When Google droppedAndroid 14 Beta 4.1in the last week of July, we thought that might be the final prerelease version before the new OS went stable this month — after all, Android 13’s beta program ended with a4.1 release in late Julyahead of amid-August launchof the stable version. Evidently, this year’s big update needs just a little more time in the oven, as Google has started seeding a surprise Android 14 Beta 5 update today.
Mishaal Rahman spotted the GSIsbeing uploaded to Google’s servers with a build ID of UPB5.230623.003, then Google made things official witha post on the Android Developers Blog. Rahman notes this should be the Release Candidate (RC) build, a sort-of post-beta, yet pre-stable version that should directly precede the public release. There are no functional changes in Beta 5, but Google did share an impressive list of bug fixes in itsrelease notes:
Going by thetimeline Google publishedat the beginning of Android 14’s beta program more than six months ago, July was the last month earmarked for development ahead of a final release. So things might be running a touch behind schedule, but we’re still hopeful for an August launch date for Android 14 — after all, Google said in its announcement post for Beta 5 that the official release is “only weeks away.”
One factor to consider with a potential delay is that Google added two new product lines to its Android device portfolio right in the middle of development. ThePixel FoldandPixel Tabletwere added to the Android 14 beta program with theBeta 4 releaseless than a month ago. Today’s update is being made available to these two newcomers, as well as all of Google’s phones dating back to the Pixel 4a.
Googlesaysthe update could take as long as 24 hours to reach all enrolled beta testers, with device type and carrier being two factors that could slow the rollout. To see if you have it, head toSettings → System → System update, then tap theCheck for updatebutton. If you’d rather not wait, you’d be surprised at how easy it has become to manually sideload theOTAor flash thefactory imagesbyusing Android Flash Tool.
