Oct 2008 · T-Mobile G1
Android 1.0
First public Android. Gmail, Maps, YouTube, Android Market. 528MHz ARM, 192MB RAM. No App Store API yet.
OriginApr 2009
1.5 Cupcake
First named release. On-screen keyboard, video recording. Begins the confectionery naming scheme.
May 2010
2.2 Froyo
JIT compiler — 2–5x speed boost. USB tethering, WiFi hotspot, Flash support, push notifications.
Speed LeapOct 2011
4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich
Unified phone+tablet UI (Holo design). Face unlock, data monitoring. Last version to support Adobe Flash.
UI UnificationNov 2014
5.0 Lollipop
Material Design. ART runtime replaces Dalvik (AOT compilation). 64-bit ARM support.
Material DesignOct 2015
6.0 Marshmallow
Runtime permissions model (no more all-or-nothing at install). Doze battery optimization. Fingerprint API.
Aug 2017
8.0 Oreo
Picture-in-picture, notification channels, Project Treble — modular OS for faster OEM updates.
TrebleAug 2018
9.0 Pie
Gesture navigation, Adaptive Battery, Adaptive Brightness, Digital Wellbeing screen time tools.
Sep 2019
Android 10
System-wide dark mode, scoped storage, gesture navigation default, foldable phone support, Live Captions.
Dark ModeOct 2021
Android 12
Material You — dynamic color theming from wallpaper. Privacy dashboard, mic/camera indicators.
Material YouSep 2024
Android 15
Theft Detection AI, Private Space for apps, partial screen sharing, HDR video camera APIs.
Jun 2025
Android 16
Predictive back animations system-wide, expanded foldable/tablet APIs, improved AI integration, accessibility.
Current
Applications Layer — System apps + User-installed apps (APKs from Google Play)
Android Framework — Activity Manager · Window Manager · Content Providers · Location · Telephony
ART Runtime (AOT+JIT) — DEX bytecode compilation · Core Java Libraries
HAL — Camera · Audio · Bluetooth · Sensors · GPS · NFC interfaces
Linux Kernel (Modified) — Binder IPC · Wakelocks · Ashmem · Android LMK · Device Drivers