Android 16 Update: Samsung has finally announced that Android 16 will arrive on Galaxy phones in the summer of 2025. This revelation has come as part of the Android Show: I/O Edition, in anticipation of Google’s I/O developer conference. Although Google’s Pixel series will be first in line for the update, Galaxy phone owners can expect the new Android version shortly thereafter.
Android 16 for Samsung Galaxy Devices
On The Android Show: I/O Edition, Samsung’s Vice President and Head of Smartphone Planning, Minseok Kang, was featured in a video posted by Android’s official YouTube channel. He called attention to the collaborative efforts of Google and Samsung in enhancing the Galaxy smartphone experience and revealed that Android 16 will be coming to Samsung devices “this summer.
Although the exact date has not been disclosed, this timing aligns with Google’s confirmed roadmap. Android 16 will reach stable status in June, allowing manufacturers like Samsung to start building and releasing their custom versions of the OS. Historically, Pixel devices receive new Android updates first, but this time, Samsung may roll out Android 16 sooner than expected.
Expected Rollout Order and Timeline
Android 16 is expected to arrive on Pixel phones, tablets, and smartwatches first. Samsung will follow suit shortly after, being the second biggest brand to use the new OS. This is an improvement over Samsung’s last Android 15 rollout, which started months after Google’s October 2024 release and is still ongoing on most Galaxy devices.
The new schedule indicates closer cooperation between Samsung and Google, offering the potential for faster and more streamlined software delivery to Galaxy users. With the stable version of Android 16 released in June, Samsung’s “summer” launch window appears to be very much in sync with this timeline.
Android 16 Rollout Confirmed Earlier at MWC 2025
Notably, the information presented at The Android Show is a repeat of previous comments made at MWC 2025 in Barcelona. Back then, Sameer Samat, President of Android Ecosystem at Google, stated that Android 16 was to be released early. June was the month he pointed to as the time when its stable version would be rolled out, something now fully supported by Google and Samsung.
What This Means for Samsung Users
For Samsung Galaxy phone and tablet owners, this may translate to faster access to Android 16’s fresh features than ever before. The summer release gives users a specific window in advance to look forward to the update. It also indicates that Samsung is endeavoring to shrink the gap between Google’s release and its own deployment of software on supported devices.