BIG changes are coming to Android’s release cycle!

Google is not only releasing Android 16 MUCH earlier, but it’s also pushing out a second, minor release in Q4 2025 w/ new APIs.

Here’s how Android’s faster release schedule affects apps.

Google will release Android 16 months earlier than expected and will also roll out a second minor release in Q4 2025.

How did Google speed up Android’s release cycle by so much?

I interviewed Google’s VP and GM of the Android Platform to find out.

Android 16, Android’s faster release schedule, and new Gemini features in Android Studio, oh my!

We interviewed Seang Chau, VP & GM of Android Platform, and Matthew J. McCullough, VP of Android Developer Experience at Google, about these announcements over on the Android Faithful podcast. The interview is live now!

Android 14 ‘Upside Down Cake’, Android 15 ‘Vanilla Ice Cream’, Android 16 … ‘Baklava’?

Yes, Android 16’s dessert code-name is Baklava - that’s not a rumor anymore, as Google officially confirmed it to us on the Android Faithful podcast!

Google Play is getting new features for users, including a new full-screen experience for portrait videos and abandoned cart reminders, but it’s also adding some new security features for devs like app access risk and hardware-backed security signals😳

More details in this article.

Google has NOT yet confirmed its Android release schedule after 2025.

I specifically asked Google if it plans to push out 2 releases every year going forward, but Google told me that future timing after 2025 will depend on its internal roadmaps.

Of course, if 2026 will have 2 releases again...you know where you'll hear about it first 😉

UWB won't be available on every Snapdragon 8 Elite phone, after all

You may have read that every phone with the Snapdragon 8 Elite will support UWB, but Qualcomm confirmed to me that won't necessarily be the case.

More details can be found in this article.

Google has announced that the Android 15 QPR2 beta is right around the corner!

This beta program will cover the Android 15 March 2025 Quarterly Platform Release. Beta 1 will kick off soon and will automatically roll out to those who are still enrolled in the Android Beta Program.

If you want to receive the stable Android 15 QPR1 release, then you'll need to opt out of the program and wait for the update to roll out. If you don't want to wipe your data, then you'll also need to ignore the downgrade OTA and the Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 update if it's offered.

If you want to return to the stable release right now, you'll need to install the downgrade OTA which will wipe all data.

As usual, if you want to find out what's new in the upcoming Android 15 QPR2 betas, the best way is to follow me😉

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By the way, there likely won't be an Android 15 QPR3 release. That's because Android 16 will release in Q2 of 2025.

Android 15 QPR2 = 25Q1, major SDK version 35

Android 16 = 25Q2, major SDK version 36, minor SDK version 0

Android 16 QPR1 = 25Q3, major SDK version 36, minor SDK version 0

Android 16 QPR2 (name TBD) = 25Q4, major SDK version 36, minor SDK version 1

🔗 Quick Share for iOS and macOS might be in the works

Google may bring its file sharing client to Apple devices so you can transfer files to and from iPhones and MacBooks

More details can be found in this article.

🎵 Google may finally add album art to Now Playing on Pixel phones

For years, the Now Playing history page just showed a generic icon of a note for each recognized song, but that could finally change soon.

More details + evidence can be found in this article.

📺Google is lowering Android TV's hardware requirements: Is 1GB RAM enough?

Also: Google TV now requires 2GB of RAM.

More details can be found in this article on Android Authority.

📺Google might skip Android TV 15 and go straight to Android 16 for TVs

Google plans to move Android TV to a biyearly release schedule, according to my source.

More details on what this means can be found over on Android Authority.

That was fast: The OxygenOS 15 stable update is now rolling out for the OnePlus 12!

It's rolling out across IN/NA/EU/GLO regions with the following build IDs:

IN: CPH2573_15.0.0.206(EX01)
NA: CPH2583_15.0.0.205(EX01)
EU/GLO: CPH2581_15.0.0.204(EX01)

The OnePlus 12 is now the third non-Pixel phone after the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro and Xiaomi 14 to receive Android 15 via an OTA update!

📁A lot of people don't know that Android has its own version of AirDrop called Quick Share ...

Google wants to fix that by adding a new page for Quick Share in the Android setup wizard.

Here's how and why that matters.

If you rely on the Termux app on Android for anything and daily drive a OnePlus, OPPO, or Realme device, heads up: the OxygenOS 15/ColorOS 15 update seems to be killing off Termux processes, but only if you install the app from outside the Play Store.

It seems this issue doesn't happen if you install Termux from the Play Store, as the Play Store version uses a hack that seemingly doesn't get detected and thus its processes don't get killed off.

More details can be found in this Reddit thread.

In addition, there seems to be an ongoing issue with running Linux packages via PRoot, with users seeing a message that says a "malicious app" attempted to damage their phone.