• Google has released the Android 16 beta 4, one of the last beta updates before the final release, it is also happening at a time when Samsung is still working on the Android 15 rollout.
Android 16 Development Timeline
• The Android 16 preview program began in November 2024.
• Before this version, Google used to release only one Android version per year.
• However, Android 16’s development pace allowed the Android-maker to share the first preview after Android 15 launched in October.
Android 16 Beta Program and Platform Stability
• The test program expanded with Beta 1 in January and this week, Google seeded beta 4 in the Android 16 development roadmap.
• For now, the latest Android may add another test build before its public announcement.
• starters, the Platform Stability milestone confirms that the software has reached final internal and external APIs, final app-facing behaviors and non-SDK API lists.
Android 16 Launch Speculation
• A previous report suggests that Google could launch Android 16 in June or July, but we have to wait for an official announcement.
Samsung's One UI 7 Rollout Challenges
• This achievement comes at a time when Samsung is going back and forth with Android 15 (One UI 7) rollout.
• The One UI 7 journey kicked off with beta program one month after the Android 16 preview.
• One UI 7 has raised the bar of complication for Galaxy devices due to delayed rollout.
• A couple of reasons maybe responsible for this fallout, including generative AI expansion for mobile devices and late development and testing.
• The launch of a new Galaxy S25 series might have distracted Samsung from providing this update on time.
One UI 7 Rollout Status and Updates
• Earlier this month, The Korean tech giant conducted the first batch of software release via OTA update, which ended up in a pause due to some internal reason, but the rollout quickly resumed.
• As of the time of writing this article, Android 15 has only reached the Galaxy S24 series, and Z Fold 6, and Z Flip 6 devices in a few markets.
Delayed OS Upgrade
• On the other hand, previous Galaxy device owners are still waiting for this OS upgrade.
One UI 8 Development
• this One UI 7 saga, Samsung also started working on One UI 8 (Android 16) build, which suggests that the company maybe finding a way to untangle itself from Android 15 rollout mistake with an early release for the next major OS update.
