Android’s latest version is called 16 and has a few notable surface-level elements. It also features numerous under-the-hood improvements to enhance your device’s performance, privacy, and security.
Google typically releases a major new version of Android every year in the second quarter. It delivers the source code to AOSP and simultaneously rolls out updates for Pixel phones.
What is Android?
Android is the operating system that powers more than 2.5 billion smartphones, tablets, wearables, and TVs. It’s the platform that lets you use your phone to avoid traffic, watch movies in stunning quality, and more.
Android provides shortcuts on your home screen that allow you to access your favorite apps and essential information quickly. It also features enhancements that make your phone more user-friendly, including larger, scalable fonts for users with vision impairments and camera flashes that notify deaf users of incoming notifications. Android is open to developers, designers, and device makers.
Android 1.0
Android is the world’s most popular mobile operating system, powering hundreds of millions of devices worldwide. Each year, Google delivers new versions of the software to update and enhance the experience on all Android phones and tablets.
Android 4.4 KitKat introduced a more polished user interface (UI) and an immersive mode for full-screen apps. It also offered improved multitasking and enhanced performance.
The Android 15 release this spring followed a year-long tradition of fall platform updates, but it came earlier than expected. The Q2 release is the only one that will introduce behavior changes affecting apps.
Android 1.1
Android is an open-source mobile operating system that allows developers to customize it. This allows the platform to be tailored to different devices and user needs. Android is available on a wide range of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices.
In 2025, Google is changing the way it releases new versions of its operating system. The company is moving to a quarterly release cycle. A major release is scheduled for Q2, introducing behavioral changes, while more minor releases in the fall will focus on feature updates.
Android 1.2
Android 1.2 introduces several features, including the ability to show or hide the dialer pad and enable copy and paste functions. It also provides several security and stability improvements.
Google traditionally releases a new version of Android in August, but it might debut earlier this year. This is due to a new process called Trunk Stable, which allows for faster development and testing of Android updates.
It’s expected that the release will be followed by a beta release and then a stable version in Q2. It’s also possible that this version could contain API changes, which would require a separate developer preview.
Android 1.3
Android 15 arrived earlier than usual this year, breaking a years-long tradition of fall updates coinciding with the release of new Pixel phones. Google’s more agile development model may accelerate future releases.
The SELinux security policy now disallows text relocations in shared objects. This improves application load times and helps protect device memory and data from attacks.
Other changes include improved graphical and audio support. A new download manager makes it easy to access downloaded files. Motion Cues help reduce motion sickness by matching what users see with how their brain perceives motion.
Android 1.4
Android is continually developed, with major releases in Q2 that introduce significant behavioral changes. A minor release in Q4 will provide features and APIs that inform the next version of Android.
Ice Cream Sandwich merged Gingerbread and Honeycomb into a versatile platform for phones, tablets, and TV devices. It also introduced voice actions and improved Adobe Flash support.
Google plans to accelerate the Android development cycle by introducing a quarterly release window. The first major update of 2025 is expected to arrive in the second quarter, followed by a minor release in the fourth quarter. This should enable developers to make changes more quickly.
Android 1.5
Android 1.5, dubbed Cupcake, was an insignificant update for the mobile operating system. It added a video recorder, improved GPS performance, and made personalizing the home screen easier.
It also included a swipe-based approach to system navigation. It was the first Android version to drop the letter and be known simply by a number. This release also optimized tablet support and introduced a new holographic user interface. This version also included several bug fixes. It was the last release to include behavior changes that could affect apps.
Android 1.6
Android 1.6, dubbed “Donut” for its pastry-inspired name, brings new features. It includes a revamped RelativeLayout, which makes it easier for developers to reduce the number of views on an application’s screen.
Other new Android 1.6 features include an overhauled Market that allows users to view screenshots of applications and improves navigation. The Gallery and camera applications also feature new improvements, such as quicker access and a unified interface.
In a change from previous release cycles, Google is releasing two Android releases each year in Q2. This will allow the company to better synchronize the OS’s launch with its smartphone hardware launches.
Android 1.7
The Android version update schedule has become increasingly separate from Google’s hardware launch cycle, with Pixel phones launching in late summer and receiving Android updates a month later. That accelerated schedule is thanks to Project Treble, which allows manufacturers to push updates through the Play Store and avoid waiting on Google.
Android 16 looks to be on track for a June release, ahead of the usual fall schedule. Some notable features include a new night mode and the ability to pin notifications. Moreover, it has stronger security against Intent redirection attacks and bug fixes for AppCompat-backed text widgets.
Android 1.8
The most recent release is Android 12. It features native picture-in-picture mode and notification snoozing options, as well as a revamped on-demand magnifier and easier ways to adjust font sizes in apps.
It also includes new augmented reality tools and an enhanced adaptive battery feature that prioritizes apps based on power usage.
Google is expected to release a new version of Android this year. While the company typically follows a fall schedule for its platform updates, it has been testing an accelerated timeline for Android 16 lately. This may be due to a reorganization of the development process known as Trunk Stable.