While several Android 17-eligible devices are yet to receive the update, the Android 18 rumour mill has already started churning. From Android 18’s features and release timeline to its codename and eligible devices that will eventually rock it, here’s everything we know about Google’s next big OS update.
What Is Android 18 Called?
Android 18 doesn’t have a name yet. But that will likely change as we move through the release cycle.
Even though Google has moved away from publicly branding Android after well-known delicacies, internally, Google’s sweet-tooth naming tradition persists.
If previous Android versions are anything to go by, we can expect Google to codename it with the name of a dessert.
In the past two years, Android codenames have been moving in alphabetical order. Android 16 was called Baklava (B) and Android 17 was called Cinnamon Bun (C). With "D" next in the pecking order, could we expect Android 18 to be called Dhudhi Halwa (pudding) or perhaps a Dirt Cake? Time will tell.
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Android 18 Expected Release Timeline: When Will It Be Out?
Last year, Google skipped the Developer Preview releases for Android 17 and jumped straight from Canary to Beta builds. If Google sticks to the same roadmap, the release timeline for Android 18 could look something like this:
| Build Version | Expected Release Date |
|---|---|
| Android 18 Canary | Continuous, from late 2026 to early 2027 |
| Android 18 Beta 1 | Around mid-February 2027 |
| Android 18 Beta 2 | Around late-February 2027 |
| Android 18 Beta 3 | Around late-March 2027 |
| Android 18 Beta 4 | Around mid-April 2027 |
| Android 18 Stable Release | Around June 2027 |
After release, Android 18 is expected to continue receiving quarterly updates. Note again that all the above dates are based on the release timeline of Android 17 and will most likely change.
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Android 18 Eligible Devices
Historically, Google phones have been the first to receive the latest Android update. We expect the same for Android 18 as well, with the update arriving to every Pixel phone from Pixel 7 to the latest Pixel 11 series.
The complete list of Pixel devices that will receive the Android 18 update is as follows:
- Google Pixel 11
- Google Pixel 11 Pro
- Google Pixel 11 Pro XL
- Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
- Google Pixel 10
- Google Pixel 10 Pro
- Google Pixel 10 Pro XL
- Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold
- Google Pixel 10a
- Google Pixel 9
- Google Pixel 9 Pro
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
- Google Pixel 9a
- Google Pixel 8
- Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Google Pixel 8a
- Google Pixel 7
- Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Google Pixel 7a
- Google Pixel Fold
Android 18 will be the last major update to the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, as the models will reach their end of life cycles by October 2027.
Generally, brands will start developing their version of Android 18 once Google pushes the first beta. Phones from these brands will first get the Android 18 beta updates before stable versions drop out.
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Android 18: Expected Features
While there’s very little to go on in terms of confirmed features, it won’t be a stretch to call Android 18 AI-heavy. From big Gemini feature upgrades to an offline Google Rambler, we expect (and hope) to see several agentic-grade AI features to grace Android 18.
Recent leaks also suggest that Android 18 could revamp contact permissions so third-party apps don't get access to your complete contact list.
Ahead of its recently revived Android Dev Summit, Google teased a “powerful new graphics feature”. It’s also when we first received confirmation of the existence of Android 18.
The session showed developers how to use the new graphics feature to build progressive blurs and mesh gradients. So, in all likelihood, Android could get a much needed glowup, especially when it comes to how the apps look and feel.
Other than these, we also expect new customisation features, especially for the lock screen, quick settings, menus, and other system areas.
We will continue to update this post to bring you the latest confirmed (and leaked) details about Android 18 as they become available. So stay tuned!
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