Android 16 will come to Amazon Fire TV despite new VegaOS focus

Source: 9to5Google

Amazon is building out VegaOS as a new base for Fire TV products, but that’s not stopping new Android‑based versions from landing. In developer documentation, Amazon has confirmed that Android 16 is coming to Amazon Fire TV.

As spotted by AFTVNews, Amazon is preparing Fire OS 16 as a new Fire TV update that incorporates both Android 15 and Android 16 updates.

Fire OS 16 incorporates updates from Android 15 (API 35) and Android 16 (API 36). Some older Fire TV devices remain on earlier versions of Fire OS.

Amazon’s documentation highlights several relevant changes in Android 15 and Android 16 for Fire TV apps, such as the edge‑to‑edge requirement, new local network permissions, and changes to the back button. Amazon specifically calls out that the Fire TV remote’s back button may stop working in apps still using the outdated onBackPressed() method.

There are no clear plans for a rollout of Fire OS based on Android 16, nor any indication of which devices will be supported. Amazon confirmed Android 14‑based updates just a few months ago, with the updated OS showing up on select models in the time since.

Meanwhile, Android 16 updates for Google TV (and Android TV) have been largely absent despite being announced over a year ago.