List of all android versions and their names
Android is one of the most popular mobile operating systems around the world, and it’s been around for a while. With new versions of the operating system being released almost 7every year, it can be hard to keep track of all the different Android versions and their names. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive list of all the Android versions and their associated names, from the earliest version to the latest.
What is android
Android is an operating system developed by Google for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. It is based on the Linux kernel and its first version, Android 1.0, was released in 2008. Since then, Google has released numerous updates to the Android operating system, each with a different code name. These code names are used to identify the version of Android that is running on the device.
List of all android versions and their names
Android 1.0 – Petit Four
Android 1.0, also known as Petit Four, was the first commercial version of the Android mobile operating system, released on September 23, 2008. This version of Android included a full-featured web browser, support for third-party applications, and Google Maps.
At the time of its launch, Android 1.0 had the most advanced feature set of any smartphone OS, including the ability to upload photos to online services and access calendar events from multiple sources. Additionally, it featured an improved user interface, with on-screen keyboards and an icon-based home screen for organizing applications.
Android 1.1 – Banoffee Pie
Android 1.1, also known as Banoffee Pie, was the first major update to the original Android operating system. It was released in February 2009, and it included a number of improvements over the initial version. The main changes in Android 1.1 were a few bug fixes and minor feature enhancements, including the addition of an onscreen keyboard, improved camera support, and support for third-party applications.
Additionally, the update introduced several new applications, such as an enhanced music player, a photo viewer, and a web browser.
However, the most important improvement was that Android 1.1 allowed for the installation of third-party applications from outside sources. This opened up the platform to a much larger range of developers and made it much easier for users to customize their phones with useful applications.
Android 1.5 – Cupcake
Android 1.5, Cupcake, was an upgrade to the first update of the Operating System. This version of Android was released in April 2009 and brought a variety of new features, including on-screen keyboards, home screen folders, third-party application support, improved Bluetooth support, and voice search.
The user interface of Android 1.5 was much more polished than earlier versions, making it easier to use. Additionally, new widgets were introduced, giving users the ability to customize their home screens. Other improvements included the ability to upload photos and videos to Picasa and YouTube directly from the phone.
Android 1.6 – Donut
Android 1.6, also known as Donut, was a major update to the Android operating system released in 2009. It included several new features and improved performance for users. The most notable new feature was the addition of support for CDMA networks, allowing phones to use multiple carriers at once.
Other changes included the ability to access text-to-speech engines from the settings menu, an updated Google Maps experience with better search capabilities, and a new battery usage indicator. Donut also introduced quick search box, allowing users to quickly find contacts, applications, and bookmarks on their device.
Android 2.0 – Eclair
Android 2.0, code named Eclair, was a significant update to the Android platform, introducing many new features and improvements. The most notable changes included improved browser performance, improved responsiveness and speed of user interface elements, support for larger screen sizes and resolutions, and the addition of the Bluetooth 2.1 specification. Released on October 26, 2009.
Additionally, Android 2.0 saw a major upgrade to the Android Market, which enabled automatic downloads of updates for installed applications, along with access to an expanding selection of free and paid applications.
Android 2.2 – Froyo
Android 2.2, code named Froyo, was released in May 2010. This version of Android was notable for its speed and performance improvements, including the introduction of the Just-in-Time (JIT) compiler which allowed apps to run up to five times faster than with earlier versions. It also introduced native support for Adobe Flash, allowing users to play Flash content directly on their device.
Other features included an improved keyboard and text selection, support for Wi-Fi Direct, improved Bluetooth support, full HTML5 support, and many other new features. Froyo was the first version of Android to allow users to install apps on their SD cards, giving them more control over where their data was stored. Froyo also brought a number of security improvements, including better protection against malicious software.
Android 2.3 – Gingerbread
Android 2.3, code named Gingerbread, was released in December 2010 and was the second major version of the Android OS. Gingerbread brought a number of significant changes to the Android platform, including a redesigned user interface, improved text input, better gaming support, support for near field communication (NFC) technology, and improved power management.
It also added a range of new features, such as support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions, gyroscope and barometer sensors, multi-core processors, and improved speech recognition.
Android 3.0 – Honeycomb
Android 3.0 Honeycomb was the first version of Android designed specifically for tablets. It was released in February 2011 and brought several new features to the operating system, including a redesigned UI optimized for larger screens, an improved virtual keyboard, and the ability to run apps on multiple cores.
The main feature of Android Honeycomb was the new interface, which featured a customizable app launcher, a holographic visual design, and an improved notifications system. The user could now interact with the OS using gestures, such as tapping and swiping.
For developers, Honeycomb brought a number of improvements including a new NDK (Native Development Kit) for developing apps for multiple platforms, support for more device types, and better security.
Android 4.0 – Ice Cream Sandwich
Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, was a major update to the Android platform. It was released in October of 2011 and brought with it a host of new features and improvements.
Android 4.0 introduced several user interface changes including a refined look and feel, an improved home screen experience, new widgets and more powerful multitasking. The overall visual style of the system was given an overhaul, with a much more modern look.
The lock screen was also enhanced, allowing users to quickly access their favorite apps and quickly launch the camera. In addition, a new font was added that made reading text on the device easier on the eyes.
Android 4.1 – Jelly Bean
Android 4.1, also known as Jelly Bean, was released in July 2012 and is one of the most popular versions of the Android operating system. It introduced several new features, including Project Butter, which improved the user experience by making animations smoother, expandable notifications, Google Now, and improved voice search.
Jelly Bean also brought a host of bug fixes and stability improvements. Project Butter introduced triple buffering, which eliminated stuttering and lag when transitioning between screens. It also incorporated vsync to reduce screen tearing, and made the user interface more responsive.
Android 4.4 – KitKat
One of the most notable new features of Android 4.4 KitKat was the introduction of the OK Google voice search function. This allowed users to speak commands directly into their device in order to launch apps, search the web, or perform other actions. Released on September 3, 2013.
In terms of performance improvements, Android 4.4 KitKat included several tweaks that made the operating system faster and smoother than ever before. The new Project Svelte initiative aimed to reduce memory usage, making it possible to run apps on devices with as little as 512MB of RAM.
Android 5.0 – Lollipop
Android 5.0 Lollipop was a major release of the Android operating system. It was first unveiled in June 2014, with an official release in November 2014. Android 5.0 Lollipop brought with it many new features and enhancements over its predecessor, Android 4.4 KitKat.
Lollipop introduced several new features such as better control over app permissions, native support for multiple users on one device, and a redesigned Recent Apps menu.
The new Material Design look and feel was also implemented across Google’s other products and services, such as Chrome OS and Google Now. This gave Android users a more consistent experience when using different Google services across devices.
The last version of Lollipop, 5.1.1, was released in April 2015. In total, there were five versions of Lollipop (5.0, 5.0.1, 5.0.2, 5.1, and 5.1.1).
Android 6.0 – Marshmallow
Android 6.0 Marshmallow was released in October 2015 and marked the sixth major version of the Android operating system. Marshmallow included a variety of new features that focused on improving the overall user experience.
This included Doze which helps to improve battery life by putting the device into a low-power state when not in use, as well as Now on Tap which provides contextual information based on what is on screen. It also introduced official support for fingerprint scanners and USB Type-C.
Android 7.0 – Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat was the seventh major version of the Android operating system. It was first released as a developer preview in March 2016 and officially released in August 2016.
Nougat introduced several new features, such as split-screen multitasking, improved notifications, enhanced Doze power management, and more. Additionally, it included support for Vulkan, a new 3D rendering API that would allow apps to better utilize modern graphics hardware.
Android 8.0 – Oreo
The main focus of Oreo is on improving battery life, allowing devices to last longer while still providing the same level of performance. In addition to this, Oreo also includes improved power management capabilities, helping to keep device temperatures low and reduce overall energy consumption. It was released on July 24, 2017.
In terms of security, Oreo has added a number of measures designed to protect users from malicious apps and threats. Google Play Protect is a new feature that scans for potentially dangerous apps and removes them from your device, keeping you safe from malicious software.
Android 9.0 – Pie
Android 9.0 Pie is the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system. It was released on August 6, 2018 and has a number of new features, including adaptive battery and display, gesture navigation, improved security, better accessibility tools, and more.
The most important feature of Android 9.0 Pie is its ability to learn from the user’s habits and preferences. Through machine learning, the operating system can adjust the settings according to the user’s usage patterns, such as making suggestions on how to extend battery life.
Android 10
Released on September 3, 2019. With its 10th version, Android stopped the trend of naming its OS after dessert items. Simply named Android 10. The OS offered improved touch gestures, a floating setting panel, and support for biometric authentication.
Android 11
Android 11 came with big privacy updates, which allowed users to grant permissions related to camera, microphone, and location to apps. It was released on September 8, 2020. You choose to grant access to apps only while they are in use, only once, or outright deny it. Android 11 also made it hard for apps to request location data while working in the background. Permissions were automatically removed from dormant apps.
Android 12
Released on October 4, 2021, Android 12 is the latest Android iteration and will be replaced by Android 13 later this year. Integrating ‘Material You’ into its UI, the Android 12 reimagined how the OS looks on the surface. With Material You, users can set the colour theme for their phone and design it according to their taste.
Android 13
Android 13 is the thirteenth major release of the Android mobile operating system, developed by Google, released for the public on August 15, 2022. Android 13 helps ensure your devices feel unique to you on your terms.
It comes jam-packed with new capabilities for your phone and tablet, like extending app color theming to even more apps, language settings that can be set on an app level, improved privacy controls and even the ability to copy text and media from one Android device and paste it to another with just a click.
Android 14
Android 14 will be the fourteen major versions of the Android operating system. It will arrive as the successor to Android 13. Android 14 will be called Upside Down Cake. According to XDA Developers, the dessert name of Android 14 has been spotted in the Android Gerrit, and the new version is code-named Upside Down Cake.
Conclusion
Android is one of the most popular mobile operating systems in the world. It is a constantly evolving platform, with new versions and features being released regularly. In this post, we have compiled a list of all the Android versions and their names. This list provides a helpful overview of the different versions and helps you understand the evolution of the Android platform over the years.
