Android 16’s latest update ushers in a more frequent release schedule | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Android 16’s latest update ushers in a more frequent release scheduleComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...NewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGoogleCloseGooglePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GoogleAndroid 16’s latest update ushers in a more frequent release scheduleSwitching up the release schedule could bring new features to third-party Android phones much faster.Switching up the release schedule could bring new features to third-party Android phones much faster.by Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedDec 2, 2025, 7:00 PM UTCLinkShareIllustration: Alex Castro / The VergeJess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess Weatherbed is a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.The latest update for Android 16 has arrived, marking the official end to Google’s annual release schedule. Compared to the major Android 16 launch in June, the new 16 QPR2 release is a minor update that expands features for notifications, icons, calling screens, and more, and signals the start of Google’s long-awaited plans to release more frequent OS updates.The accelerated release timeline addresses frustrations with Google’s previous yearly update schedule, which left even relatively new third-party Android phones waiting months or longer to get updates that were already available on the latest Pixel devices. Google announced the change in October 2024, saying that releasing more frequent platform updates “will help to drive faster innovation in apps and devices.”These small biannual SDK releases will be the model going forward, alongside bringing major releases forward — with Android 16 having launched in Q2 instead of Q3, for example — and the usual quarterly Android feature updates. By moving to an earlier, more frequent release schedule for developer previews and general release rollouts, third-party phone makers will have more time to prepare their latest devices to launch with the latest version of Android. Google’s Pixel lineup will still be first in line to receive updates, but it could mean that other Android devices won’t be far behind, increasing the number of devices that support new features and giving developers more reasons to use them in their apps.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jess WeatherbedCloseJess WeatherbedNews ReporterPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Jess WeatherbedAndroidCloseAndroidPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AndroidGoogleCloseGooglePosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GoogleNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularNetflix kills casting from phonesOpenAI declares ‘code red’ as Google catches up in AI raceMKBHD is taking down his wallpaper appSamsung’s Z TriFold is official and it looks like a tablet with a phone attachedThese last-minute Cyber Monday deals will likely be gone tomorrowThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. 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Google’s latest Android 16 update signifies a fundamental shift in the operating system’s release strategy, moving away from the traditional annual update model to a more frequent, bi-annual release schedule beginning with the 16 QPR2 release. This change directly addresses past criticisms regarding the extended wait times experienced by third-party Android phone manufacturers, particularly those producing devices outside of the Pixel line. Prior to this shift, new features and updates were often available on the latest Pixel devices months before being rolled out to other Android phones, creating a significant disparity in update availability. The move to quicker releases, including accelerated major releases like Android 16 itself, coupled with the standard quarterly feature updates, is intended to foster faster innovation across both hardware and software. Specifically, Google emphasizes that this new model “will help to drive faster innovation in apps and devices.” The frequent release timeline, starting with the 16 QPR2 release, provides third-party phone makers with increased lead time to prepare their devices for launch, incorporating the latest Android features and benefiting developers seeking to integrate these advancements into their applications. While Google’s Pixel devices will maintain their position as the initial recipients of updates, the overall goal is to narrow the gap in update availability across the broader Android ecosystem, leading to increased feature support and incentivizing developers to prioritize integration across a wider range of devices.