Android 16

Android 16
Version of the Android operating system
Developer	Google
OS family	Android
Source model	Open-source software
Latest preview	Developer Preview 1 / November 19, 2024; 1 day ago
Kernel type	Monolithic Kernel (Linux Kernel)
Preceded by	Android 15
Official website	developer.android.com/about/versions/16
Support status
	Developer Preview Version

Android 16 is the upcoming major release of Android. The first developer preview was released in November 2024.^[1] Google expects the platform to reach beta stage in January 2025 with a final release expected in Q2 2025^[2]

History

Android 16 is internally codenamed "Baklava".^[3]

The first developer preview (also known as DP1) for Android 16 was released on 19 November 2024.

Features

The official DP1 release notes state that the following features will be introduced in Android 16:^[4]

Embedded Photo Picker
Health Records
Privacy Sandbox on Android

However, enthusiasts have discovered the existence of other under-development features that may be released in later developer preview versions such as Audio sharing to multiple devices at once^[5] and notification cooldown.^[6]

Development

The first developer preview of Android 16 was released on November 19, 2024. A second developer preview is expected to be released in December 2024, with first beta planned for release in January 2025. The final stable version of Android 16 is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2025.^[3]

Unlike previous versions, Android 16 will be released earlier in the year. Notably, Android 16 will have two separate SDK releases. The first SDK will include behaviour changes, along with new APIs and features, while the second SDK will focus primarily on the introduction of new APIs and features. Google has stated that this change is part of their ongoing effort to accelerate innovation in apps and devices.^[4]