Android 16 QPR1 Source Code Finally Lands on AOSP: A Game-Changer for Custom ROM Development
Google's Android 16 QPR1 update, initially released in September, faced a critical issue: the absence of the updated codebase on AOSP. This oversight threatened to hinder custom ROM development, as device trees and driver binaries for compatible Pixel phones were notably missing. However, two months after the initial rollout, Google has finally made the Android 16 QPR1 source code available on the AOSP, marking a significant milestone.
The Android 16 QPR1 source code is now accessible on the AOSP (https://android.googlesource.com/platform/build/+/refs/heads/android16-qpr1-release), providing custom ROMs and third-party developers with the necessary code for the new features introduced in the update, including the Material 3 Expressive design. This development coincides with Google's release of the November Pixel Feature Drop to compatible devices, raising questions about the potential delay of the source code for Android 16 QPR2, the next major release in December.
While Android 16 QPR1's source code on AOSP won't significantly impact regular Android users, it's a game-changer for the development community. It enables older devices running AOSP-based custom ROMs to access Material 3 Expressive and Live Activities. Moreover, developers can now explore the code and anticipate Google's future OS enhancements.
The LineageOS team, for instance, has recently released v23 of their ROM based on the initial Android 16 build, missing out on the best features. With QPR1's source code available, they can now release an updated build incorporating all the enhancements. This development suggests that all popular custom ROMs will rebase themselves on Android 16 QPR1 in the coming weeks.
However, it's important to note that Google's decision not to release Pixel device trees and driver binaries continues to impact custom ROM development for these devices, even with the latest OS code available on AOSP.
