After months of testing, Google has finally released Android 16 to the public, starting a new release schedule for major Android updates. Android 16 is now rolling out to eligible Pixel devices. Other OEMs can also begin releasing the major Android release for their devices.
With Android 16, Google has started a new release schedule for major Android releases, which is almost three months earlier than usual. Earlier, major Android OS updates were released in August or September, but now with Android 16, the release window has moved to June.
Google has also begun rolling out the June security update and the June Pixel Drop for Pixel devices, along with the Android 16. If you’re not familiar with the eligibility criteria for the latest Android update, these Pixel devices are eligible for the new Android release.
- Pixel 6 and 6 Pro
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7 and 7 Pro
- Pixel 7a
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel Tablet
- Pixel 8 and 8 Pro
- Pixel 8a
- Pixel 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, and 9 Pro Fold
- Pixel 9a
Android 16 lays the foundation for the Expressive Material 3 which will be released in the next Pixel drop update. The first major release of the Android 16 brings live updates which let you track status in real-time like delivery progress, force grouping notifications from a single app to reduce clutter, easily switch to phone’s microphone in a noisy environments, advanced protection, and a lot more.
If you own an eligible Pixel device, you have an advantage over other Android devices as you’ll receive the major Android update first. The latest Android 16 could land on your device anytime. Unlike other Android-based OEMs, Google releases the update for all devices together, so even if you have an older Pixel device, you’ll get the update in parallel with newer models.
You can look for the update in Settings. There is also an option to manually sideload the update using Android flash tool. Before installing the major Android update, make sure to back up your device first.
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