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Which version of the Android operating system is better. All Android versions

Even when purchasing your tablet, you probably noticed that the versions of Android on all tablets are different. You can find devices on Android 1.5, or you can also find them on the latest Android 4.2. In this article I will try to explain the differences between OS versions and which Android is better for a tablet.

I’ll say right away that Android is adapted for tablets only starting with version 3, Honeycomb. And all well-known major manufacturers installed at least the third version on their Android tablets. Only Chinese companies supplied their budget tablets with outdated Android 1.5 - 2.3. I’m talking about this in the past tense because this problem is no longer as acute as before, and the Chinese are increasingly installing the latest generation Android on their new tablets, catching up with well-known brands. But let's start in order.

Android 1.5

I was extremely surprised when I found out that the very first version of the OS had a tablet. I was able to find only one - Miotex Miotab MT705UA, and it was released in 2012. There are no words.

Android 1.6

On this version, I found only tablets manufactured by Archos - 48 internet tablet. Their display diagonal is only 4.8 inches, so we can consider them to be more smartphones than tablets.

Android 2.1

There is already a richer choice here. There are tablets from Prestigio, GOCLEVER, Huawei. There are 10 and 7 inch options.

Android 2.2

With this Android you can purchase a tablet from Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0. A very good option.

Android 2.3

Even more interesting, you can buy HTC Flyer, Amazon Kindle Fire.

Android 3.0 - 3.2

This is where the fun begins. ASUS Eee Pad Transformer, Motorola Xoom, Acer ICONIA Tab A500, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Huawei MediaPad, Sony Tablet S and many other good things.

Android 4.0 - 4.2

Latest version of Android. It’s nice that it’s already installed on Samsung Galaxy Tab 2, Samsung Galaxy Note, Starway Andromeda S920, SeeMax Smart and other tablets, the price range of which ranges from $100 to $1200.

So which Android to choose, you ask. Definitely the last, or at least the 3rd. And even then, before purchasing, read whether the manufacturer has released firmware with Android 4 for your device. I don’t recommend buying tablets running 2.1-2.3 because problems may arise with software that only works on Android 4+. Although most applications support Android 2+. I strongly doubt that the manufacturer will release an update to Android 4 for the device on the 2nd. On the first version of Android, I highly recommend buying nothing. All software is designed to work with Android 2-4, so you can only use the already installed software. In the case of Android 4+, no problems should arise. This version is universal for smartphones and tablets. So, if possible, update to version 4 () or buy a tablet already with it.

Updating Android can be a bit of a hassle for an inexperienced user. Indeed, today there are many different versions, and many of them work successfully on devices and are in demand. If updating to the latest version has become a problem for you, don't worry - in this article we will tell you what is the latest version of Android and how to update Android to the latest version.

Major versions of Android are typically released once a year (though this is not always the case), with monthly security updates released in between. Sometimes Google also releases updates, they are numbered with non-zero numbers after the period (.1, .2, etc.). For example, Android 8.0 is the full version, and Android 8.1 is its addition. Often updates are more significant than the versions themselves.

Along with each version of Android there is a codename that many people use instead of a version number. Each one is named after a dessert or some other form of confectionery, which is more for fun than anything else.

A Brief History of Android Versions

Let's briefly recall the release history of Android versions, their names and release dates:

  • Android 1.5, Cupcake: April 27, 2009
  • Android 1.6, Donut: September 15, 2009
  • Android 2.0-2.1, Eclair: October 26, 2009 (initial release)
  • Android 2.2-2.2.3, Froyo: May 20, 2010 (initial release)
  • Android 2.3-2.3.7, Gingerbread: December 6, 2010 (initial release)
  • Android 3.0-3.2.6, Honeycomb: February 22, 2011 (initial release)
  • Android 4.0-4.0.4, Ice Cream Sandwich: October 18, 2011 (initial release)
  • Android 4.1-4.3.1, Jelly Bean: July 9, 2012 (initial release)
  • Android 4.4-4.4.4, KitKat: October 31, 2013 (initial release)
  • Android 5.0-5.1.1, Lollipop: November 12, 2014 (initial release)
  • Android 6.0-6.0.1, Marshmallow: October 5, 2015 (initial release)
  • Android 7.0-7.1.2, Nougat: August 22, 2016 (initial version)
  • Android 8.0-8.1, Oreo: August 21, 2017 (initial release)
  • Android 9.0, Pie: August 6, 2018

As you can see, the update system didn't have any regularity early on, but since the Ice Cream Sandwich era, OS updates have started coming out annually.

It's also interesting that:

  • Honeycomb was the only version of Android for Android, and it worked alongside the Gingerbread build for phones only. The separate phone and desktop OSes were combined, starting with Ice Cream Sandwich.
  • Ice Cream Sandwich was perhaps the biggest update to Android to date. He not only combined the tablet and phone versions of the OS, but completely redesigned the appearance of the system.
  • Google initially released Nexus devices aimed at developers to differentiate each version of Android. This eventually evolved into the consumer-focused Pixel line of devices we have today.
  • Android KitKat marks the first time that Google has teamed up with a commercial manufacturer to release Android. They did it again for Android Oreo.

Penultimate version of Android 8.1, Oreo

The initial version of Android Oreo (8.0) was released on August 21, 2017, followed by Android 8.1 update on December 5, 2017.

Compared to its predecessors, Oreo offers a number of updates and new features, including a new download policy, limited background app data, notifications for apps running in the background or battery usage, picture-in-picture, autofill passwords in apps, improved battery life and loading times, Project Treble and more.

Latest version of Android 9.0, Pie

Android 9.0, Pie brings a number of updates and new features over its predecessor, including better battery life, improved app security, gesture navigation, and more.

The next version will be Android 10 Q

The next version of the operating system will be Google Android Q - which is currently under development. Distribution of the first beta versions of the new OS is expected at the end of March 2019.

The official presentation of the latest version of the Android operating system will take place at the end of May 2019 at the Google I/O developer conference.

How to find out the Android version

To find out what version of Android is installed on your mobile device:

  1. Go to the "Settings" menu.
  2. Scroll down to the bottom.
  3. Go to About Phone or About Device. If your phone doesn't have this option, it probably already runs Oreo. In this case, look for the "System" option.
  4. Scroll to "Android Version". If your device already has the Oreo version installed, you can find information about the version in the “System Update” section.

How to update to the latest version

It all depends on the manufacturer of your device. Mobile device manufacturers are responsible for processing and delivering Android updates, i.e. Samsung handles updates for Samsung devices, LG handles updates for its phone, and so on. The only updates that Google itself handles are those for Pixel and Nexus devices.

Those. You may not be able to update your device today if your device manufacturer has not yet processed the update.

To find out if an update is available for your device, go to Settings -> About Device -> System Updates (or similar). Again, this may be in a different location depending on your phone. For example, Samsung installs the System Updates option at the root of the Settings menu.

Clicking this option will check for an update on your device. If an update is available for your phone, it will usually notify you of this fact and prompt you to download and install it right away.

The only sure way to ensure you get the latest version of Android is to buy Pixel smartphones. Google updates these phones directly, and they are usually updated with the latest major release and security patches.

Any gadget owner knows that there are different versions of Android, the operating system that manufacturers install on their devices. It was originally created to manage only mobile phones. Then they began to use it on tablets, smart watches, virtual reality glasses and even. The incredible popularity of Android is due to the many useful functions that it received during its development. It is thanks to this that he easily surpassed his competitors Microsoft and Apple, conquering the market for almost all mobile devices. But it all started with a small startup. If Google had not seen such prospects in the Android OS, users might not have known what a modern gadget should be like.

This operating system became available to users in 2008. However, its development began 5 years before the release of the first version. The founder of the project was Andy Rubin, who, together with his friends, wanted to implement the idea of ​​​​creating an open operating system for mobile phones. They created and registered a company called Android Inc.

The ideas that formed the basis of Android seemed too innovative at that time. Therefore, the project did not arouse interest among investors who did not understand its essence. The exception was Google, which saved a literally bankrupt company in time. But she also became the full owner of the Android trademark and all developments.

Due to litigation with Oracle, one of the leading search engines was then going through hard times. It was decided to create Android as an open OS, which is focused primarily on Google services.

The first working version of Android that was not released

The developers were guided by the success of the then popular Blackberry company. Because of this, the first working version of Android had a similar interface. It appeared in mid-May 2007 and was called M3. The operating system was designed for phones with keys and a relatively small display. The main screen had the Google search bar as its main element.

The idea of ​​​​creating a touch screen phone was adopted from Apple, which by that time had released the first iPhone. If not for this event, the first version of Android would have appeared before 2008 and would have been intended for a regular push-button phone. The company decided to postpone the release of the OS and set a course for development specifically for touch screens. In addition, Andy Rubin was actively developing maps for the navigation service and wanted to create support for GPS technology in phones.

Official release of the first version of Android

Android 1.0 was released in September 2008. Since Google was not involved in the production of mobile devices, the company had to look for a manufacturer of phones for the new OS. The choice fell on the Taiwanese company HTC, which was one of the leaders in the production of devices running Windows Mobile from Microsoft. The first phone to use Android as an OS was called HTC Dream. It had a touch display, for which Google's OS was adapted.

Despite quite a lot of interest in the device on the new operating system, Android had to be significantly reworked. This was necessary in order to get rid of old concepts, eliminate identified shortcomings and make it more modern. The real success of Android came only with the release of version 1.6.

A month after the official release, the Android Market was opened - the official store of applications that are intended for this OS. It allowed a huge number of developers from all over the world to create applications for it and at the same time earn good money. For users, this store has become a place where they can quickly find and download the desired program for their phone.

Android versions 2.x

The developers significantly improved the functionality and appearance of the operating system for the release of Android 2.0, which was codenamed Eclair and was released in 2010. By the way, the idea of ​​​​giving “tasty” names to new versions was proposed by one of the developers and was initially considered as a joke. But Android 1.5 was eventually called Cupcake, version 1.6 - Donut. So the idea caught on and subsequent versions of the OS began to receive the names of sweets in alphabetical order.

The number of phone manufacturers with which Google collaborated had already increased significantly by this time. Motorola, Samsung, LG and other giants became interested in the promising OS. Competition in the market began to grow between them. To stand out from others using the same software, companies had to improve the hardware of their devices. In fact, Android became the reason for the “performance race” of smartphones produced.

In the same year, Google decided to release a branded smartphone. Since the company still did not have its own production facilities, HTC again took over the production of Google Nexus One (this is the name the new device received).

The developers continued to develop and improve their mobile operating system and Android 2.2 Froyo appeared that same year. This version added support for Adobe Flash technology, cloud data synchronization, and improved performance for programs that use JIT code compilation.

With the release of the most successful version of Android at that time, Google launched the second version of its branded smartphone. This time Samsung was chosen as the manufacturer. However, on the day the sales began, LG announced its new phone using a dual-core processor. Therefore, Nexus S failed to achieve significant commercial success.

Operating system for tablets

In 2011, Google decided to give a worthy answer to Apple for its iPad and adapted Android for tablets. Until then, this OS was only used on phones. So the version of Android 3.0 - Honeycomb - saw the light of day. Many companies such as Motorola, Samsung, Acer, Lenovo and others have started using this version of the OS for their Tablet PCs.

Due to some problems in the operation of Android 3 and its incompatibility with phones, in the future Google refuses to create versions of Android intended only for tablets.

Cross-platform OS

In the fall of 2011, the fourth version of Google's OS appeared, called Ice Cream Sandwich. The interface has been significantly redesigned and new functions have been added. It has already become cross-platform - it could be installed on both a tablet and a phone. With the release of this version of Android, the application store received a new name - Google Play.

In 2012-2013, the OS remained virtually unchanged. Google has focused more on producing devices running Android. This is how the Galaxy Nexus, ASUS Nexus 7, LG Nexus 4 smartphones and the Samsung Nexus 10 tablet PC appeared on the market.

In 2013, the latest version of Android 4.4 was released, called KitKat. According to the already familiar tradition, Nexus 5 was jointly released, for which LG was responsible for production. This version of the OS seemed almost perfect. The developers managed to create a convenient and attractive interface that was in no way inferior to iOS of that time. The operation of all services was debugged, support for a huge number of functions was added. But Google was not going to stop there.

Android 5 and OS versions for wearable devices

Deciding to expand the use of its OS, Google introduced a version of Android Wear designed for smart watches. But the most important event of that year was the release of the Android Lollipop version. It has completely redesigned the interface, which is called “Material Design”. In addition to external changes, significant internal modifications were made. Previously, the Dalvik virtual machine was responsible for processing application code. It was replaced by Android Runtime, thanks to which the OS performance was significantly increased and energy consumption was reduced.

Android version 6.0 with support for Google Now on Tap

Android 6 somewhat disappointed fans of this OS, since there were no significant changes in the interface and functionality. The developers focused on creating technology for searching the Internet for information about any element that is on the display. It's called Google Now on Tap. However, it did not gain the expected popularity.

In addition, Google has seriously taken to solving the problems with the vulnerability of its OS, starting regular release of patches and updates. It is also worth noting the emerging privilege management system, which requests permission to use certain functions of the device. To increase the operating time of devices, the Doze and App Standby functions were added.

Evolution of Android – Nougat release (Android version 7.0)

Currently, this seventh version of Android is the latest. Android Oreo (presumable name) will appear in the near future. In version 7 of Android, developers added the ability to simultaneously work with two applications by splitting the display. Despite the fact that many manufacturers have already implemented multitasking in their firmware, it is now officially supported.

The increase in operating speed was achieved by switching to the new Java 8 and updating the ART virtual machine. Applications in Android 7 run much faster due to the elimination of the “optimization stage” when they are first launched.

The innovations also affected the interface: you can now add any buttons at the user’s discretion to the quick settings panel. The appearance of notifications has become better, the settings menu is more detailed and structured. The new version of Android includes full support for virtual reality. Notifications are now grouped by application and have added emoji icons.

In addition to the above, Android 7.0 surpasses all previous versions thanks to the following features:

  • ability to change display resolution;
  • simplified OS update procedure;
  • suspending background processes when the screen is off to save battery power;
  • support for the new personal assistant Google Assistant;
  • function to close all running applications with one click;
  • support for instant applications that do not require installation;
  • night mode for less strain on the eyes when using the device in the dark;
  • Internet traffic saving function.

All this makes Android Nougat one of the best operating systems for mobile devices today. Judging by the announced innovations of the subsequent version of Android, they will be more of a cosmetic nature and will not bring anything revolutionary. Google is now focusing more on the security, performance, and energy efficiency of its OS. But the developers still do not forget to please users with at least small but useful changes in the interface and functionality.

There are a lot of gadgets on store shelves on different versions of Android OS: 4.4 KitKat, 5.0 Lolipop, 6.0 Marshmallow, etc. Therefore, when choosing a new device, the question arises: which version of Android is better. To determine the choice of the optimal and reliable system, consider the versions of Android used. We will also find out the main advantages and disadvantages of each assembly.

Classification and features of Android versions

Google releases a new version of the Android OS every year. And since some smartphone manufacturers are slow to update, and some devices are not updated at all, users use more than 10 versions of the Android platform. For convenience, assemblies are divided into three categories:

  1. Legacy: 4.4 KitKat and below.
  2. Current: 5.0 and 5.1 Lolipop, 6.0 Marshmallow.
  3. New: 7.0 and 7.1 Nougat.

A reasonable question arises: which Android is better?

Outdated versions

The firmware is installed on discontinued devices. Not officially supported: do not receive system updates and security patches. Some applications from Google Play do not work, or are not optimized, or are loaded on Android 4.4 or higher. Which can be explained by the reluctance of developers to support old builds of the Android system.

Advantages:

  1. The system is debugged and works stably on the most popular devices with weak hardware.
  2. Stable operation in popular Google Play programs.

Flaws:

  1. System updates are not supported.
  2. There are open vulnerabilities and security holes.
  3. Some applications are not available for download from Google Play, or do not work correctly.
  4. There may be conflicts with the operation of some wearable devices.

Current versions of Android

Used in current and discontinued devices. Includes some improvements, innovations and improvements. Security system signatures have also been updated and found vulnerabilities have been closed. Devices running Android 5.0, 5.1 and 6.0 work correctly with wearable gadgets. Applications on Google Play are optimized, with a minimum of unsupported programs for downloading.

Advantages:

  1. Security signatures have been updated to protect your device.
  2. New functions and capabilities have been introduced.
  3. Correct operation of wearable devices starting from android 5.0. Further support has also been announced.
  4. Most applications are optimized to run smoothly on Lolipop and Marshmallow.
  5. In version 6.0 Marshmallow, it is possible to combine a MicroSD card with the internal memory of the device.
  6. The OS puts less load on the RAM.

Flaws:

  1. More hardware resources are required, which is why older devices do not work stably.

New versions

They will appear on future devices, as well as as an update on current and some discontinued ones. The version offers new features, capabilities and security updates. Recently discovered vulnerabilities have also been fixed. Ensures correct operation with wearable devices. At the same time, at first, applications may not work correctly due to insufficient optimization.

Advantages:

  1. Recently discovered security holes have been closed.
  2. New features have been added and old features have been improved.
  3. Correct work with wearable devices.
  4. Memory cards are used to store application caches.

Flaws:

  1. Due to lack of optimization, applications may malfunction at first.
  2. Unstable operation of devices with weak or outdated hardware.

Conclusion

So which Android is better? Considering all of the above, we believe that devices based on Android 7.0 and 7.1 Nougat are better, since this version of the OS has a number of advantages. At the same time, at first you will have to put up with insufficient optimization of applications, which will pay off in the future. It is also optimal to choose a device with 6.0 Marshmallow, since a transition to the next version is likely. In addition, do not forget that the newer the system, the higher the requirements for hardware resources. Therefore, a smartphone or tablet with outdated or weak hardware does not work as efficiently on the new version of Android.

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