Android 16 Beta Launch Remains On Schedule, Important Dates Start Appearing

Android 16 Beta launch for Pixel devices, which is scheduled to begin in January. (photo: x @AssetmbleDebug)

JAKARTA - Google continues to advance with the launch of Android 16 Beta for Pixel devices, which is scheduled to begin in January. Different from previous years, Android 16 is projected to arrive in the second quarter of 2025 (instead of the third quarter), with Google advancing the release of the first Developer Preview from February to November.

Earlier this week, a Google employee commented on Android Gerrit on the upcoming development dates. The discussion focuses on updating a new bugfix' or feature' and how to test it.

In the comments, the employee explained that the changes to Android 16 Beta 2 are scheduled for completion on January 22, while changes to Beta 3 are scheduled for completion on February 19. However, this date is not a launch date for the public, but only an internal deadline for Google.

Android 16 Beta Schedule: Based on the schedule set by Google since November, here is the order of release of Android 16 Beta:

The comment states that Beta 3 is scheduled for release on March 12, which is one of the first known explicit dates for the upcoming beta release. However, this date is likely still a target and may change.

Android Finalization Time 16:

Android releases are usually locked and finalized weeks before the official launch date. For example, the build number for Android 16 Developer Preview 1 and 2 is known about four weeks before the release date.

Although January 22 does not necessarily show the launch of Android 16 Beta 1, it is likely that Android 16 Beta will be available in the coming weeks, either next Wednesday-Thursday or the following week, in line with Google's historical launch pattern.

With Android 16 scheduled to release earlier than usual, Pixel users and developers are expected to be able to enjoy new features in the near future.