BERLIN: Google has announced plans to fundamentally change the release schedule for software updates to Android phones, rolling out new versions of the mobile operating system in two stages from 2025 onwards.

This will be in a major release and a minor release, Google's Android blog says, promising "faster innovation, higher quality and more polish".

The major release is set to roll out in the second quarter (April to June) every year, well ahead of the previous release period for new Android versions in third quarter. (The latest version, Android 15, was released on October 15.)

The second stage of each new Android operating system is then always planned for the period from October to December (fourth quarter) and is intended to bring further function updates, but above all optimisations and bug fixes.

According to Google, the main aim of the new rhythm is to achieve faster innovation cycles and better software quality.

Android 16 should therefore arrive as early as the end of June 2025, at least for Google's Pixel devices. Other manufacturers still have to adapt the published software kits for their Android smartphones and tablets first.

 – dpa