Android users experienced a longer wait than usual for the release of Android 15 this fall, but Google is already outlining the timeline for the next two operating system updates. In a shift from their usual schedule, the next major Android release is set to arrive in the second quarter of 2025.
“We’re planning the major release for Q2 rather than Q3 to better align with the schedule of device launches across our ecosystem, so more devices can get the major release of Android sooner,” the company explained in a blog post directed at developers. This adjustment is beneficial for third-party phone manufacturers, who have traditionally had to wait several months before receiving the latest OS updates.
Alongside the primary release in the first half of the year, there will also be a minor update to Android scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025. The Q2 release will be the only update next year to include behavior changes that could affect apps. The smaller update at the end of the year will focus on “feature updates, optimizations, and bug fixes,” without any behavior changes.
