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The version history of the Android mobile operating system began with the public release of the Android beta on November 5, 2007. The first commercial version, Android 1.0, was released on September 23, 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, although Android 1.1 was unofficially known as Petit Four. Android code names are confectionery-themed and have been in alphabetical order since 2009's Android 1.5 Cupcake. The most recent version of Android is Android 9 Pie, which was released in August 2018.

Global Android version distribution since December 2009, as of September 2018. Android Marshmallow v. 6.0 (the oldest supported version) is running on 21.6%^[1] of all Android devices accessing Google Play while Android Nougat (v. 7.0 & 7.1) is running on 29.3%, and all supported versions including the newest Pie, run on 48.5% (70.1% with Marshmallow that recently got its last security update) of devices combined.
According to StatCounter Oreo (v. 8.0) overtook Lollipop (v. 5.1) and Oreo (v. 8.1) overtook KitKat (v. 4.4) and thus Oreo overall is about to overtake Nougat (v. 7.0 & 7.1), otherwise their statistics (that include China and are based on web use a proxy for all use, unlike Google's) are broadly consistent with Google's.^[2]

Pre-commercial release versions

The development of Android started in 2003 by Android, Inc., which was purchased by Google in 2005.^[19]

Alpha

There were at least two internal releases of the software inside Google and the OHA before the beta version was released.^[20][21]

To avoid confusion, the code names "Astro Boy" and "Bender" were only known to be tagged internally on some early pre-1.0 milestone builds, and thus were never used as the actual code names of the 1.0 and 1.1 release of the OS, as many people are mistakenly calling and repeating on the web.^[4] Dan Morrill created some of the first mascot logos, but the current Android logo was designed by Irina Blok.^[22] 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.

Beta

The beta was released on November 5, 2007,^[23][24] while the software development kit (SDK) was released on November 12, 2007.^[25] The November 5 date is popularly celebrated as Android's "birthday".^[26] Public beta versions of the SDK were released in the following order:^[27]

• November 12, 2007: m3-rc20a (milestone 3, release code 20a)^[28]
  


• November 16, 2007: m3-rc22a (milestone 3, release code 22a)^[29]
  


• December 14, 2007: m3-rc37a (milestone 3, release code 37a)^[30]
  


• February 13, 2008: m5-rc14 (milestone 5, release code 14)^[31]
  


• March 3, 2008: m5-rc15 (milestone 5, release code 15)^[27]
  


• August 18, 2008: 0.9 Beta^[32][33]
  


• September 23, 2008: 1.0-r1^[34][35]
  

Version history by API level

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 1.5 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.[46][47] 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:[48]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
1.5	April 27, 2009[46]	Support for third-party virtual keyboards with text prediction and user dictionary for custom words Support for Widgets – miniature application views that can be embedded in other applications (such as the Home screen) and receive periodic updates[49] Video recording and playback in MPEG-4 and 3GP formats Auto-pairing and stereo support for Bluetooth (A2DP and AVRCP profiles) Copy and paste features in web browser User pictures shown for Favorites in Contacts Specific date/time stamp shown for events in call log, and one-touch access to a contact card from call log event Animated screen transitions Auto-rotation option New stock boot animation Ability to upload videos to YouTube Ability to upload photos to Picasa	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.[50][51][52] Included in the update were numerous new features:[50]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
1.6	September 15, 2009[51]	Voice and text entry search enhanced to include bookmark history, contacts, and the web Ability for developers to include their content in search results Multi-lingual speech synthesis engine to allow any Android application to "speak" a string of text Easier searching and ability to view app screenshots in Android Market Gallery, camera and camcorder more fully integrated, with faster camera access Ability for users to select multiple photos for deletion Updated technology support for CDMA/EVDO, 802.1x, VPNs, and a text-to-speech engine Support for WVGA screen resolutions Speed improvements in searching and camera applications Expanded Gesture framework and new GestureBuilder development tool	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.[53] Changes include the ones listed below.[54]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
2.0	October 26, 2009	Expanded Account sync, allowing users to add multiple accounts to a device for synchronization of email and contacts Microsoft Exchange email support, with combined inbox to browse email from multiple accounts in one page Bluetooth 2.1 support Ability to tap a Contacts photo and select to call, SMS, or email the person Ability to search all saved SMS and MMS messages, with delete oldest messages in a conversation automatically deleted when a defined limit is reached Numerous new camera features, including flash support, digital zoom, scene mode, white balance, color effect and macro focus Improved typing speed on virtual keyboard, with smarter dictionary that learns from word usage and includes contact names as suggestions Refreshed browser UI with bookmark thumbnails, double-tap zoom and support for HTML5 Calendar agenda view enhanced, showing attending status for each invitee, and ability to invite new guests to events Optimized hardware speed and revamped UI Support for more screen sizes and resolutions, with better contrast ratio Improved Google Maps 3.1.2 MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events[55] Addition of live wallpapers, allowing the animation of home-screen background images to show movement	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[56]	Minor API changes, bugfixes and framework behavioral changes	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[57]	Minor amendments to the API and bugfixes	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.[58]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
2.2	May 20, 2010	Speed, memory, and performance optimizations[59] Additional application speed improvements, implemented through JIT compilation[60] Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine into the Browser application Support for the Android Cloud to Device Messaging (C2DM) service, enabling push notifications Improved Microsoft Exchange support, including security policies, auto-discovery, GAL look-up, calendar synchronization and remote wipe Improved application launcher with shortcuts to Phone and Browser applications USB tethering and Wi-Fi hotspot functionality[61] Option to disable data access over mobile network Updated Market application with batch and automatic update features[59] Quick switching between multiple keyboard languages and their dictionaries Support for Bluetooth-enabled car and desk docks Support for numeric and alphanumeric passwords Support for file upload fields in the Browser application[62] The browser now shows all frames of animated GIFs instead of just the first frame only Support for installing applications to the expandable memory Adobe Flash support[63] Support for high-PPI displays (up to 320 ppi), such as four-inch 720p screens[64] Gallery allows users to view picture stacks using a zoom gesture	Android 2.2 home screen
2.2.1	January 18, 2011	Bugfixes, security updates and performance improvements
2.2.2	January 22, 2011	Minor bugfixes, including SMS routing issues that affected the Nexus One[65]
2.2.3	November 21, 2011[66]	Two security updates

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.[67][68] Changes included:[67]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
2.3	December 6, 2010[68]	Updated user interface design with increased simplicity and speed Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions (WXGA and higher)[64] Native support for SIP VoIP internet telephony Faster, more intuitive text input in virtual keyboard, with improved accuracy, better suggested text and voice input mode Enhanced copy/paste functionality, allowing users to select a word by press-hold, copy, and paste Support for Near Field Communication (NFC), allowing the user to read an NFC tag embedded in a poster, sticker, or advertisement New audio effects such as reverb, equalization, headphone virtualization, and bass boost New Download Manager, giving users easy access to any file downloaded from the browser, email, or another application Support for multiple cameras on the device, including a front-facing camera, if available Support for WebM/VP8 video playback, and AAC audio encoding Improved power management with a more active role in managing applications that are keeping the device awake for too long Enhanced support for native code development Switched from YAFFS to ext4 on newer devices[69][70] Audio, graphical, and input enhancements for game developers Concurrent garbage collection for increased performance Native support for more sensors (such as gyroscopes and barometers) First Android version to feature an Easter egg. It was an image of the Bugdroid standing next to a zombie gingerbread man, with many more zombies in the background.	Android 2.3 home screen
2.3.1	December 2010	Improvements and bugfixes for the Nexus S
2.3.2	January 2011	Improvements and bugfixes for the Nexus S

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	Several improvements and API fixes[71]	Android 2.3 home screen
2.3.4	April 28, 2011[72]	Support for voice or video chat using Google Talk[73] Open Accessory Library support. Open Accessory was introduced in 3.1 (Honeycomb) but the Open Accessory Library grants 2.3.4 added support when connecting to a USB peripheral with compatible software and a compatible application on the device[74] Switched the default encryption for SSL from AES256-SHA to RC4-MD5.[75][76]
2.3.5	July 25, 2011	Improved network performance for the Nexus S 4G, among other fixes and improvements Fixed Bluetooth bug on Samsung Galaxy S Improved Gmail application Shadow animations for list scrolling Camera software enhancements[77] Improved battery efficiency
2.3.6	September 2, 2011[78]	Fixed a voice search bug[a]
2.3.7	September 21, 2011	Google Wallet support for the Nexus S 4G

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.[81][82][83][84] The first device featuring this version, the Motorola Xoom tablet, was released on February 24, 2011.[85] The update's features included:[81]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
3.0	February 22, 2011[83]	Optimized tablet support with a new “holographic” user interface (removed again the following year with version 4.2)[86] New easter egg, an image of a Tron-themed bumblebee Added System Bar, featuring quick access to notifications, status, and soft navigation buttons, available at the bottom of the screen Added Action Bar, giving access to contextual options, navigation, widgets, or other types of content at the top of the screen Simplified multitasking – tapping Recent Applications in the System Bar allows users to see snapshots of the tasks underway and quickly jump from one application to another Redesigned keyboard, making typing fast, efficient and accurate on larger screen sizes Simplified, more intuitive copy/paste interface Multiple browser tabs replacing browser windows, plus form auto-fill and a new “incognito” mode allowing anonymous browsing Quick access to camera exposure, focus, flash, zoom, front-facing camera, time-lapse, and other camera features Ability to view albums and other collections in full-screen mode in Gallery, with easy access to thumbnails for other photos New two-pane Contacts UI and Fast Scroll to let users easily organize and locate contacts New two-pane Email UI to make viewing and organizing messages more efficient, allowing users to select one or more messages Hardware acceleration Support for multi-core processors Ability to encrypt all user data HTTPS stack improved with Server Name Indication (SNI) Filesystem in Userspace (FUSE; kernel module) Disallows applications from having write access to secondary storage (memory cards on devices with internal primary storage) outside of designated, application-specific directories. Full access to primary internal storage is still allowed through a separate application-level permission.[87][88]	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[89]	UI refinements Connectivity for USB accessories (USB On-The-Go). Expanded Recent Applications list Resizable Home screen widgets Support for external keyboards and pointing devices Support for joysticks and gamepads Support for FLAC audio playback[90][91] High-performance Wi-Fi lock, maintaining high-performance Wi-Fi connections when device screen is off Support for HTTP proxy for each connected Wi-Fi access point	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[92]	Improved hardware support, including optimizations for a wider range of tablets Increased ability of applications to access files on the SD card, e.g. for synchronization Compatibility display mode for applications that have not been optimized for tablet screen resolutions New display support functions, giving developers more control over display appearance on different Android devices[93]	Android 3.2 home screen
3.2.1	September 20, 2011	Bugfixes and minor security, stability and Wi-Fi improvements Update to Android Market with automatic updates and easier-to-read Terms and Conditions text Update to Google Books Improved Adobe Flash support in browser Improved Chinese handwriting prediction
3.2.2	August 30, 2011	Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom 4G
3.2.3	August 30, 2011[93][92][92]	Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom 4G
3.2.4	December 2011	Pay As You Go for 3G and 4G tablets
3.2.5	January 2012	Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom 4G
3.2.6	February 2012	Fixed data connectivity issues when coming out of airplane mode on the US 4G Motorola Xoom

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,[94] was publicly released on October 19, 2011.[95] Google's Gabe Cohen stated that Android 4.0 was "theoretically compatible" with any Android 2.3.x device in production at that time.[96] The source code for Android 4.0 became available on November 14, 2011.[97] Ice Cream Sandwich was the last version to officially support Adobe Systems' Flash player.[98] The update introduced numerous new features:[99][100][101]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
4.0	October 18, 2011[99]	Major refinements to the "Holo" interface with new Roboto font family Soft buttons from Android 3.x are now available for use on phones Separation of widgets in a new tab, listed in a similar manner to applications Easier-to-create folders, with a drag-and-drop style Improved visual voicemail with the ability to speed up or slow down voicemail messages Pinch-to-zoom functionality in the calendar Integrated screenshot capture (accomplished by holding down the Power and Volume-Down buttons) Improved error correction on the keyboard Ability to access applications directly from lock screen Improved copy and paste functionality Better voice integration and continuous, real-time speech to text dictation Face Unlock, a feature that allows users to unlock handsets using facial recognition software[86] Automatic syncing of browser with users' Chrome bookmarks Data Usage section in settings that lets users set warnings when they approach a certain usage limit, and disable data use when the limit is exceeded Ability to shut down applications from the recent apps list with a swipe[102] Improved camera application with zero shutter lag, time lapse settings, panorama mode, and the ability to zoom while recording Built-in photo editor New gallery layout, organized by location and person Refreshed "People" application with social network integration, status updates and hi-res images Android Beam, a near-field communication feature allowing the rapid short-range exchange of web bookmarks, contact info, directions, YouTube videos and other data[86] Support for the WebP image format[90] Hardware acceleration of the UI[103] Wi-Fi Direct[104] 1080p video recording for stock Android devices Android VPN Framework (AVF), and TUN (but not TAP) kernel module. Prior to 4.0, VPN software required rooted Android.	Android 4.0 home screen
4.0.1	October 21, 2011	Fixed minor bugs for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
4.0.2	November 28, 2011	Fixed minor bugs on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, the US launch of which was later delayed until December 2011.[b]

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[107]	Numerous bugfixes and optimizations Improvements to graphics, databases, spell-checking and Bluetooth functionality New APIs for developers, including a social stream API in the Contacts provider Calendar provider enhancements New camera applications enhancing video stabilization and QVGA resolution Accessibility refinements such as improved content access for screen readers[108]	Android 4.0 home screen
4.0.4	March 29, 2012[109]	Stability improvements Better camera performance Smoother screen rotation Improved phone number recognition[110]

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.[111] Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was released to the Android Open Source Project on July 9, 2012,[112] 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	Smoother user interface: Vsync timing across all drawing and animation done by the Android framework, including application rendering, touch events, screen composition and display refresh Triple buffering in the graphics pipeline CPU input boost Synchronizing touch to vsync timing Enhanced accessibility Bi-directional text and other language support User-installable keyboard maps Expandable notifications Ability to turn off notifications on an application-specific basis Shortcuts and widgets can automatically be re-arranged or re-sized to allow new items to fit on home screens Bluetooth data transfer for Android Beam Tablets with smaller screens now use an expanded version of the interface layout and home screen used by phones.[113] Improved camera application Multichannel audio[111] The Fraunhofer FDK AAC codec becomes standard in Android, adding AAC 5.1 channel encoding/decoding USB audio (for external sound DACs)[111] Audio chaining (also known as gapless playback)[111][114][115] Ability for other launchers to add widgets from the application drawer without requiring root access	Android 4.1 home screen
4.1.1	July 11, 2012[116]	Fixed a bug on the Nexus 7 regarding the inability to change screen orientation in any application
4.1.2	October 9, 2012[117]	Lock/home screen rotation support[118] One-finger gestures to expand/collapse notifications[119] Bugfixes and performance enhancements

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."[145] Some technology bloggers also expected the "Key Lime Pie" release to be Android 5.[146] 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.[147] 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.[148]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
4.4	October 31, 2013[149][150]	Refreshed interface with white elements instead of blue Clock no longer shows bold hours; all digits are thin. The H, M, and S markings for the stopwatch and timer have been removed, leaving just the numbers. Ability for applications to trigger translucency in the navigation and status bars[151] Ability for applications to use "immersive mode" to keep the navigation and status bars hidden while maintaining user interaction[152] Action overflow menu buttons are always visible, even on devices with a "Menu" key, which was officially deprecated by Android 4.0.[153] Restriction for applications when accessing external storage, except for their own directories Optimizations for performance on devices with lower specifications, including zRAM support and "low RAM" device API[147] Wireless printing capability[147] NFC host card emulation, enabling a device to replace smart cards[147] WebViews now based on Chromium engine (feature parity with Chrome for Android 30) Expanded functionality for notification listener services[147] Public API for developing and managing text messaging clients[154] Storage Access Framework, an API allowing apps to retrieve files in a consistent manner. As part of the framework, a new system file picker allows users to access files from various sources (including those exposed by apps, such as online storage services).[87] New framework for UI transitions Sensor batching, step detector and counter APIs[147] Settings application now makes it possible to select default text messaging and home (launcher) application Audio tunneling, audio monitoring and loudness enhancer[155] Built-in screen recording feature (primarily for developers, as usage of ADB is required)[156] Native infrared blaster API Verified boot Enforcing SELinux Expanded accessibility APIs and system-level closed captioning settings Android Runtime (ART) introduced as a new experimental application runtime environment, not enabled by default, as a replacement for the Dalvik virtual machine[157] Bluetooth Message Access Profile (MAP) support[158] Disabled access to battery statistics by third-party applications[159] Settings application no longer uses a multi-pane layout on devices with larger screens Wi-Fi and mobile data activity (TX/RX) indicators are moved to quick settings[160] Disables text wrapping in the WebView browser component[161]	Android 4.4 home screen
4.4.1	December 5, 2013[162]	Better application compatibility for the experimental Android Runtime (ART) Camera application now loads Google+ Photos instead of Gallery when swiping away from the camera view Miscellaneous improvements and bugfixes
4.4.2	December 9, 2013[163]	Further security enhancements and bugfixes Removal of the "App Ops" application permissions control system, introduced in Android 4.3[164]
4.4.3	June 2, 2014[165]	Refreshed Dialer app interface[166] Updated the Chromium-based WebView to version 33 (screencasting to DevTools, HTML5 Canvas hardware acceleration performance improvements, vibration API, HTML5 form validation, HTML5 datalist)[167] Miscellaneous improvements and bugfixes
4.4.4	June 19, 2014[168]	CVE-2014-0224 fixed, eliminating an OpenSSL man-in-the-middle vulnerability[169]

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.[174][175] 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.[176][177][178][179]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
5.0[180]	November 12, 2014[181]	Android Runtime (ART) with ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation and improved garbage collection (GC), replacing Dalvik that combines bytecode interpretation with trace-based just-in-time (JIT) compilation[180][182] Support for 64-bit CPUs OpenGL ES 3.1 and Android Extension Pack (AEP) on supported GPU configurations Recent activities screen with tasks instead of applications, up to a configured maximum of tasks per application Vector drawables, which scale without losing definition Support for print previews Material design, bringing a restyled user interface Refreshed lock screen, no longer supporting widgets[183] Refreshed notification tray and quick settings pull-down Project Volta, for battery life improvements Searches can be performed within the system settings for quicker access to particular settings Lock screen provides shortcuts to application and notification settings[184] Guest logins and multiple user accounts are available on more devices, such as phones.[185] Audio input and output through USB devices Third-party applications regain the ability to read and modify data located anywhere on external storage, such as on SD cards.[186][187] Pinning of an application's screen for restricted user activity.[184] Recently used applications are remembered even after restarting the device.[184] WebViews receive updates independently through Google Play for security reasons, instead of relying on system-wide vendor updates[188] Addition of 15 new languages: Basque, Bengali, Burmese, Chinese (Hong Kong), Galician, Icelandic, Kannada, Kyrgyz, Macedonian, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Sinhala, Tamil and Telugu[189] Tap and Go allows users to quickly migrate to a new Android device, using NFC and Bluetooth to transfer Google Account details, configuration settings, user data and installed applications[184] A flashlight-style application is included, working on supported devices with a camera flash.[184] User-customizable priorities for application notifications.[190] Smart lock feature[191] SELinux in enforcing mode for all domains Updated emoji[192] Improved accessibility support (e.g. switch access support)[193][193] Block-based over-the-air (OTA) updates for new devices[194]	Android 5.0 home screen
5.0.1	December 2, 2014[195]	A few bugfixes, including resolving issues with video playback and password failures handling
5.0.2	December 19, 2014[196]	Fixes a bug with TRIM support (introduced in Version 4.3), which prevented devices from running on-charger cleanups of file system allocations if the device was turned off at midnight, or if it was charged only when in use.[197] Changes how alarms wake the CPU, and how alarms compete for system resources.[198]

Android 5.1 Lollipop (API 22) Android 5.1 Lollipop (API 22)
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
5.1	March 9, 2015[199]	Improvements and bug-fixes to the Overview screen Ability to join Wi-Fi networks and control paired Bluetooth devices from quick settings Official support for multiple SIM cards[200] Device protection: if a device is lost or stolen it will remain locked until the owner signs into their Google account, even if the device is reset to factory settings. High-definition voice calls, available between compatible 4G LTE devices running Android 5.1[200] Improvements to the notification priority system, to more closely replicate the silent mode that was removed in Android 5.0.[201]	Android 5.1 home screen
5.1.1	April 21, 2015[202]	Various bugfixes[202] Native WiFi calling support[203]

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.[204] The third developer preview (MPA44G) was released on August 17, 2015 for the Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9 and Nexus Player devices,[205] and was updated to MPA44I that brought fixes related to Android for Work profiles.[206]
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
6.0	October 5, 2015[207]	Contextual search from keywords within apps.[208] Introduction of Doze mode, which reduces CPU speed while the screen is off in order to save battery life[209] App Standby feature Alphabetically accessible vertical application drawer[210] Application search bar and favorites Native fingerprint reader support Direct Share feature for target-specific sharing between apps[211] Renamed "Priority" mode to "Do Not Disturb" mode App Linking for faster instinctive opening of links with corresponding applications[212][213] Larger Application folders with multiple pages Post-install/run-time permission requests USB-C support Demo Mode feature for screenshot-capture usage[214] Automatic full data backup and restore for apps[215] 4K display mode for apps[216] Adoptable External storage to behave like Internal Storage[217] (However, this causes more actual problems than the hypothetical ones it was probably designed to solve.[218]) MIDI support for musical instruments[219] Experimental multi-window feature[220][221] Support for actions by third-party apps in the text selection menu[86] App permissions now granted individually at run-time, not all-or-nothing at install time.[222] Miracast support dropped[86]	Android 6.0 home screen
6.0.1	December 7, 2015[223]	Unicode 7.0 & 8.0 emoji support.[224] Descriptions for USB connection options Double-tap power button to open camera

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. 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,[225] with the build number NPD90G.
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
7.0	August 22, 2016	Unicode 9.0 emoji and skin tone modifier support (and exposes a subset of ICU4J APIs).[226] Ability to display color calibration Ability to screen zoom Ability to switch apps by double tapping in overview button Added Emergency information part Added the "Clear All" button in Overview screen Another system partition, which gets updated when not in use, allowing for seamless system updates Daydream virtual reality platform (VR interface) Improved Doze functionality, which aims to prolong battery life Improvements to file browser More Quick Settings options Multi-window support, which supports floating apps on a desktop layout New Data Saver mode, which can force apps to reduce bandwidth usage New JIT Compiler, making for 75 percent faster app installations and a 50 percent reduction in compiled code size Just in Time (JIT) compiler with code profiling to ART, which lets it constantly improve the performance of Android apps as they run[227] Picture-in-picture support for Android TV Redesigned notification shade, featuring instant access to certain settings Redesigned Overview screen Replaced notification cards with notification sheets Settings app navigation drawer Vulkan 3D rendering API Multiple Device Locales[228]	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[229]	Rearranged notification shade Touch/display performance improvements Moves (Fingerprint swipe down gesture – opt-in) Opt-in with new hardware required: Seamless A/B system updates Daydream VR mode Developer features: Shortcut manager APIs Circular app icons support Keyboard image insertion Fingerprint sensor gesture to open/close notification shade Manual storage manager Intent for apps Improved VR thread scheduling Enhanced wallpaper metadata Multi-endpoint call support Support for various MNO requirements PCDMA voice privacy property Source type support for Visual Voicemail Carrier config options for managing video telephony Manual storage manager – identifies files and apps using storage	Android 7.1 home screen
7.1.1[230]	December 5, 2016	New set of emojis adding different skin and haircut to existing ones Send GIFs directly from the default keyboard App shortcuts: Launch actions on apps by long pressing the app icon Developer Options: Show CPU Usage feature removed
7.1.2[231][232]	April 4, 2017	Battery usage alerts

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	Project Treble, the biggest change to the foundations of Android to date: a modular architecture that makes it easier and faster for hardware makers to deliver Android updates Picture-in-picture support Support for Unicode 10.0 emoji (5.0) and replacement of all blob-shaped emojis by round ones with gradient and outline Redesigned Quick Settings and Settings with white background and respectively black and Accent font color Restructured Settings by regrouping in sections similar entries Adaptive icons Notification improvements Notification channels Notification dots (badges) Notification snoozing Notification shade multi-colors (for music album art, messengers etc) System-wide Autofill framework Sony LDAC codec support App-specific unknown sources Multi-display support 2 times faster boot time Apps background execution and location limits Google Play Protect Downloadable fonts Integrated printing support Color management (deep color and wide color gamut) Wi-Fi Assistant	Android 8.0 home screen

Android 8.1 Oreo (API 27) Android 8.1 Oreo (API 27)
Android Oreo is the 8th major release of the Android operating system. It was first released as a developer preview on October 25, 2017, with factory images for current Nexus and Pixel devices. A second developer preview was made available on November 27, 2017 for Nexus and Pixel devices, before the stable version was released on December 5, 2017.
Version	Release date	Features	Image(s)
8.1[233][234]	December 5, 2017[235][236]	Neural networks API Shared memory API WallpaperColors API Bluetooth battery level for connected devices, accessible in Quick Settings Android Oreo Go Edition, an optional lightweight distribution of Android for low-end devices with less than 1 GB of RAM[disputed – discuss] Autofill framework updates Programmatic Safe Browsing actions Navigation buttons dim when not in use Visual changes to 'Power Off' and 'Restart' including a new screen and floating toolbar Toast messages are now white in color with same existing transparency Automatic light and dark themes New Easter Egg in the form of an official Oreo cookie picture[237] Hamburger emoji amended to move position of the cheese slice	Android 8.1 home screen

Hardware requirements

The main hardware platform for Android is the ARM architecture (ARMv7 and ARMv8-A architectures; formerly also ARMv5), with x86^[c] and MIPS^[d] architectures also officially supported in later versions of Android, but MIPS support has since been deprecated and support was removed in NDK r17.^[243]

Unofficial Android-x86 project used to provide support for the x86 and MIPS architectures ahead of the official support.^[244][245]
In 2012, Android devices with Intel processors began to appear, including phones^[246] and tablets. While gaining support for 64-bit platforms, Android was first made to run on 64-bit x86 and then on ARM64.^[247][248] Since Android 5.0 Lollipop, 64-bit variants of all platforms are supported in addition to the 32-bit variants.

Requirements for the minimum amount of RAM for devices running Android 7.1 depend on screen size and density and type of CPU, ranging from 816 MB–1.8 GB for 64-bit and 512 MB–1.3 GB for 32-bit meaning in practice 1 GB for the most common type of display (while minimum for Android watch is 416 MB).^[249] The recommendation for Android 4.4 is to have at least 512 MB of RAM,^[250] while for "low RAM" devices 340 MB is the required minimum amount that does not include memory dedicated to various hardware components such as the baseband processor.^[148] Android 4.4 requires a 32-bit ARMv7, MIPS or x86 architecture processor (latter two through unofficial ports),^[244][245] together with an OpenGL ES 2.0 compatible graphics processing unit (GPU).^[251] Android supports OpenGL ES 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.2 and since Android 7.0 Vulkan (and version 1.1 available for some devices^[252]). Some applications may explicitly require a certain version of the OpenGL ES, and suitable GPU hardware is required to run such applications.^[251]

Android used to require an autofocus camera, which was relaxed to a fixed-focus camera.^[253]

See also

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Android (operating system).

• Official Android website


• 
  Android API Levels via Android Developer


• 
  Android: A visual history, The Verge, by Chris Ziegler


• 
  The history of Android, Ars Technica, by Ron Amadeo


• Website with Android version distribution historical charts


• A Brief History of Android Version From Cupcake To Lollipop


• Android versions comparison


• Google Android: List of CVE security vulnerabilities