Android Behind Closed Doors: Google Ends Quarterly AOSP Code Drops in 2026

Google will move AOSP source code releases to a biannual cadence in 2026, publishing updates only in Q2 and Q4 while continuing Q1/Q3 Pixel updates without immediate source disclosure. The shift is intended to reduce branching overhead and improve stability for chipset vendors and OEMs, but it delays third-party ROMs from accessing low-level fixes introduced mid-cycle. Monthly security patches remain unaffected and will continue through a dedicated security branch.