MOUNTAIN VIEW / LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – Google has announced a significant change in its Android update strategy. Instead of relying on annual major updates, new features are now released as soon as they are ready. This decision could fundamentally change the way Android users experience updates.
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Google has unveiled a new strategy for Android updates that aims to bring innovations to users faster. Instead of relying on an annual update cycle, Google plans to release new features as they are ready. This change was introduced with the Android 16 QPR2 update released on December 2nd. According to Google, smaller releases containing new features and improvements will be more frequent in the future.
At the end of 2024, Google had already announced that it would change the publication rhythm and provide SDK versions for Android more frequently. Two releases with new developer APIs are planned for 2025: one in June and one in December. The new Android version will feature a ‘mini SDK release’ for the first time, aimed at minimizing additional app testing. This strategy is intended not only to increase the speed of innovation, but also to provide more stability and perfection for users and developers.
However, Google won’t completely abandon major releases. A major update to Android 17 is planned for summer 2026. Major releases may contain planned behavior changes, while minor releases like Android 16 QPR2 do not increase the API level. Instead, a new minor API level value is introduced, accessible via a constant. These changes are not directly relevant to end users, but are important to developers.
Google’s new update strategy could also have an impact on hardware partners such as Samsung, Xiaomi or Oppo. It remains to be seen how these manufacturers will deal with the new approach. Will they also deliver the new features in a timely manner, or will there be delays? These questions will only be answered in the coming months. Google has already shown with the so-called Pixel Drops that it is possible to regularly release new features without waiting for a big annual update.
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