Throughout the years, Android has become a quite accomplished Operating System for mobile devices. There have been several versions that have been released eventually on the majority (over 88%) of smartphones. Counting all the major releases, there are about 17 versions that you may have experienced.
Also, the naming procedure followed by Android is based on the names of various popular desserts, except for the earliest versions. In case you’re curious about the various Android versions, then we have compiled a list of all the numbers and names of Android that have been used over the years.
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Android Version Names A-Z
Note that we have started the list from version 1.5 of Android. The reason for this is that versions before 1.5 did not have any kind of codenames attached to them. Also, Android versions after Pie have ditched the dessert codename trend and opted for just numbers. Having said that, let’s take a look at how the Android names and functionality have evolved to the modern-day versions.
Android Cupcake (Version 1.5)
Being one of the earliest versions of Android, the features included with Cupcake were quite limited according to today’s standards. You had support for basic MPEG-4 video playback, a few transition animations, copy and paste features, and basic camera functions. This version of Android was released on April 27, 2009.
Android Donut (Version 1.6)
The next major upgrade to Android rolled out on September 15, 2009. This time, you had access to features like text to speech, upgrades to the default browser, the ability to select multiple files at once, and support for higher resolutions than previous versions.
Android Eclair (Version 2.0 to 2.1)
In the same year as the previous two versions, Android Eclair was released for most Android smartphones. This was the first time features like real-time sync, Bluetooth 2.1, expanded search options, and various new integrations were introduced. Android Eclair was released on October 26, 2009.
Android Froyo (Version 2.2 to 2.2.3)
This version of Android introduced several new features and a major update to the Linux kernel base of the Operating System. The overall performance and several integrations were improved upon prior versions. Also, a new JavaScript engine was introduced to the browser application.
Android Gingerbread (Version 2.3 to 2.3.7)
A year later, Gingerbread was released as a major upgrade to Froyo. Support for higher screen resolutions and better camera sensors was introduced in this version. Also, NFC and clipboard features were made available to users. There was also a download manager that you could access in Gingerbread, unlike the previous versions.
Android Honeycomb (Version 3.0 to 3.2.6)
The next version of Android was specifically aimed at Android tablets. There were several unique UI changes that were introduced to provide a better navigation experience on a tablet. Also, support for many external devices was added, like game controllers and joysticks. Security was also improved upon previous versions in Honeycomb.
Android Ice Cream Sandwich (Version 4.0 to 4.0.4)
Released on October 19, 2011, Ice Cream Sandwich brought some of the features that still persist to this day on new versions of Android. It was one of the most comprehensive updates to the Android ecosystem and brought features like modern fonts, new animations, new widget placement options, and an integrated screenshot feature.
Android Jelly Bean (Version 4.1 to 4.3.1)
Android Jelly Bean was first introduced in 2012 and improves upon the experience offered by Android 4.0. New accessibility features were introduced, along with a more fluid user interface. Also, additional lock screen security features were added, and this version had support for 4K resolutions.
Android KitKat (Version 4.4 to 4.4.4)
This version of Android was another major upgrade to the Android OS. The hardware requirements of this version were higher than all of the previous ones. Several modern features were added to this version, like wireless printing, a new Android WebView, built-in screen recording, and modern google versions of AOSP apps.
Android Lollipop (Version 5.0 to 5.1.1)
One of the most prominent design changes to Android was released with Android Lollipop. This version brought support for 64-bit mobile processors and made several improvements to battery management. Features like multiple accounts, USB audio interfaces, and other performance improvements were also included.
Android Marshmallow (Version 6.0 to 6.0.1)
This is a version of Android that can still be found on some older devices that are currently being used and haven’t been updated for a while. Android Marshmallow was first released on May 28, 2015, for the top-end Nexus phones. Features like Android doze mode, fingerprint reader support, USB-C, and permission management were first introduced with this version.
Android Nougat (Version 7.0 to 7.1.2)
Android Nougat was one of the most in-depth security updates to the Android OS. It was released on August 22, 2016, and had new features integrated onto the OS, like file encryption, multi-window apps, faster and easier app installations, and better keyboard layouts.
Android Oreo (Version 8.0 to 8.1)
Released in 2017, this is one of the more recently released versions of Android. Support for new types of locking hardware, and faster app loading and boot times were introduced in this version. Also, Google’s in-house app protection feature, Play Protect, was first integrated to this version. There was also an Android Oreo Go version, designed for phones with low amounts of RAM.
Android Pie (Version 9.0)
The ninth major update to Android can still be found in many phones used to date. It was launched in 2018, with various User Interface changes and major performance improvements. Also, this was the first time that gesture navigation was introduced to Android natively, along with adaptive brightness and battery for a more efficient experience.
Android Q (Version 10.0)
Android Q was officially released on September 3, 2019. This version is one of the most used versions of Android as of now. Only the more recent devices have the later versions of Android included, making Android 10 the most used mobile OS. There are several great features introduced in this version that improves upon the Android Pie experience, like improved permission management, better security, native support for biometric authentication in apps and services, and the WPA3 standard for Wi-Fi security.
Android 11
Android 11 came out on September 8, 2020. This makes it relatively new, and it is still being rolled out to many devices as of now. This was the first version of Android that completely ditched the codename procedure followed by the previous versions, and just carries the version number in its name. There are several privacy and security improvements, along with new IoT features, and tools to predict device usage and tailor it according to the user.
Android 12
This is the version of Android that has been released on October 4, 2021. Android 12 brings some vast User Interface changes to the OS. There is support for theming, with colors across the UI being extracted from the wallpapers and other factors. There is also support for new codecs, performance improvements, and improved debugging for new apps.
