Android just entered a new era of frequent updates with the latest Android 16 release

Google has started rolling out what it’s calling the second Android 16 update. Arriving first on eligible Pixel devices, the update might look like a typical Pixel Drop given its Pixel-first rollout. However, Google is framing it differently due to its overhauled Android update schedule announced last year.

Why this isn’t a Pixel Drop

Beginning with Android 16, Google said it would shift away from the traditional model of one annual OS upgrade supplemented by minor quarterly updates. Instead, the company said it would deliver multiple Android releases throughout the year, each containing new system features and developer APIs, not just cosmetic tweaks.

Google had previously confirmed that two such updates were planned for Android 16 in 2025. Today’s rollout is the second of those releases, arriving roughly six months after the official version of Android 16 first launched in June.

In a blog post announcing today’s release, Google writes, “With today’s Android 16 release updates, your device is getting smarter, more personal, and easier to manage. This release also marks a new chapter for how Android updates work, moving from a single, yearly operating system update to more frequent releases. This means you get the latest features as soon as they’re ready.”

As previously explained by my colleague, Mishaal Rahman, Google typically uses Quarterly Platform Releases (QPRs) to ship new features; however, these rarely include new APIs or changes that affect developer tools. Only on rare occasions, such as with Android 12L in 2022 and Android 8.1 in 2017, has Google released a QPR substantial enough to bump SDK versions.

However, with Android 16, these deeper updates are becoming standard rather than exceptions. That means the main Android 16 release in June wasn’t the only one this cycle with new features and APIs.

Google hasn’t given this latest Android 16 update a special marketing name, but for clarity, we are referring to it as Android 16 QPR2, since it’s the second quarterly release following the initial launch of Android 16. Google says that the update has begun rolling out to eligible Pixel phones, with broader availability on other devices expected later.