Android versions: A living history from 1.0 to 15
The Android 1.0 home screen and its rudimentary web browser (not yet called Chrome).
Cupcake was all about the widgets.
Android’s universal search box made its first appearance in Android 1.6.
The Android 1.0 home screen and its rudimentary web browser (not yet called Chrome).
Cupcake was all about the widgets.
Android’s universal search box made its first appearance in Android 1.6.
The first versions of turn-by-turn navigation and speech-to-text, in Eclair.
Google’s first real attempt at voice control, in Froyo.
It was easy being green back in the Gingerbread days.
Honeycomb: When Android got a case of the holographic blues.
The ICS home screen and app-switching interface.
Jelly Bean’s Quick Settings panel and short-lived lock screen widget feature.
The lightened KitKat home screen and its dedicated Google Now panel.
Lollipop and the onset of Material Design.
Marshmallow and the almost-brilliance of Google Now on Tap.
Android 7.0 Nougat and its new native split-screen mode.
Oreo adds several significant features to the operating system, including a new picture-in-picture mode.
Android 9 introduces a new gesture-driven system for getting around phones, with an elongated Home button and a small Back button that appears as needed.
Android 10’s new privacy permissions model adds some much-needed nuance into the realm of location data.
Android 11’s new media player appears as part of the system Quick Settings panel, while the new connected-device control screen comes up whenever you press and hold your phone’s physical power button.
Android 12 ushered in a whole new look and feel for the operating system, with an emphasis on simple color customization.
Android 14 includes options for completely changing the appearance of the lock screen as well as for customizing which shortcuts show up on it.
You can generate all sorts of interesting wallpapers in seconds via Android 14’s AI generator feature — but only on the Pixel 8 or Pixel 8 Pro for now.
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