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Android Release History

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By Saalim Quadri
3 min read
  • October 2003 (Concept/Founding)
    • Android Inc. founded in Palo Alto, California
    • Founders: Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, Chris White
    • Early idea: reported to be linked to building software for digital cameras / smart devices
    • Google acquired Android Inc. in August 2005
    • Android later became a Linux-based OS project
    • Andy Rubin led Android at Google until 2013, later founded Essential (company launched mid-2010s)
    • Android logo/mascot:
      • The Android robot mascot (“Andy”) was designed by Irina Blok
      • Became the recognizable green Android robot identity
  • Android 1.0 - The beginning
    • Open Handset Alliance (OHA) announced Android publicly in November 2007
    • First commercial Android phone:
      • HTC Dream / T-Mobile G1
      • Announced September 2008, released October 2008
    • Core features: Google apps, notifications, Android market, multi-tasking
  • Android 1.5 — Cupcake (April 2009)
    • First major “dessert name” release (Cupcake)
    • Early consumer Android expansion
    • Introduced on-screen keyboard improvements, widgets, basic video recording
    • Dessert naming convention popularized internally (often credited to Android team culture; no official single owner)
    • Early devices from HTC and Samsung (pre-Galaxy S era)
  • Android 1.6 — Donut (September 2009)
    • Improved support for multiple screen sizes & resolutions
    • Integrated Quick Search Box
    • Added CDMA support, enabling wider global carrier adoption
  • Android 2.0–2.1 — Eclair (October 2009 - Janurary 2010)
    • Major UI refinements
    • Features introduced:
      • Multiple Google account sync
      • Text-to-speech engine
      • Live wallpapers
      • Turn-by-turn Google Maps Navigation
    • Motorola Droid (Verizon Wireless)
  • Android 2.2 — Froyo (May 2010)
    • Significant performance boost via JIT compiler
    • Wi-Fi hotspot & USB Tethering
    • Flash Support via OTA
    • Flagship:
      • Nexus One, (Google x HTC)
  • Android 2.3 — Gingerbread (December 2010)
    • UI refinements for speed and efficiency
    • Introduced:
      • NFC support
      • Improved Gaming & sensor APIs
      • Support for multiple cameras
      • Video calling
    • Flagship:
      • Nexus S (Google x Samsung, NFC)
  • Android 3.0 — Honeycomb (February 2011)
    • Tablet-only release
    • Completely redesigned UI for large screens
    • Introduced system bar, action bar, Holo UI foundations
    • Flagship tablet:
      • Motorola Xoom
  • Android 4.0 — Ice Cream Sandwich (October 2011)
    • Unified phone + Tablet UI (Honeycomb + Gingerbread)
    • Introduced:
      • Holo design language
      • Face Unlock
      • Data usage controls
      • Roboto font
    • UX consistency milestone
  • Android 4.1–4.3 — Jelly Bean (2012–2013)
    • Release timeline:
      • 4.1 - June 2012
      • 4.2 - October 2012
      • 4.3 - July 2013
    • Focus on smoothness (Project Butter)
    • Introduced:
      • Google Now
      • Expandable Notifications
      • HDR photography
      • Miracast support
      • Bluetooth Low Energy (4.3)
  • Android 4.4 — KitKat (October 2013)
    • First Android version with external brand partnership (Nestlé KitKat)
    • From Key-line pie to Nestlé’s KitKat
    • Optimized to run on devices with as little as 512 MB RAM
    • Immersive mode, translucent system UI
    • Flagship:
      • Nexus 5
  • Android 5.0–5.1 — Lollipop (2014–2015)
    • Introduced Material Design
    • Major UI and animation overhaul
    • Added:
      • ART runtime (replacing Dalvik)
      • Device Protection
      • HD voice calling
      • Dual-SIM support
    • Flagships:
      • Nexus 6
      • Nexus 9 Tablet
  • Android 6.0 — Marshmallow (October 2015)
    • Internal codename evolved from “Macadamia Nut Cookie”
    • Introduced:
      • Runtime permissions
      • Fingerprint authentication API
      • USB-C support
      • Doze power saving
      • Android Pay (now Google Pay)
    • Flagships:
      • Nexus 6P
      • Nexus 5X
      • Pixel C Tablet
  • Android 7.0–7.1 — Nougat (August - October 2016)
    • Codename from New York Cheesecake -> Nougat
    • Introduced:
      • Split-screen multitasking
      • Quick app switching
      • Improved JIT compiler
      • Vulkan graphics API
      • VR support (Daydream)
    • Flagships:
      • Pixel
      • Pixel XL
      • LG V20
  • Android 8.0–8.1 — Oreo (2017)
    • Introduced Project Treble (modular system architecture)
    • Picture-in-Picture mode
    • Autofill Framework
    • Background execution limits
    • Flagships:
      • Pixel 2
  • Android 9 — Pie (2018)
    • Developer Preview: March 7, 2018
    • Final Release: August 6, 2018
    • Introduced:
      • Gesture-based navigation (2/3-button hybrid)
      • Digital Wellbeing
      • Adaptive Battery & Brightness
      • Slices API
    • Flagships:
      • Pixel
      • Essential Phone
  • Android 10 (2019)
    • Developer Preview: March 13, 2019
    • Final Release: September 3, 2019
    • Dropped Dessert names (publicly)
    • Introduced:
      • System-wide dark mode
      • Full gesture navigation
      • Foldable & 5G support
      • Scoped storage (initial)
  • Android 11 (2020)
    • Developer Preview: February 18, 2020
    • Final release: September 8, 2020
    • Introduced:
      • Conversation notifications
      • Built-in screen recorder
      • Media controls in Quick Settings
      • One-time permissions
  • Android 12 (2021)
    • Material You (Dynamic theming)
    • Privacy Dashboard & indicators
    • Performance and UI overhaul
  • Android 13 (2022)
    • Enhanced privacy permissions
    • Per-app language preferences
    • Improved tablet & large-screen support
  • Android 14 (2023)
    • Health Connect integration
    • Better background task limits
    • Accessibility improvements
  • Android 15 (2024)
    • Platform efficiency & privacy refinements
  • Android 16 (2025)
    • No-more tagged releases
    • On-going QPR2
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