The Article Tells The Story of:
- Google might skip Android 15 for TVs and leap straight to Android 16.
- Android TV updates could shift to a slower, bi-yearly schedule.
- No public sign of Android TV 15 suggests a major platform change ahead.
- Users must wait longer as Android TV 16 promises bigger surprises.
Android TV Devices Could Miss Android 15 Entirely
Many Android smartphones have already received the Android 15 update. However, Android-powered TVs and streaming devices are still running on Android 14. Growing evidence now suggests that Google might skip Android 15 completely for TV platforms.
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Google appears to be focusing its efforts on preparing Android 16 for TV. The recently published schedule for the Google I/O developer conference lists “Android 16 for TV” during the Android TV session. Notably, there have been no official announcements about Android TV 15 for months, reinforcing the idea that Google plans to move straight from Android TV 14 to Android TV 16.
Traditionally, Android TV updates closely followed the mobile Android update timeline. Each year, Google would release a new Android TV version shortly after launching new versions for phones and tablets. This pattern began to shift with Android TV 13, which never reached consumers. Android TV 13 only existed as a developer preview before its code merged into Android TV 14.
This time, Google has not even offered a public developer preview for Android TV 15. The company has remained silent on its existence. With Google already preparing to introduce Android 16 for TV, it seems clear that Android TV 15 will never officially launch for TVs, Chromecast, or other streaming devices.
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Google May Move to a Bi-Yearly Android TV Update Cycle
Reports from Android Authority earlier this year suggested that Google privately informed partners that Android TV 15 would not proceed. With Google aiming to release Android 16 earlier than expected, skipping Android TV 15 might have been necessary to stay on schedule.
There is another possibility. Google may have decided that updating Android TV every two years is better than annual updates. If this becomes the standard, Android TV 18 would likely arrive in 2027.
Television upgrades happen far less frequently than smartphone upgrades. Most people keep their TVs for many years. A television often stays in use for a decade or longer. For example, some users have shared stories about upgrading their living room TV after 12 years, and even then, the old TV was still partly functional. Given that TVs have longer lifespans, it makes sense for Google to stretch out major software updates rather than pushing them every year.
What to Expect Next for Android TV
For now, users will have to wait a bit longer to see what Android TV 16 offers. While skipping Android 15 might seem disappointing to some, it also hints that Google is planning more meaningful changes with Android 16 rather than delivering a small update.
At the upcoming Google I/O event, more details about Android TV 16 will likely emerge. Until then, TV owners will need to be patient. Android TV and Google TV devices will continue to run Android 14 for the time being.
As Android TV moves toward fewer but larger updates, users might actually benefit in the long run. With major improvements rolled into each release, the need for constant small updates could become a thing of the past.
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