Android Versions

Putting a glance towards the history of the android version, there have been several Android versions that had taken place till now. The very first android commercial version (Android 1.0) was released on 23 September 2008 and thereafter, it has several updates since its first version release.Below is the brief about the version history of android:

Android 1.0

This was the first commercial version release of android software. However, the first android device commercially available was the HTC Dream. The version introduced several updates like Gmail synchronization with the Gmail application. Google maps with street view became possible by using GPS. The Google Talk instant messaging feature was also introduced in this release. The YouTube video player was also introduced in this version with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Support.

Android 1.1

This version was the second update release also known as ‘Petit Four’, released on 9 February 2009. However, this name was not officially used. In this version, all the bugs were resolved and several new features were added thereon. The details and reviews were made available now whenever a person searches for business reviews on maps. Apart from this, other new features were also introduced.

Android 1.5 Cupcake

The Cupcake version of android was introduced on 27 April 2009 based on Linux kernel 2.6.27. This update introduced several new features and user interface amendments. New updates like video recording and playback in MPEG-4 and 3GP formats, ability to upload videos on YouTube, ability to check the usage history, etc. were also introduced.

Android 1.6 Donut

This Donut version of android was released on 15 September 2009. Several new features like faster camera access, updated technology support, and speed improvements in search and camera apps took place in this version update.

Android 2.0 Eclair

The Eclair version of the android update was released on 26 October 2009 based on Linux kernel 2.6.29 and was named as Eclair. Numerous new features like expanded account sync wherein users could add multiple accounts to the same device to enable the email and contacts synchronize, new camera features including flash support, color effect, and macro focus, etc. were introduced in this release.

Android 2.2 Froyo

This version was named on ‘Frozen yogurt’ and was therefore released on 20 May 2010. It was based on Linux kernel 2.6.32. Several new traits like speed enhancement, memory, and performance of optimization, improved application launcher with phone shortcuts, option to disable the mobile network, etc. were introduced in this release.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread

The gingerbread version was introduced on 6 December 2010 based on 2.6.35. This version introduced several new features like updated user interface with enhanced speed, more intuitive and faster text input for more accuracy and better performance, new audio effects like equalization and bass boost, etc., were all introduced in this version release.

Android 3.0 Honeycomb

The Honeycomb version of android was released on 22 February 2011. This version was the first tablet-only Android update based on Linux kernel 2.6.36. With the arrival of this update, the complete keyboard was redesigned making the typing experience faster, efficient and more accurate with the ability to encrypt the complete user data.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

The Ice Cream Sandwich version of android release was launched on 19 October 2011. Numerous features like easy folder creation with comfortable drag and drop, improved error correction on keyboard and easy & quick copy-paste functionality, face unlock feature, etc., were introduced in this version. Also, minor bugs were fixed.

Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

The Jelly Bean version was introduced on 27 June 2012 based on 3.0.31. Well, the primary objective of this release was to improve the performance of the user interface. However, the first device to support Jelly Bean was released on 13 July 2012. Several new features like user-installable user maps, Bluetooth data transferability, improved camera application, etc. were introduced in this release.

Android 4.4 KitKat

This version of android update was released on 3 September 2013. However, initially, its name was kept under ‘Key Lime Pie’ but was changed later on. The interface was refreshed replacing all the blue elements with white elements and a new framework was introduced for UI transitions.

Android 5.0 Lollipop

The Lollipop version of android update was named ‘Android L’ and released on 25 June 2014. With this version, the lock screen shortcuts to application and settings panel were introduced. Also, the guest logins and multiple user accounts were facilitated, the third-party apps were now able to read and modify the data located on external storage. The addition of 15 new languages and the smart lock feature with updated emoji patterns were also introduced.

Android 6.0 Marshmallow

The Android 6.0 ‘Marshmallow’ was codenamed as Android M and it was released on 28 May 2015. With this release, the app standby feature was introduced with no screen rotation on touch anymore. Also, several new important commands were now supported.

Android 7.0 Nougat

This release is considered one of the major Android releases till now. The Nougat version of android was launched on 9 March 2016. However, its final release took place on 22 August 2016. With this version release, several new features were introduced like display color, ability to view the screen by zooming in, switch the last opened app, redesigned overview screen, sending GIFs, introducing developer options, battery usage alerts, etc.

Android 8.0 Oreo

The Oreo android version was the 8th major release with the stable version release in August 2017 with the arrival of new features like picture-in-picture support, notifications improvements, the introduction of Google Play Protect, color management, Automatic light, and dark themes, auto fill framework updates, and Wi-Fi Assistant, etc. were introduced.

Android 9 Pie

The pie version of android release was the 9th major release of operating system introduced on first by Google on 7 March 2018. However, the final official beta of Android 9 Pie was released on 6 August 2018. With this release, a new user interface was introduced for the quick settings menu. Also, a new lockdown mode was activated and other features like transitions while switching between applications were arrived with this release.

Android 10

The 10th android version release was first launched on 31 March 2019 but its stable version was released on 3 September 2019. Several new features like the detailed format for photos with the blur background, enhanced support for Wi-Fi security protocol, and other advanced supporting updated were introduced with this version release.

Android 11

Android 11 is basically the 11th major android version of the update introduced by Google. It was first announced along with its beta release on 19 February. However, with this version release, new permission controls were introduced in the existing operating system. It is the most recent android that has been taken place till now.

Android 12

The 12th android version release was on October 4, 2021. Several new features like Scrolling Screenshot, Privacy Dashboard, Easier Wi-Fi sharing, AVIF image support were introduced in the existing operating system.

Android 12 L

The Android 12L operating system introduces a massive update to Material Design with Material You, featuring bigger buttons, increased animation, and new widgets for the home screen. Google releases Android 12 with a new user interface tailored to larger screens and improvements for tablets, mobile phones, desktops, and Chromebooks.