Summary
- Google has confirmed that Android 16 stable will be released for Pixel phones today (June 10).
- Pixel devices on the QPR1 Beta channel must downgrade to receive Android 16.
- Android 16 introduces Live Updates and Advanced Protection mode, with even more features coming later in the year.
After over six months of testing, Google is finally ready to push Android 16 stable to the public for compatible Pixel phones. Google previously confirmed that Android 16 would launch earlier than usual, in June. Now, the company has provided a firm date: the final release arrives on June 10.
In a post on X, the Android Developers account confirmed that Android 16’s final release will drop on June 10. It’s rare for Google to confirm the release date of a major Android release a day in advance. But the company has followed this strategy with several beta builds of Android 16, announcing their arrival a day in advance.
Android 16’s release will coincide with the June 2025 Feature Drop, so there should be new goodies and features even for non-Pixel users. Even the Pixel Watch lineup, which Google moved to a quarterly update schedule, should get an update with several new features and improvements.
Do note that if your Pixel is already running the Android 16 QPR1 Beta, it won’t receive the OTA to stable Android 16. Only Pixels on the Android 15 stable or Android 16 beta channel will receive the update.
If your device is on the QPR1 beta channel, you must leave the beta program and downgrade your Pixel to the stable Android 16 release. However, doing so will erase all data from the phone.
Android 16’s best features only arrive later this year
While the stable Android 16 build will miss out on Google’s new Material 3 Expressive design, it will bring a bunch of other new features and improvements. This includes Live Updates, which is Google’s take on iPhone’s Live Activities, to help you effortlessly provide real-time notification updates. It should make keeping up with your food delivery status or sports scores a lot simpler.
Google will also beef up its security measures with Android 16 and introduce an Advanced Protection mode. It will unify and consolidate all security options under a single menu for easy access. There will also be new additions like Intrusion Logging and Inactivity Reboot, but many of these features will only go live later in the year.
