Android 16 is launching today, June 10, but there’s a catch
With Apple rebranding and revamping its software experience across devices, Google has also announced the release date for the next Android update. While most of what the update will bring has been revealed through past betas, the final release of Android 16 will arrive later today, June 10. However, the brand-new Material design is still scheduled for later this year.
The Android Developers account on X shared the update with a simple post on June 9 stating that it’s almost time for the Android 16 final release, followed by “See you back here tomorrow,” and a winking emoji. This suggests the final Android 16 build will arrive today, June 10, but an exact time is unclear. The update will be available for Pixel phones, Pixel 6 (Buy on Amazon) onwards, as well as Samsung S22 and newer, Xiaomi 13 and newer, OnePlus 11 and newer, Motorola Razr 50 (Buy Razr 2024 on Amazon) and Edge 40 (Buy Edge 2023 on Amazon) onwards, as well as all Nothing phones.
This is only part of the list of the phones expected to get the update. Pixel phones, of course, will be the first to receive Android 16 and others should follow suit.
It should be noted that while the Android 16 update will bring new features like Advanced Protection, Live Activities, quick Google Wallet controls, battery health metrics, and other cosmetic changes, the big overheaul is still a few months away. The Material 3 Expressive update that is part of Android 16 QPR1 (Quarterly Platform Release 1) will arrive in a few months. An exact date is not available at this time.
The Material 3 Expressive update is the major visual change coming with Android 16 and it will bring improvements to the Quick Settings panel and Settings menus, some new options along with cosmetic changes to older ones, and more.
This Android update is arriving about three months earlier compared to previous releases. Google had previously mentioned that it is accelerating the release cycle to give manufacturers more time to release their latest flagships with the latest Android version.
