Android TV 16 will be launched by Google somewhere in mid-2026, as new bi-yearly release cycle for the update of Android TV might be set by Google in which Android TV 16 will be launched by skipping Android TV 15.
Google’s next Android TV update:
Google is all set to bring a big change to the Android TV release cycle, as according to the source of Android Authority, Android TV 15 will be skipped by Google and Android TV 16 will be launched in 2026.
The major reason behind skipping Android TV OS 15 update is the realization that users often upgrade their phones, but that’s not same in the case of TVs.
Also read: Android 16 release date, eligible devices, and new features: Read here in detail
Google realize that users don’t upgrade their TVs often, they usually do each for 5 to 10 years based on different factors like- price, screen size and hardware specifications rather than software updates.
Software updates in TVs do not benefit much to users as TVs are single-purpose media consumption devices. Thus, TV makers have less pressure of having latest Android version TVs, and with that in mind, Google wants to skip an OS update of Android TV every year and will move to a bi-yearly release cycle for the launch of new Android TV versions.
The latest update of Android TV which was released this year is ‘Android 14’ that uses the Android 14 code as a base, so users can expect that new update of Android TV will follow the similar pattern and would be based on Android 16.
Well, for now there is no information about the new features of Android TV OS so it can’t be said that what new features will be brought by Android TV 16. Features of Android versions for smart TVs do not fully fuse with that of the features of smartphones and tablets. So, all the leaks and rumors about Android 16 may not apply to the Android OS TV. Users need to wait for few more months to have clear and reliable information about Android TV updates.
