Google pushed the first QPR (Quarterly Platform Release) of Android 16 in September, but never pushed the updated codebase to AOSP. Alongside the missing device trees and driver binaries for compatible Pixel phones, the move spelled doom for custom ROM development. While Google confirmed it would release the Android 16 QPR1 source code to AOSP, it didn’t provide a timeline. Now, two months after the OS’s initial rollout, the company has finally pushed the source code live.
The Android 16 QPR1 source code is now live on the AOSP (Android Open Source Project) (via Reddit). This means custom ROMs and third-party developers now have the necessary code for all the snazzy new features the update introduced, including the new Material 3 Expressive design.
Coincidentally, Google pushed the Android 16 QPR1 source code to AOSP on the same day it seeded the November Pixel Feature Drop to compatible devices. It’s unclear if the company will again delay pushing the source code for Android 16 QPR2, the next major release of the OS, due to be released in December.
Android 16 QPR1 should become the new base for popular custom ROMs
As a regular Android user, Android 16 QPR1’s source code going live on AOSP won’t benefit you much. But for the development community, this is a big deal. Further, it will enable older devices running AOSP-based custom ROMs to experience Material 3 Expressive and Live Activities.
The source code also gives curious developers a way to poke into the code and see what new features Google is working on for future versions of the OS.
The LineageOS team recently pushed v23 of their ROM based on the initial Android 16 build, which misses out on the best features of the OS. With QPR1’s source code now live, they can release an updated build with all the enhancements. All other popular custom ROMs should rebase themselves on Android 16 QPR1 in the coming weeks.
Keep in mind that since Google has decided not to release Pixel device trees and driver binaries, custom ROM development for these devices will be affected even with the latest OS code now available on AOSP.
