Google will shake up the Android ecosystem, by profoundly changing the way it updates its operating system. Traditionally, the firm releases a major OS update each year, generally in the second half of the year. But in a blog post, the firm indicates that this will change starting next year. Indeed, in 2025, the firm will publish a major version in the second quarter, then a second update, which will be less important for developers, in the last quarter.
One of the consequences of this change is that instead of arriving in the second half of the year, Android 16 should therefore be available from the second quarter (which begins in April). And one of the objectives is that the new features announced arrive more quickly among users of Android smartphones. “We plan to release the major version in the second quarter rather than the third to better align with the release schedule of devices in our ecosystem, so that more devices can receive the major version. 'Android earlier', we read in the ad. Google also indicates that it is working with manufacturers to ensure that the major second quarter update arrives as quickly as possible on as many smartphones as possible.
What is the difference between the two updates?
Google's announcement is aimed at developers and, as such, it mainly describes the impact that this change will have on applications. In essence, the major Q2 update will be the only one that has an effect on application behavior (which requires developers to optimize their products for the new OS). As for the second update, scheduled for the last quarter of 2025, it only includes new features, improvements and bug fixes. In addition to these two versions of Android, Google will also offer two other smaller updates in the first quarter and third quarter.
This is a new effort on the part of Google to offer its new features as quickly as possible to Android users. As a reminder, the firm has already redone the architecture of the OS, so that smartphone manufacturers can more easily adapt new versions of Android to their products. Additionally, the deployment of certain features is managed by Google Play Services, instead of being managed by manufacturers, who can hang around. Finally, Google regularly announces new features whose deployment does not depend on Android versions.
- Google makes a surprise announcement: next year there will be a new version of Android in the second quarter, then another new version in the last quarter
- The objective is to offer new features of the operating system to as many people as possible more quickly.
- Both updates will bring new features, but only the first will have a real impact on developers
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