From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Global Android version distribution since December 2009. As of April 2015, Android 4.4 "KitKat" is the single most widely used Android version, operating on 41.4% of all Android devices accessing . The second are different Android "Jelly Bean" versions (4.1–4.3.1), with a combined share of 40.7%.
The version history of the
began with the release of the Android
in November 2007. The first commercial version, Android 1.0, was released in September 2008. Android is under ongoing development by
(OHA), and has seen a number of
to its base operating system since its initial release.
The most recent major Android update is
"Lollipop", which was released on November 3, 2014. Since April 2009, Android versions have been developed under a -themed
and released in alphabetical order, beginning with Android 1.5 "Cupcake"; the earlier versions 1.0 and 1.1 were not released under specific code names:
Alpha (1.0)
Beta (1.1)
Cupcake (1.5)
Donut (1.6)
Eclair (2.0–2.1)
Froyo (2.2–2.2.3)
Gingerbread (2.3–2.3.7)
Honeycomb (3.0–3.2.6)
(4.0–4.0.4)
(4.1–4.3.1)
KitKat (4.4–4.4.4, 4.4W–4.4W.2)
(5.0–5.1)
On September 3, 2013, Google announced that one billion activated Android devices were in use worldwide. In January 2015, Android devices accounted for approximately 62% of the US smartphone and tablet market, 82.7% of the Chinese market, and 73.3% of the European market.[]
The development of Android started in 2003 by Android, Inc., which was purchased by Google in 2005.
There were at least two internal releases of the software inside Google and the OHA before the beta version was released in November 2007. For the milestones in internal releases, names of fictional robots were chosen, with various releases code-named "", "" and "".
Dan Morrill created some of the first mascot logos, but the current green Android logo was designed by Irina Blok. The project manager, Ryan Gibson, conceived the confectionary-themed naming scheme that has been used for the majority of the public releases, starting with Android 1.5 "Cupcake".
was released on November 5, 2007, while the
(SDK) was released on November 12, 2007. The November 5 date is popularly celebrated as Android's "birthday". Public beta versions of the SDK were released in the following order:
November 12, 2007: m3-rc20a (milestone 3, release code 20a)
November 16, 2007: m3-rc22a (milestone 3, release code 22a)
December 14, 2007: m3-rc37a (milestone 3, release code 37a)
February 13, 2008: m5-rc14 (milestone 5, release code 14)
March 3, 2008: m5-rc15 (milestone 5, release code 15)
August 18,
September 23, -r1
Screenshots of beta versions running on an old SDK emulator
m3-rc20a 
m3-rc22a 
m3-rc37a 
m5-rc14 
m5-rc15 
The following tables show the release dates and key features of all Android operating system updates to date, listed chronologically by their official
(API) levels.
Android 1.0 (API level 1)
Android 1.0, the first commercial version of the software, was released on September 23, 2008. The first commercially available Android device was the . Android 1.0 incorporated the following features:
Release date
September 23, 2008
application download and updates through the Market application
to show, zoom and pan full
web pages – multiple pages show as windows ("cards")
Camera support – however, this version lacked the option to change the camera's resolution, white balance, quality, etc.
Folders allowing the grouping of a number of application icons into a single folder icon on the Home screen
Access to web email servers, supporting , , and
synchronization with the Gmail application
synchronization with the People application
synchronization with the Calendar application
to view maps and satellite imagery, as well as find local business and obtain driving directions using
, allowing management of over-the-air synchronization of Gmail, People, and Calendar
, allowing users to search the Internet and phone applications, contacts, calendar, etc.
instant messaging
, , and MMS
, enabling management, importing, and playback of media files – however, this version lacked video and stereo
Notifications appear in the Status bar, with options to set ringtone, LED or vibration alerts
Voice Dialer allows dialing and placing of phone calls without typing a name or number
Wallpaper allows the user to set the background image or photo behind the Home screen icons and widgets
video player
Other applications include: Alarm Clock, Calculator, Dialer (Phone), Home screen (Launcher), Pictures (Gallery), and Settings
and Bluetooth support
Android 1.0 on the old Android SDK emulator
Android 1.1 (API level 2)
On February 9, 2009, the Android 1.1 update was released, initially for the HTC Dream only. Android 1.1 was known as "" internally, though this name was not used officially. The update resolved bugs, changed the Android
and added a number of features:
Release date
February 9, 2009
Details and reviews available when a user searches for businesses on Maps
Longer in-call screen timeout default when using the speakerphone, plus ability to show/hide dialpad
Ability to save attachments in messages
Support added for marquee in system layouts
Android 1.1 on the Android SDK emulator
Android 1.5 Cupcake (API level 3)
On April 27, 2009, the Android 1.5 update was released, based on
2.6.27. 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:
Release date
April 27, 2009
Support for third-party virtual keyboards with text prediction and user dictionary for custom words
Support for
– miniature application views that can be embedded in other applications (such as the Home screen) and receive periodic updates
Video recording and playback in
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
Ability to upload photos to
Android 1.5 on the Android SDK emulator
Android 1.6 Donut (API level 4)
On September 15, 2009, the Android 1.6 SDK – dubbed Donut – was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.29. Included in the update were numerous new features:
Release date
September 15, 2009
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
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 /, , , and a text-to-speech engine
Support for
screen resolutions
Speed improvements in searching and camera applications
Expanded Gesture framework and new GestureBuilder development tool
Android 1.6 on the Android SDK emulator
Android 2.0 ?clair (API level 5)
On October 26, 2009, the Android 2.0 SDK – codenamed ?clair – was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.29. Changes included:
Release date
October 26, 2009
Expanded Account sync, allowing users to add multiple accounts to a device for synchronization of email and contacts
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
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
MotionEvent class enhanced to track multi-touch events
Addition of live wallpapers, allowing the animation of home-screen background images to show movement
Android 2.0 on the Android SDK emulator
Android 2.0.1 ?clair (API level 6)
Release date
December 3, 2009
Minor API changes, bugfixes and framework behavioral changes
Android 2.1 ?clair (API level 7)
Release date
January 12, 2010
Minor amendments to the API and bugfixes
Android 2.2–2.2.3 Froyo (API level 8)
On May 20, 2010, the SDK for Android 2.2 (Froyo, short for ) was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.32.
Release date
May 20, 2010
Speed, memory, and performance optimizations
Additional application speed improvements, implemented through
Integration of 's
into the Browser application
Support for the
(C2DM) service, enabling
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
functionality
Option to disable data access over mobile network.
Updated Market application with batch and automatic update features.
Quick switching between multiple keyboard languages and their dictionaries.
Support for -enabled car and desk docks
Support for numeric and alphanumeric passwords
Support for file upload fields in the Browser application
The browser now shows all frames of animated GIFs instead of just the first frame only
Support for installing applications to the expandable memory
Support for high- displays (up to 320 ppi), such as 4" 720p screens
Gallery allows users to view picture stacks using a zoom gesture
Android 2.2 Froyo home screen
January 18, 2011
Bugfixes, security updates and performance improvements
January 22, 2011
Minor bugfixes, including SMS routing issues that affected the
November 21, 2011
Two security patches
(API level 9)
Android 2.3–2.3.2 Gingerbread (API level 9)
On December 6, 2010, the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) SDK was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.35. Changes included:
Release date
December 6, 2010
Updated user interface design with increased simplicity and speed
Support for extra-large screen sizes and resolutions ( and higher)
Native support for
internet telephony
Faster, more intuitive text input in virtual keyboard, with improved accuracy, better suggested text and voice input mode
functionality, allowing users to select a word by press-hold, copy, and paste
Support for
(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 , 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 /VP8 video playback, and
audio encoding
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
on newer devices
Audio, graphical, and input enhancements for game developers
Concurrent
for increased performance
Native support for more sensors (such as
Android 2.3 on the Android SDK emulator
December 2010
Improvements and bugfixes for the Google Nexus S
January 2011
Android 2.3.3–2.3.7 Gingerbread (API level 10)
Release date
February 9, 2011
Several improvements and API fixes
April 28, 2011
Support for voice or video chat using
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
Switched the default encryption for SSL from AES256-SHA to RC4-MD5.
July 25, 2011
Improved network performance for the
4G, among other fixes and improvements
Fixed Bluetooth bug on
Improved Gmail application
Shadow animations for list scrolling
Camera software enhancements
Improved battery efficiency
September 2, 2011
Fixed a voice search bug
The 2.3.6 update had the side-effect of impairing the Wi-Fi hotspot functionality of many Canadian Nexus S phones. Google acknowledged this problem and fixed it in late September.
September 21, 2011
support for the Nexus S 4G
Android 3.0 Honeycomb (API level 11)
On February 22, 2011, the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) SDK – the first -only Android update – was released, based on Linux kernel 2.6.36. The first device featuring this version, the
tablet, was released on February 24, 2011. The update's features included:
Release date
February 22, 2011
Optimized tablet support with a new “holographic” user interface
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
Ability to encrypt all user data
HTTPS stack improved with
(FUSE; kernel module)
Applications' write access to secondary storage (memory cards on devices with internal primary storage) is disabled outside of designated, app-specific directories, while full access to internal primary storage is still allowed through a separate application-level permission.
Android 3.0 on the
Android 3.1 Honeycomb (API level 12)
Release date
May 10, 2011
UI refinements
Connectivity for USB accessories ().
Expanded Recent Applications list
Resizable Home screen widgets
Support for external keyboards and pointing devices
Support for joysticks and gamepads
Support for
audio playback
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 3.2 Honeycomb (API level 13)
Most first- and second-generation -enabled devices utilize Honeycomb 3.2.
Release date
July 15, 2011
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
September 20, 2011
Bugfixes and minor security, stability and Wi-Fi improvements
with automatic updates and easier-to-read Terms and Conditions text
support in browser
handwriting prediction
August 30, 2011
Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom 4G
Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom 4G
December 2011
"Pay as You Go" support for 3G and 4G tablets
January 2012
Bugfixes and other minor improvements for the Motorola Xoom and Motorola Xoom 4G
February 2012
Fixed data connectivity issues when coming out of airplane mode on the US 4G Motorola Xoom
(API level 14)
The SDK for Android 4.0.1 (Ice Cream Sandwich), based on Linux kernel 3.0.1, was publicly released on October 19, 2011. Google's Gabe Cohen stated that Android 4.0 was "theoretically compatible" with any Android 2.3.x device in production at that time. The
for Android 4.0 became available on November 14, 2011. Ice Cream Sandwich was the last version to officially support ' . The update introduced numerous new features:
Release date
October 18, 2011
Major refinements to the "Holo" interface with new
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
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
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.
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
feature allowing the rapid short-range exchange of web bookmarks, contact info, directions, YouTube videos and other data
Support for the
image format
Hardware acceleration of the UI
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 on the Samsung
October 21, 2011
Fixed minor bugs for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
November 28, 2011
Fixed minor bugs on the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, the US launch of which was later delayed until December 2011
For Canadian consumers, 4.0.2 reportedly created a bug on the Galaxy Nexus that crashed the application market when users attempted to view details of any Android application. It also inadvertently reduced the
capabilities of the Nexus phone.
(API level 15)
Release date
December 16, 2011
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
resolution
Accessibility refinements such as improved content access for screen readers
March 29, 2012
Stability improvements
Better camera performance
Smoother screen rotation
Improved phone number recognition
(API level 16)
Google announced Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) at the
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, , extended
timing and a fixed frame rate of 60
to create a fluid and "buttery-smooth" UI. Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was released to the
on July 9, 2012, and the
tablet, the first device to run Jelly Bean, was released on July 13, 2012.
Release date
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
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.
Improved camera application
Multichannel audio
codec becomes standard in Android, adding AAC 5.1 channel encoding/decoding.
USB audio (for external sound )
Audio chaining (also known as )
Ability for other launchers to add widgets from the application drawer without requiring root access
Android 4.1 on the Samsung
July 11, 2012
Fixed a bug on the Nexus 7 regarding the inability to change screen orientation in any application
October 9, 2012
Lock/home screen rotation support for the Nexus 7
One-finger gestures to expand/collapse notifications
Bugfixes and performance enhancements
(API level 17)
Google was expected to announce Jelly Bean 4.2 at an event in
on October 29, 2012, but the event was cancelled due to . Instead of rescheduling the live event, Google announced the new version with a press release, under the slogan "A new flavor of Jelly Bean". Jelly Bean 4.2 was based on Linux kernel 3.4.0, and debuted on Google's
and , which were released on November 13, 2012.
Release date
November 13, 2012
improvements, including widget support and the ability to swipe directly to camera
Notification power controls ("Quick Settings")
"Daydream" , showing information when idle or docked
Multiple user accounts (tablets only)
Rewritten , switching from
open source , allowing improved support for multiple displays and wireless display ()
Native , always-on
and application verification. A new
stack was added at the same time.
Accessibility improvements: triple-tap to magnify the entire screen, pan and zoom with two fingers. Speech output and Gesture Mode navigation for blind users
New clock application with built-in world clock, stop watch and timer
All devices now use the same interface layout, previously adapted from phones on 4.1 for smaller tablets (with centered software buttons, the system bar at the top of the screen, and a home screen with a dock and centered application menu), regardless of screen size
Increased number of extended notifications and Actionable Notifications for more applications, allowing users to respond to certain notifications within the notification bar and without launching the application directly
confirmation
Group Messaging
Android 4.2 on the
November 27, 2012
Fixed a bug in the People application where December was not displayed on the date selector when adding an event to a contact
Added Bluetooth gamepads and joysticks as supported
(Human interface device)
February 11, 2013
Fixed Bluetooth audio streaming bugs
Long-pressing the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons in Quick Settings now toggles the on/off state
New download notifications, which now shows the percentage and estimated time remaining for active application downloads
New sounds for wireless charging and low battery
New Gallery application animation allows faster loading
USB debug whitelist
Bugfixes and performance enhancements
(API level 18)
Google released Jelly Bean 4.3 under the slogan "An even sweeter Jelly Bean" on July 24, 2013, during an event in
called "Breakfast with ". Most Nexus devices received the update within a week, although the
tablet was the first device to officially ship with it. A minor bugfix update was released on August 22, 2013.
Release date
July 24, 2013
support, allowing for improved game graphics
Restricted access mode for new user profiles
Filesystem write performance improvement by running
command while device is idle
Dial pad auto-complete in the Phone application
Volume for incoming calls (ringtone) and notification alerts is no longer adjustable separately
Improvements to Photo Sphere
Reworked camera UI, previously introduced on Google Play edition phones
Addition of "", a fine-grained application permissions control system (hidden by default)
Many security enhancements, performance enhancements, and bugfixes
System-level support for
and Wi-Fi scanning APIs
Background Wi-Fi location still runs even when Wi-Fi is turned off
Developer logging and analyzing enhancements
Added support for five more languages
(DRM) APIs
(RTL) languages now supported
Clock in the status bar disappears if clock is selected as lockscreen widget
Android 4.3 on the
October 3, 2013
Bugfixes and small tweaks for the Nexus 7 LTE
Android 4.4 KitKat (API level 19)
Google announced Android 4.4
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 ." Some technology bloggers also expected the "Key Lime Pie" release to be Android 5. KitKat debuted on Google's
on October 31, 2013, and was optimised to run on a greater range of devices than earlier Android versions, having 512 MB of RAM as a those improvements were known as "Project Svelte" internally at Google. 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.
Release date
October 31, 2013
Refreshed interface with white elements instead of blue
Clock no lon 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
Ability for applications to use "immersive mode" to keep the navigation and status bars hidden while maintaining user interaction
Action overflow menu buttons are always visible, even on devices with a "Menu" key, which was officially deprecated by Android 4.0.
Restriction for applications when accessing external storage, except for their own directories
Optimizations for performance on devices with lower specifications, including
support and "low RAM" device API
Wireless printing capability
NFC , enabling a device to replace
WebViews now based on
engine (feature parity with
Expanded functionality for notification listener services
Public API for developing and managing
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).
New framework for UI transitions
Sensor batching, step detector and counter APIs
Settings application now makes it possible to select default text messaging and home (launcher) application
Audio tunneling, audio monitoring and loudness enhancer
Built-in screen recording feature (primarily for developers, as usage of
is required)
Expanded accessibility APIs and system-level
(ART) introduced as a new experimental application , not enabled by default, as a replacement for the
virtual machine
(MAP) support
Disabled access to battery statistics by third-party applications
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
Browser text wrap is disabled.
Android 4.4.2 (, -based)
December 5, 2013
Improvements to auto focus, white balance and HDR+ for the Nexus 5 camera
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
December 9, 2013
Further security enhancements and bugfixes
Removal of the "" application permissions control system, introduced in Android 4.3
June 2, 2014
Refreshed Dialer app interface
Updated the Chromium based WebView to version 33 (screencasting to DevTools, HTML5 Canvas hardware acceleration performance improvements, vibration API, HTML5 form validation, HTML5 datalist)
Miscellaneous improvements and bugfixes
June 19, 2014
fixed, eliminating an
vulnerability
Android 4.4 KitKat with wearable extensions (API level 20)
Release date
June 25, 2014
Initial release of Android Wear platform for : the same as Android 4.4 "KitKat", but with wearable extensions added
September 6, 2014
UI updates for Google Maps navigation and alarms
October 21, 2014
Offline music playback
GPS support
(API level 21)
Android 5.0 "Lollipop" was unveiled under the codename "Android L" on June 25, 2014, during . It became available as official
(OTA) updates on November 12, 2014, for select devices that run distributions of Android serviced by Google, including
devices. Its source code was made available on November 3, 2014.
Lollipop features a redesigned user interface built around a responsive
referred to as "". 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
(ART) officially replacing
for improved application performance, and with changes intended to improve and optimize battery usage, known internally as .
Release date
November 12, 2014
(ART) with
and improved garbage collection (GC), replacing
that combines bytecode
Support for
 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
, which scale without losing definition
Support for print previews
, bringing a restyled user interface
Refreshed lock screen, no longer supporting widgets
Refreshed notification tray and quick settings pull-down
, 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
Guest logins and multiple user accounts are available on more devices, such as phones.
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 .
Pinning of an application's screen for restricted user activity.
Recently used applications are remembered even after restarting the device.
WebViews receive updates independently through
for security reasons, instead of relying on system-wide vendor updates
Addition of 15 new languages: Basque, Bengali, Burmese, Chinese (Hong Kong), Galician, Icelandic, Kannada, Kyrgyz, Macedonian, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Sinhala, Tamil and Telugu
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.
A flashlight-style application is included, working on supported devices with a camera flash.
User-customizable priorities for application notifications.
Smart lock feature
Android 5.0 "Lollipop" homescreen
December 2, 2014
A few bugfixes, including resolving issues with video playback and password failures handling
December 19, 2014
Fixes a bug with
support, which prevented devices from the nightly on-charger cleanups of file system allocations if the device was turned off while being charged, or if it was charged during the day
Changes how alarms wake the CPU, and how alarms compete for system resources
(API level 22)
Release date
March 9, 2015
Ability to join Wi-Fi networks and control paired Bluetooth devices from quick settings
Support for
: 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.
, available between compatible devices running Android 5.1
Improvements to the notification priority system, to more closely replicate the
that was removed in Android 5.0.
Hardware requirements
The main hardware platform for Android is the , with
architectures also officially supported. Both
variants of all three architectures are supported since the release of Android 5.0; unofficial
project had provided support for the x86 and MIPS architectures ahead of the official support. Since 2012, Android devices with
processors began to appear, including phones and tablets. While gaining support for 64-bit platforms, Android was first made to run on 64-bit x86 and then on .
Minimum hardware requirements have been upgraded in steps over time, with the new Android version releases. Original minimums were 32  of
(but less than 128 MB was not recommended, with first phone
("flagship") phone using 192 MB), 32 MB of Flash memory, and a 200 
(ARMv5) processor. As of November 2013 and Android version 4.4, builds for ARM-based devices require an
processor (Android 5.0 also supports ), while recommended minimum amount of RAM is 512 MB. The required minimum amount of RAM available to Android 4.4 is 340 MB (this amount does not include memory dedicated to various hardware components such as the ), and all devices with less than 512 MB of RAM must report themselves as "low RAM" devices.
With the release of Android 4.0 in October 2011, a
(GPU) supporting  2.0 (and ES 1.0) hardware acceleration became mandatory, regardless of whether installed applications directly use the OpenGL ES or not. Later, Android 4.3 added support for OpenGL ES 3.0; if used, support for both older versions (ES 2.0 and 1.0) is still mandatory.
In addition to running directly on x86-based hardware, Android can also be run on x86 architecture by using official Android
as part of the , or by using third-party emulators such as
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