Expectations that the stable release of Android 15 would be available imminently have been shut down, with Google seeming to confirm that the latest version of its operating system will arrive in October. And while October is within the usual release window for new versions of Android, the fact that the Pixel 9 is already in the wild means this could be considered a delay.
Android 15 Will Be Available in October
The release of the Pixel 9 lineup (the Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold) led many to believe that Android 15 would follow quickly. However, with the new Pixel phones out in the wild, Android 15 is nowhere to be seen.
As first reported by Android Authority, Google has now confirmed that the stable version of Android 15 won’t be released until October. We know thanks to the release notes at the top of the Android Beta Exit, which state that users opting out of the beta program should “ignore this OTA till Android 15 is available in October”.
Has Android 15 Been Delayed or Not?
So, does this mean that Android 15 has been delayed? It’s complicated.
Purely in terms of past Android releases, October isn’t anything out of the ordinary. New versions of Android have traditionally been released in September or October, and Android 14 was released on October 4, 2023.
However, Android is also usually released at the same time as new Pixel phones. Whereas this year, Google announced the new Pixel phones at its latest Made by Google event on August 13, and two of the four phones (the Pixel 9 and Pixel 9 Pro XL) are now available to buy.
So, purely in this context, releasing Android 15 two months later than the flagship hardware represents something of an issue, though not necessarily a delay in the traditional sense of the word.
Interestingly, in an earlier report, Android Authority claimed that “the Android 15 update is seemingly being withheld to improve its stability”. However, Google declined to comment.
The Pixel 9 Is Great Regardless of Android
While any “delay” is frustrating, it should be noted that the Google Pixel 9 is still a great phone regardless of what OS it’s running. You should read our full Pixel 9 review to find out just how good it is.
And with Android 15 set to drop in October, it just means that anyone rushing to buy the new Pixel hardware has something else to look forward to.
