Android 15 source code is coming before the Pixel's Google build. Does this mean that it's possible that GOS A15 releases for Pixels before Google does?
Android 15 timing
Articles on Android Authority, for reference:
According to multiple sources, the final public release of Android 15 to AOSP is planned for Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
The Android 15 update is seemingly being withheld to improve its stability. According to a source, Google currently plans to roll out the Android 15 update for Pixel phones sometime in October, possibly even in the middle of the month. That’s significant because Google plans to release the source code for Android 15 next week, meaning there might be a gap of 30 days or even more between the source code drop and the Pixel OTA update.
oluz8 Does this mean that it's possible that GOS A15 releases for Pixels before Google does?
It's totally possible. I think they even managed to do that a few years back but I'm not 100% sure. GOS devs tend to provide security patches as soon as it is technically possible.
Although Pixel devices have always been intended for consumers, they’re also reference devices for Android platform developers, so they’re frequently used to test and develop new Android releases. Testing and deploying updates is a challenging process, though, which is why the Pixel team no longer guarantees that they’ll always release an update on the same day that the source code has been uploaded, even for monthly security updates. The Pixel team now regularly withholds updates until they’re ready to roll them out, which gives them more time to finalize marketing for Pixel Feature Drops, test changes, or iron out any last-minute bugs.
Assuming those sources are correct - looks like the Pixel team is stepping down from providing the fastest updates. From now on we'll probably be the first ones to receive full AOSP security patches and maybe even (unpolished) features. Alpha/Beta testers are going to have lots of fun troubleshooting upstream bugs if that turns out to be true.
I hope that Graphene will regain their Android Partner status someday. Hate the way Google's non-technical team acts.