Google's announced Android 13 as its next big update for Android phones and tablets, but when is the update actually releasing for users to download? The launch of a new Android version is always exciting. Each update brings something new to the table. Android 12 was a major interface overhaul for the platform, Android 11 hugely improved messaging notifications, Android 10 brought a system-wide dark mode, and so on. Some Android updates are bigger than others, but with every new release, there's at least one big feature that sticks out.
Android 13 is clearly looking to be an evolution of what Google started with Android 12, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. If Android 12 was the update that tried to usher in the next big design language for Android, Android 13 is the update that'll polish some rough edges and make much-needed refinements. Google's also teased some exciting new functionality — namely better app icon theming, more granular photo sharing permissions for apps, and new quick settings tiles. If you like Android 12, chances are Android 13 will be more of the same (but better).
That begs an important question: When is the Android 13 release date? Unfortunately, it'll be quite a while before it's ready for prime time. At the time of publication, Google's planning to release the final version of Android 13 at some point in Q3 2022 (likely in August or September). While there's no firm Android 13 release date quite yet, past Android releases give us something to look forward to. For some context, Android 12 launched (uncharacteristically late) on October 4, Android 11 debuted on September 8, and Google released Android 10 to the masses on September 3.
There Will Be Six Android 13 Betas Before The Final Release
Leading up to Android 13's public release date, Google's planning to launch six beta versions of the software. This began on February 10 with the launch of Android 13 Developer Preview 1, with a second Developer Preview expected to drop in March. Developer Previews are intended only for developers (as the name implies) and not recommended for use by anyone else. From there, Google expects to release the first of four Pubic Betas in April. Public Betas are still likely to have bugs and missing features, but they are much safer for the general public to use. Subsequent beta versions of Android 13 will then launch in May, June, and July, followed by Android 13's public release in August or September.
Of course, when you'll get Android 13 heavily depends on the type of smartphone you have. Google's Pixel devices are first-in-line for Android updates and will be the first to get the software. From there, it's up to manufacturers to decide how quickly they want to release the update to their own devices. Samsung will likely start updating some of its phones to Android 13 in late 2022, with the likes of OnePlus, Oppo, Nokia, and others following suit later on. It's annoying that the Android 13 release date is still so far off, but if it's as good as Google's promising, it should be well worth the wait.
Source: Google