September 29, 2017
BY GAMER SKY CHNEAL0
Comments
The version history of the Android mobile operating system began with the public release of the Android beta in November 5, 2007. The first commercial version, Android 1.0, was released in September 2008. Android is continually developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance, and it has seen a number of updates to its base operating system since the initial release.
Versions 1.0 and 1.1 were not released under specific code names. Android code names are confectionery-themed and have been in alphabetical order since 2009's Android 1.5 Cupcake, with the most recent major version being Android 8.0 Oreo, released in August 2017.
Code name | Version number | Initial release date | API level | Security patches[1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
(No codename)[2] | 1.0 | September 23, 2008 | 1 | Unsupported |
(Internally known as "Petit Four")[2] | 1.1 | February 9, 2009 | 2 | Unsupported |
Cupcake | 1.5 | April 27, 2009 | 3 | Unsupported |
Donut[3] | 1.6 | September 15, 2009 | 4 | Unsupported |
Eclair[4] | 2.0 – 2.1 | October 26, 2009 | 5 – 7 | Unsupported |
Froyo[5] | 2.2 – 2.2.3 | May 20, 2010 | 8 | Unsupported |
Gingerbread[6] | 2.3 – 2.3.7 | December 6, 2010 | 9 – 10 | Unsupported |
Honeycomb[7] | 3.0 – 3.2.6 | February 22, 2011 | 11 – 13 | Unsupported |
Ice Cream Sandwich[8] | 4.0 – 4.0.4 | October 18, 2011 | 14 – 15 | Unsupported |
Jelly Bean[9] | 4.1 – 4.3.1 | July 9, 2012 | 16 – 18 | Unsupported |
KitKat[10] | 4.4 – 4.4.4 | October 31, 2013 | 19 – 20 | Supported;[11] See clarification |
Lollipop[12] | 5.0 – 5.1.1 | November 12, 2014 | 21 – 22 | Supported |
Marshmallow[13] | 6.0 – 6.0.1 | October 5, 2015 | 23 | Supported |
Nougat[14] | 7.0 – 7.1.2 | August 22, 2016 | 24 – 25 | Supported |
Oreo | 8.0 | August 21, 2017 | 26 | Supported |
Note: To clarify, support for e.g. Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Google's support cut-off), means at least security patches in 2014, 2016 and August 2017.[15] The updates may or may not reach actual users' devices; that depends on vendors. Google (and others) may support their own users' devices with a major upgrade only, instead of a security update to those older versions, but it's possible to do.
A version of Android KitKat exclusive to Android Wear devices was released on June 25, 2014, with an API level of 20.
Contents
Pre-commercial release versionsEdit
The development of Android started in 2003 by Android, Inc., which was purchased by Google in 2005.[16]
AlphaEdit
There were at least two internal releases of the software inside Google and the OHA before the beta version was released.[17][18] The code names "Astro Boy" and "Bender" were used internally for some pre-1.0 milestones.[2]
Dan Morrill created some of the first mascot logos, but the current Android logo was designed by Irina Blok.[19] The project manager, Ryan Gibson, conceived the confectionery-themed naming scheme that has been used for the majority of the public releases, starting with Android 1.5 Cupcake.
BetaEdit
The beta was released on November 5, 2007,[20][21] while the software development kit (SDK) was released on November 12, 2007.[22] The November 5 date is popularly celebrated as Android's "birthday".[23] Public beta versions of the SDK were released in the following order:[24]
- November 12, 2007: m3-rc20a (milestone 3, release code 20a)[25]
- November 16, 2007: m3-rc22a (milestone 3, release code 22a)[26]
- December 14, 2007: m3-rc37a (milestone 3, release code 37a)[27]
- February 13, 2008: m5-rc14 (milestone 5, release code 14)[28]
- March 3, 2008: m5-rc15 (milestone 5, release code 15)[24]
- August 18, 2008: 0.9 Beta[29][30]
- September 23, 2008: 1.0-r1[31][32]
Version history by API levelEdit
The following tables show the release dates and key features of all Android operating system updates to date, listed chronologically by their official application programming interface (API) levels.
Android 1.0 (API 1)
Android 1.0 (API 1)
| ||
---|---|---|
Android 1.0, the first commercial version of the software, was released on September 23, 2008.[33] The first commercially available Android device was the HTC Dream.[34] Android 1.0 incorporated the following features: | ||
Version | Release date | Features |
1.0 | September 23, 2008 |
|
Android 1.1 (API 2)
Android 1.1 (API 2)
| ||
---|---|---|
On February 9, 2009, the Android 1.1 update was released, initially for the HTC Dream only. Android 1.1 was known as "Petit Four" internally, though this name was not used officially.[2][41] The update resolved bugs, changed the Android API and added a number of features:[42] | ||
Version | Release date | Features |
1.1 | February 9, 2009 |
|
Android 1.5 Cupcake (API 3)
Android 1.5 Cupcake (API 3)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
On April 27, 2009, the Android 1.5 update was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.27.[43][44] This was the first release to officially use a codename based on a dessert item ("Cupcake"), a theme which would be used for all releases henceforth. The update included several new features and UI amendments:[45] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
1.5 | April 27, 2009[43] |
| Android 1.5 home screen |
Android 1.6 Donut (API 4)
Android 1.6 Donut (API 4)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
On September 15, 2009, Android 1.6 – dubbed Donut – was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.29.[47][48][49] Included in the update were numerous new features:[47] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
1.6 | September 15, 2009[48] |
| Android 1.6 home screen |
Android 2.0 Eclair (API 5)
Android 2.0 Eclair (API 5)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
On October 26, 2009, the Android 2.0 SDK was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.29 and codenamed Eclair.[50] Changes include the ones listed below.[51] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
2.0 | October 26, 2009 |
| Android 2.0 home screen |
Android 2.0.1 Eclair (API 6)
Android 2.0.1 Eclair (API 6)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
2.0.1 | December 3, 2009[53] |
| Android 2.0 home screen |
Android 2.1 Eclair (API 7)
Android 2.1 Eclair (API 7)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
2.1 | January 12, 2010[54] |
| Android 2.1 home screen |
Android 2.2 Froyo (API 8)
Android 2.2 Froyo (API 8)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
On May 20, 2010, the SDK for Android 2.2 (Froyo, short for frozen yogurt) was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.32.[55] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
2.2 | May 20, 2010 |
| Android 2.2 home screen |
2.2.1 | January 18, 2011 |
| |
2.2.2 | January 22, 2011 | ||
2.2.3 | November 21, 2011[63] |
|
Android 2.3 Gingerbread (API 9)
Android 2.3 Gingerbread (API 9)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
On December 6, 2010, the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) SDK was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.35.[64][65] Changes included:[64] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
2.3 | December 6, 2010[65] |
| Android 2.3 home screen |
2.3.1 | December 2010 |
| |
2.3.2 | January 2011 |
|
Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread (API 10)
Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread (API 10)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
2.3.3 | February 9, 2011 |
| Android 2.3 home screen |
2.3.4 | April 28, 2011[69] |
| |
2.3.5 | July 25, 2011 |
| |
2.3.6 | September 2, 2011[75] |
| |
2.3.7 | September 21, 2011 |
|
Android 3.0 Honeycomb (API 11)
Android 3.0 Honeycomb (API 11)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
On February 22, 2011, the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) SDK – the first tablet-only Android update – was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.36.[78][79][80][81] The first device featuring this version, the Motorola Xoom tablet, was released on February 24, 2011.[82] The update's features included:[78] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
3.0 | February 22, 2011[80] |
| Android 3.0 home screen |
Android 3.1 Honeycomb (API 12)
Android 3.1 Honeycomb (API 12)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
3.1 | May 10, 2011[85] |
| Android 3.1 home screen |
Android 3.2 Honeycomb (API 13)
Android 3.2 Honeycomb (API 13)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
3.2 | July 15, 2011[88] |
| Android 3.2 home screen |
3.2.1 | September 20, 2011 |
| |
3.2.2 | August 30, 2011 |
| |
3.2.3 |
| ||
3.2.4 | December 2011 |
| |
3.2.5 | January 2012 |
| |
3.2.6 | February 2012 |
|
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (API 14)
Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (API 14)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
The SDK for Android 4.0.1 (Ice Cream Sandwich), based on Linux kernel 3.0.1,[90] was publicly released on October 19, 2011.[91] Google's Gabe Cohen stated that Android 4.0 was "theoretically compatible" with any Android 2.3.x device in production at that time.[92] The source code for Android 4.0 became available on November 14, 2011.[93] Ice Cream Sandwich was the last version to officially support Adobe Systems' Flash player.[94] The update introduced numerous new features:[95][96][97] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
4.0 | October 18, 2011[95] |
| Android 4.0 home screen |
4.0.1 | October 21, 2011 |
| |
4.0.2 | November 28, 2011 |
|
Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich (API 15)
Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich (API 15)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
4.0.3 | December 16, 2011[103] |
| Android 4.0 home screen |
4.0.4 | March 29, 2012[105] |
|
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (API 16)
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean (API 16)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Google announced Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) at the Google I/O conference on June 27, 2012. Based on Linux kernel 3.0.31, Jelly Bean was an incremental update with the primary aim of improving the functionality and performance of the user interface. The performance improvement involved "Project Butter", which uses touch anticipation, triple buffering, extended vsync timing and a fixed frame rate of 60 fps to create a fluid and "buttery-smooth" UI.[107] Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was released to the Android Open Source Project on July 9, 2012,[108]and the Nexus 7 tablet, the first device to run Jelly Bean, was released on July 13, 2012. | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
4.1 | July 9, 2012 |
| Android 4.1 home screen |
4.1.1 | July 11, 2012[112] |
| |
4.1.2 | October 9, 2012[113] |
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (API 17)
Android 4.2 Jelly Bean (API 17)
| ||
---|---|---|
Google was expected to announce Jelly Bean 4.2 at an event in New York City on October 29, 2012, but the event was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.[116] Instead of rescheduling the live event, Google announced the new version with a press release, under the slogan "A new flavor of Jelly Bean". Jelly Bean 4.2 was based on Linux kernel 3.4.0, and debuted on Google's Nexus 4 and Nexus 10, which were released on November 13, 2012.[117][118] | ||
Version | Release date | Features |
4.2 | November 13, 2012[119] |
|
4.2.1 | November 27, 2012[124] | |
4.2.2 | February 11, 2013[126] |
|
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (API 18)
Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (API 18)
| ||
---|---|---|
Google released Jelly Bean 4.3 under the slogan "An even sweeter Jelly Bean" on July 24, 2013, during an event in San Francisco called "Breakfast with Sundar Pichai". Most Nexus devices received the update within a week, although the second-generation Nexus 7 tablet was the first device to officially ship with it.[128] A minor bugfix update was released on August 22, 2013.[129] | ||
Version | Release date | Features |
4.3 | July 24, 2013[130] |
|
4.3.1 | October 3, 2013[139] |
|
Android 4.4 KitKat (API 19)
Android 4.4 KitKat (API 19)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Google announced Android 4.4 KitKat on September 3, 2013. Although initially under the "Key Lime Pie" ("KLP") codename, the name was changed because "very few people actually know the taste of a key lime pie."[141] Some technology bloggers also expected the "Key Lime Pie" release to be Android 5.[142] KitKat debuted on Google's Nexus 5 on October 31, 2013, and was optimized to run on a greater range of devices than earlier Android versions, having 512 MB of RAM as a recommended minimum; those improvements were known as "Project Svelte" internally at Google.[143] The required minimum amount of RAM available to Android is 340 MB, and all devices with less than 512 MB of RAM must report themselves as "low RAM" devices.[144] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
4.4 | October 31, 2013[145][146] |
| Android 4.4 home screen |
4.4.1 | December 5, 2013[158] |
| |
4.4.2 | December 9, 2013[161] | ||
4.4.3 | June 2, 2014[163] | ||
4.4.4 | June 19, 2014[166] |
|
| ||
---|---|---|
On June 24, 2014, a version of Android KitKat exclusive to Android Wear devices was released. | ||
Version | Release date | Features |
4.4W[168] | June 25, 2014[169] |
|
4.4W.1 | September 6, 2014[170] |
|
4.4W.2 | October 21, 2014[171] |
|
Android 5.0 Lollipop (API 21)
Android 5.0 Lollipop (API 21)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Android 5.0 "Lollipop" was unveiled under the codename "Android L" on June 25, 2014, during Google I/O. It became available as official over-the-air (OTA) updates on November 12, 2014, for select devices that run distributions of Android serviced by Google, including Nexus and Google Play edition devices. Its source code was made available on November 3, 2014.[172][173]
Lollipop features a redesigned user interface built around a responsive design language referred to as "material design". Other changes include improvements to the notifications, which can be accessed from the lockscreen and displayed within applications as top-of-the-screen banners. Furthermore, Google made internal changes to the platform, with the Android Runtime (ART) officially replacing Dalvik for improved application performance, and with changes intended to improve and optimize battery usage, known internally as Project Volta.[174][175][176][177]
| |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
5.0[178] | November 12, 2014[179] |
| Android 5.0 home screen |
5.0.1 | December 2, 2014[193] |
| |
5.0.2 | December 19, 2014[194] |
Android 5.1 Lollipop (API 22)
Android 5.1 Lollipop (API 22)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
5.1 | March 9, 2015[196] |
| Android 5.1 home screen |
5.1.1 | April 21, 2015[199] |
|
Android 6.0 Marshmallow (API 23)
Android 6.0 Marshmallow (API 23)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Android 6.0 "Marshmallow" was unveiled under the codename "Android M" during Google I/O on May 28, 2015, for the Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 phones, Nexus 9 tablet, and Nexus Player set-top box, under the build number MPZ44Q.[201] The third developer preview (MPA44G) was released on August 17, 2015 for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player devices,[202] and was updated to MPA44I that brought fixes related to Android for Work profiles.[203] | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
6.0 | October 5, 2015[204] |
| Android 6.0 home screen |
6.0.1 | December 7, 2015[219] |
|
Android 7.0 Nougat (API 24)
Android 7.0 Nougat (API 24)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Android "Nougat" (codenamed N in-development) is the major 7.0 release of the Android operating system.[221] It was first released as a developer preview on March 9, 2016, with factory images for current Nexus devices, as well as with the new "Android Beta Program" which allows supported devices to be upgraded directly to the Android Nougat beta via over-the-air update. Final release was on August 22, 2016. The final preview build was released on July 18, 2016,[222] with the build number NPD90G. | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
7.0 | August 22, 2016 |
| Android 7.0 home screen |
Android 7.1 Nougat (API 25)
Android 7.1 Nougat (API 25)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
On October 19, 2016, Google released Android 7.1.1 as a developer preview for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P and the Pixel C. A second preview became available on November 22, 2016, before the final version was released to the public on December 5, 2016. | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
7.1 | October 4, 2016[226] |
| Android 7.1 home screen |
7.1.1[227] | December 5, 2016 |
| |
7.1.2[228][229] | April 4, 2017 |
|
Android 8.0 Oreo (API 26)
Android 8.0 Oreo (API 26)
| |||
---|---|---|---|
Android Oreo is the 8th major release of the Android operating system. It was first released as a developer preview on March 21, 2017, with factory images for current Nexus and Pixel devices. The final developer preview was released on July 24, 2017, with the stable version released in August 2017. | |||
Version | Release date | Features | Image(s) |
8.0 | August 21, 2017 |
|