s a detailed timeline of how it’ll all play out:
- Developer Previews (November 2024 – December 2024): Developers get early access to test the platform and give feedback.
- Beta Releases (January 2025 – April 2025): The platform becomes more stable and is available to more people for testing.
- Platform Stability (May 2025 – Final Release): The platform becomes stable, ready to be used by everyone, and officially launched.
Currently, the first preview is available and developers can test APIs like the embedded photo picker on the Android 16 preview.
Related: Android 16 Set For June 3rd?
The embedded photo picker feature on Android 16 makes it easy to add media selection to apps while keeping user privacy safe. There’s also a new system for handling health records in Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) format. The standard allows different healthcare systems to work together.
You’ll be able to store and share medical records, lab results, and prescriptions in a structured way. Apps can access this data with user permission for better integration and smarter health-related features.
There’s a fresh version of the Privacy Sandbox, designed to protect and give you more control over your data. One key addition is the SDK Runtime, which allows SDKs to run separately from the app itself. You can join a beta program to explore the privacy features and learn how to use them.
You can check which version of Android 16 your app is using. You’ll use the SDK_INT_FULL constant to compare the current version and see if it meets the required version. Another method is Build.getMinorSdkVersion(), which fetches only the minor version number of the Android SDK for more detailed checking, particularly for apps that need to react to minor updates on Android.
Flash and compile your apps
You may begin testing Android 16 when you manually flash the system image and update the necessary tools. But Google recommends using the latest version of Android Studio with the Android 16 preview for the best experience.
You should also compile your apps with the new SDK, test them in Continuous Integration (CI) environments, and check how your app works with Android 16. Install your app on a device or emulator running Android 16 and test it thoroughly for compatibility.
If you’re already using the Beta 1 version from the Android 15 program, you’ll need to wipe your device to switch to the Android 16 Developer Preview. Later, when the Beta phase starts, Android 16 will be open for regular users to test as well, and they can join the Android Beta program. In the meantime, anticipate Android 15 on your eligible devices.
