Android 16 release is way ahead of schedule - and here's why

picture alliance/Getty Images If you're looking forward to Android 16, you might not have to wait as long as you were expecting. Speaking to Android Police at Mobile World Congress, Google says the next version of Android is on track to arrive sometime in June. Also: Android 16 Beta 2 now makes it easier to open Google Wallet on your Pixel - here's how If that seems ahead of the normal schedule, it is. For several years, Android has usually released its latest version in the fall, often coinciding with a new Pixel phone release. Google released Android 15 to the public on Oct. 15, 2024, and Android 14 on Oct. 4, 2023. Things do appear to be ahead of the usual timeline. The first beta version of Android 16 was released on Jan. 24, and a second version was released on Feb. 14. The first Android 15 beta didn't arrive until April last year. What's the rush? The accelerated schedule is one Google imposed on itself. Sameer Samat, Google's president of the Android ecosystem, told Andro ... Read full article.