In this post, we will be talking about the Android 14 release date and everything we know till now. As most of us know, a new version of Android is released annually by Google. The new update brings the latest features and improvements over the preceding version.
This year, Google released Android 13, and many devices are already running on the latest firmware. As expected, the next Android, Android 14, will be released by Google in the coming year, 2023. So what is the Android 14 release date, and what else should you expect? Everything is discussed in this article.
Android 14 Release Date
As soon as the stable version of Android 13 was out, Google initiated its work on Android 14. As per a leak discovered by an XDA developer, Android 14 will be called “Upside Down Cake”.
It was a trend followed by Google, where they named their Android versions after desserts. Android Oreo, Kitkat, and Nougat are some examples. But Google dropped this trend after Android 10, as Android 11 did not have any dessert name for itself.
Regarding the Android 14 release date, we can’t precisely pinpoint the day it will be released. As of now, Google hasn’t provided any information regarding the Android 14 release date. But we can get a faint idea of the time of the official release by analyzing past events.
It is expected that the Android 14 will be properly unveiled sometime in May 2023, when Google will hold its annual developer conference, Google I/O 2023. But just like always, the Developer Preview will be released earlier, in February 2023. This is done so that developers can adjust their apps to the new operating system.
The Developer preview 2 will likely follow in the next month, March 2023. The public beta should be available by April, and Android 14 will release in the beta phase until July 2023. Like the previous versions, there will probably be four beta versions in this period. What about the stable Android 14 release date? The stable version is anticipated to be out in August 2023.
Also read: Stable OxygenOS 13 Update for the OnePlus 10T
Android 14 Features
What features will Android 14 bring? As of now, Google hasn’t provided much information on this topic. But some features and improvements are expected to come with Android 14. Let’s take a look:
1. No Support For Android Beam
With Android 14, devices will no longer support the Android beam feature. This feature debuted with the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Its purpose was to make it easier for users to share files such as photos, videos, and documents between two Android devices.
Android Beam has proved its usefulness over the past years, but recently, this feature has been used less and less due to newer methods of sharing files. Hence Google has decided to discontinue the feature from Android 14.
2. Mandatory Support For AV1 Decoding
Recently, the AV1 video codec has gained much popularity. Users also prefer AV1 as it offers better video compression compared to the current industry standard, VP9. With Android 14, Google will make it mandatory that AV1 decoding be used. This will become a requirement. Therefore, this format will be used by many manufacturers, and many more Android devices will be able to take advantage of it.
Making AV1 mandatory also means that VOD streaming services and content creators can use the AV1 video codec on their content to offer better-quality videos at lower bitrates. This is a significant improvement as this means there will be lesser data consumption for higher-quality videos.
3. Satellite Connectivity
Like the SOS Via Satellite feature introduced with iPhone 14, Google will introduce its own feature. This new feature will be present in Android 14. This will be a big upgrade as Android devices can now use satellite connectivity. This means that users will have another way of communication.
4. Mandatory Support for Identity Credential HAL
In terms of security, Google has made it mandatory that support be provided for Identity Credential HAL. This is a big security measure, enabling secure authentication for online services and apps used on Android devices.
The Identity Credential HAL is created to offer security for users’ data based on hardware. This security layer allows users to use online apps and services without worrying about passwords and credentials.
5. Increased Support For Foldable Devices
Lastly, we will see increased support for foldable devices. This is welcome news for users with foldable devices, as the new version will make it easier for them to use their devices.
Android 14 Supported Devices
Many devices will be able to run on Android 14. These include devices from Pixel, Samsung, Nothing, Oppo, OnePlus, and other top OEMs. But remember that only some devices from these OEMs can run on Android 14. As mentioned above, the developer preview will be live in February 2023, so interested users can get an early experience.
But you should keep in mind that the developer preview and the public beta builds will only be available for Pixel devices. The Android 14-supported Pixel devices are mentioned below:
- Pixel 4
- Pixel 4XL
- Pixel 4a
- Pixel 4a 5G
- Pixel 5
- Pixel 5XL
- Pixel 5a
- Pixel 6
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 6 Pro
- Pixel 7
- Pixel 7 Pro
- Pixel 7a
So that was it from our side regarding the Android 14 release date and everything we know till now.
