Google’s Android 16 Beta is still on track for release, with some key dates emerging thanks to a comment from a Google employee on the Android Gerrit. The discussion was about an upcoming bug fix or feature and when it should be tested. The employee suggested that the change should ideally be a standard feature flag and undergo the same soak time.
However, there is a consideration to enable the flag in a Beta to get early validations. Beta 2 may be challenging because changes are due by January 22, which may not allow enough time for sufficient quality assurance unless it is included in this week’s prebuilt version. Beta 3 changes are due by February 19, but Beta 3 itself will only be released on March 12, closely aligning with Google’s bug fix cut-off.
This exchange indicates that the first three Android 16 Beta releases remain on schedule:
Beta 1: Initial beta-quality release, over-the-air update to early adopters who enroll in Android Beta. Beta 2: Incremental beta-quality release.
Android 16 beta release timeline
Beta 3: First Platform Stability milestone including final APIs and behaviors. Play publishing also opens. Beta 4, expected in April, will bring near-final builds for final testing.
Google may release more builds before the final release. The discussion also mentioned January 22 and February 19 as internal deadlines for changes due to Android 16 Beta 2 and Beta 3, respectively. These are not public rollout dates but internal Google deadlines.
Android releases are typically locked down and finalized weeks ahead of their public release. While the exact public release date for Beta 1 is not confirmed, historical patterns suggest it might be soon. Android 16 Beta 3 is expected to be released on March 12, though this date remains a target and subject to change.
