Last year, Google released Android 13 in the month of August, at least for its own Pixel devices first. This was still about two months in advance of the year’s Pixel 7 devices. This year, it looks like the new version of the operating system was hit by some trouble on the way out. So instead, it looks like the new OS version will be heading out into the wild alongside the Pixel 8, currently scheduled to be announced next month.
The claim comes from of Mishaal Rahman on X, previously Twitter. In his post, he says “OEMs are now being told that vulnerabilities detailed in the Android 14 Securities Release Notes will be published on 4 October”. The date also happens to be when the internet search giant intends to lift the curtains off of its Pixel 8 phones.
Hearing now that the source code release of Android 14 has been delayed to next month.
This decision seems to have been made very late, as even OEMs were anticipating that the release would be today.
OEMs are now being told that vulnerabilities detailed in the Android 14… pic.twitter.com/I137j0F0x5
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) September 5, 2023
In the thread, he says that the initial plan was for Android 14 to be released on 5 September, a date which was planned for in advance. Phone makers with their own overlays were also said to have been expecting its release, so the delay will no doubt affect when they will be able to push their overlays out. One affected example is OnePlus, with Mishaal previously claiming that the company intended to release OxygenOS 14 on 25 September.
Worth noting is that if Google really ends up releasing the new operating system on 4 October, then it will be the first time that the two have coinciding release dates. For now, it remains to be seen what sort of effect this delay of the Android 14 OS will have on the other phone makers.
On a related note, the Android branding itself is getting a make over to some degree. The bugdroid mascot is getting a new 3D look, and the name of the mobile OS itself is now stylised with an uppercase A.
(Source: Mishaal Rahman / X, Google)
