Complete Android analysis: history, versions, and inner workings

Android has become so ingrained in our daily lives that even if someone can't explain it in technical terms, they almost certainly know if their phone has it. Android or iOSThis operating system is found in phones, tablets, watches, TVs, cars, and even some laptops, and has become the foundation of millions of devices we use all the time.

This analysis aims to go far beyond the typical quick definition and give you a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of What is Android, how does it work internally, how has it evolved, what versions exist, what problems does it have, and why does it dominate the market?We'll review its history, its technical architecture, the application ecosystem, fragmentation, security, the role of manufacturers, and its standing against iOS.

What exactly is Android and on what devices is it used?

Android is a mobile operating system based on the Linux kernel and in various open-source software components. It was originally designed for touchscreen devices like smartphones and tablets, but today we also find it in smartwatches with Wear OS, televisions with Android TV, and infotainment systems in cars (Android Auto and Android Automotive), some laptops and a good number of connected devices.

The Android base, known as Android Open Source Project (AOSP)It is open source and released under the Apache license, making it easy for manufacturers and the community to modify and adapt it. On top of this open core, each brand adds its own graphical layer and additional features: Samsung with One UI, Xiaomi with MIUI, Oppo with ColorOS, etc. In parallel, the community maintains alternative ROMs such as LineageOS or GrapheneOS, often focused on privacy or extending the lifespan of devices.

Since Android 12, the system has adopted the new design. Material You (Material 3)which allows the interface colors to automatically adapt to the wallpaper and adds a much greater level of visual customization than in previous generations.

In their daily lives, most users are familiar with Android through their mobile device's interface: home screen, notification panel, quick settings, multitasking, and the vast array of apps available on Google Play and other app stores. But this final result stems from a rather complex technological architecture, which we'll explore later.

A bit of history: from Android Inc. to global domination

The origin of Android dates back to 2003, when Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears and Chris White They founded Android Inc. in Palo Alto, California. Initially, the idea was geared towards digital cameras connected wirelessly to computers, but they soon realized that this market wasn't very promising and shifted their focus to mobile phones.

In July 2005, Google bought Android Inc. for about 50 million and brings the founding team into its ranks. From that moment on, development focuses on creating a flexible and upgradable Linux-based mobile platform, designed to be offered to manufacturers and operators worldwide as an open alternative to existing closed systems.

On November 5, 2007, Google officially announced Android along with the creation of the Open Handset Alliance (OHA)A consortium of hardware, software, and telecommunications companies (Texas Instruments, Qualcomm, Samsung, Intel, LG, Motorola, T-Mobile, among many others) whose goal was to promote open standards for mobile devices. That same day, the first version of the system was released: Android 1.0 Apple Pie.

The first Android phones arrived on the market in 2008, with the HTC Dream as a pioneer. From there, the growth was brutal: during 2010 Android already positioned itself as the best-selling system in the United States and in the fourth quarter of 2011 it exceeded 50% of the global market share, leaving iOS quite far behind.

Google also launched the Nexus family of devices (Nexus One, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 9), designed to serve as the benchmark for "pure" Android and to be the first to debut new versions of the system. This strategy continued later with the pixel, which today represent the most direct vision of Android as Google intended.

Android evolution: versions and candy names

One of the best-known curiosities of Android is that, until version 9, each release had a internal name related to dessertsfollowing alphabetical order. In addition, almost all versions have brought improvements in performance, security, design, and compatibility with new technologies.

The historical list of versions, with their candy name and release date, is as follows:

• Android 1.0 Apple Pie – September 23, 2008 – API Level 1.
• Android 1.1 Banana Bread – February 9, 2009 – API Level 2.
• Android 1.5 – April 25, 2009 – API Level 3.
• Android 1.6 Donut – September 15, 2009 – API Level 4.
• Android 2.0-2.1 Eclair – October 26, 2009 – API Levels 5-7.
• Android 2.2-2.2.3 Froyo – May 20, 2010 – API Level 8.
• Android 2.3-2.3.7 Gingerbread – December 6, 2010 – API Levels 9-10.
• Android 3.0-3.2.6 Honeycomb – February 22, 2011 – API levels 11-13; designed for tablets.
• Android 4.0-4.0.5 Ice Cream Sandwich – October 18, 2011 – API Levels 14-15.
• Android 4.1-4.3.1 Jelly Bean – July 9, 2012 – API Levels 16-18.
• Android 4.4-4.4.4 KitKat – October 31, 2013 – API Levels 19-20.
• Android 5.0-5.1.1 Lollipop – November 12, 2014 – API Levels 21-22.
• Android 6.0-6.0.1 Marshmallow – October 5, 2015 – API Level 23.
• Android 7.0-7.1.2 Nougat – June 15, 2016 – API Levels 24-25.
• Android 8.0-8.1 Oreo – August 21, 2017 – API Levels 26-27.
• Android 9.0 Pie – August 6, 2018 – API Level 28.
• Android 10 – September 3, 2019 – API Level 29.
• Android 11 – September 8, 2020 – API Level 30.
• Android 12 – October 4, 2021 – API Levels 31-32.
• Android 13 – August 15, 2022 – API Level 33.
• Android 14 – October 4, 2023 – API Level 34.
• Android 15 – October 15, 2024 – API Level 35.
• Android 16 – June 10, 2025 – API Level 36 (preview version at the time indicated).

This constant trickle of versions has its pros and cons: on the one hand, it means that the system is in continuous improvementOn the other hand, many devices fall behind because manufacturers stop updating them, which fuels the feeling of planned obsolescence.

Key new features in Android 12, Android 13 and Android 14

In the most recent versions, it's clear where Google is pushing: more personalization, greater control over permissions, enhanced security, and increasing integration of artificial intelligence.

En Android 12 Significant changes are introduced:

• Rapid emergency callA shortcut is enabled by pressing the power button five times in a row to contact emergency services, something designed for critical situations where every second counts.
• Game barA floating bar for players is added, from which you can, for example, record the screen or access gaming-related functions, without leaving the game.
• More customization optionsThanks to Material You, the system adapts colors based on the wallpaper and opens the door to much more varied themes.
• Wi-Fi Changes: Wi-Fi sharing options are unified with Nearby Share, Android's alternative to systems like AirDrop.
• Improved screenshots: editing tools are expanded, with the possibility of adding text, emojis and other elements to the captures.

En Android 13The update focuses on refining what already worked well and adding practical features:

• More visual customizationThemed icons can be applied to third-party applications, access to wallpapers is facilitated, and system color combinations are expanded from 4 to 13.
• Improvements to basic appsThe media player displays clearer cover art and controls, and a QR code reader is natively integrated into the system.
• Accessibility and usabilityAccessibility options for Google Assistant are being expanded, and voice dictation options on AndroidIt allows you to change the language of each app separately and makes it easier to view apps active in the background.
• More granular permitsPermissions for notifications and other resources are requested the first time they are used, allowing you to accept or block them at that moment without having to go to Settings.

En Android 14While already present in most recent mobile phones (especially in the mid-range and high-end), the visual changes are more subtle, but key aspects are reinforced:

• Greater overall fluidityThere is a noticeable improvement in system animations and transitions, resulting in a smoother feel when navigating the interface.
• Customizing lock screen and backgroundsA new customization selector for the lock screen is being launched, along with more settings for backgrounds, with greater control over widgets and style.
• Enhanced security and privacy: possibility of using numeric passwords from 6 digits, changes in permission management and more barriers against potentially malicious apps.
• Health & WellnessA new section is added to Health in Settings to centralize data on physical activity and other wellness parameters.
• improved accessibility: larger font sizes accessible with a tap from the quick settings, simplified headphone compatibility, and the arrival of flash notifications as an option to avoid missing alerts.
• AI-powered features: Integrated artificial intelligence functions are starting to appear, such as "Surround to search" on some Pixel phones, which allow contextual searches by drawing on the screen.

It's worth remembering that, although Google offers up to 7 years of updates on the PixelIn many other manufacturers, the support policy is shorter, so not all phones get to try these latest versions, and that's where the fragmentation problem reappears.

Market share and fragmentation: Android's double-edged sword

Android has established itself as the dominant mobile operating system worldwideAccording to various market analysts, by 2024 its market share will be approximately 70-72% globally, compared to 27-29% for iOS. However, the picture changes significantly depending on the country: in India and Brazil, Android dominates with percentages exceeding 80-90%, while in markets like the United States, Canada, Japan, Norway, Sweden, and Australia, iPhones clearly prevail.

In terms of the user community, it is estimated that there are more than 3.600 billion active Android devices Globally, this compares to approximately 1.460 billion iOS devices. A significant portion of this market consists of devices from Chinese and Korean manufacturers, with Samsung and Xiaomi among the strongest players.

The big problem that Android is dragging on is the fragmentationMany different versions of the system coexist on the market, along with a huge number of models with different customization layers. Although Google has tried to reduce this with initiatives like Project Treble (which separates the manufacturer's layer from the system layer to accelerate updates) or Google Play Services (which allows updating apps and key components without changing the entire Android version), the reality is that millions of phones stop receiving new versions long before their hardware reaches the end of its useful life.

Based on usage data by version as of April 2025, the approximate distribution would be:

• Android 14.0 - 33,44%.
• Android 13.0 - 16,94%.
• Android 12.0 - 12,11%.
• Android 11.0 - 10,41%.
• Android 15.0 – 10,06% (implementation in progress).
• Android 10.0 - 5,57%.
• Android 9.0 Pie - 3,18%.
• Android 8.0 Oreo - 2,18%.
• Android Lollipop 5.0 - 1,74%.
• Others - 4,37%.

Compared to iOS, where over 90% of devices typically run the latest or immediately preceding version, Android remains very fragmented, complicating life for developers and worsening the user experience in terms of... security and access to modern features.

How to know what version of Android your mobile has

If at any point you need to identify the Android version your phone is running (for example, to install a compatible app or check if you'll receive an update), simply go to the system settingsOn most recent mobile phones, the path is very similar:

Open Settings and go to System > About phone > Android versionThere you'll see the exact installed version, build number, device model, and, if your manufacturer uses their own skin (One UI, MIUI, etc.), the version of that skin will also appear. Additionally, information such as IMEI, RAM, and screen resolution are usually displayed.

In some cases, the option may be in a menu called Device Information or similar, but always within Settings. The name changes slightly depending on the brand, although the content is basically the same.

Internal components: how Android is built inside

Behind Android's user-friendly interface lies a fairly clear layered architecture. Each layer fulfills a specific function to enable applications to run and the system to communicate efficiently with the hardware.

The main blocks of the system are:

• ApplicationsThe apps that the user sees are email, SMS, calendar, maps, browser, contacts, and other basic tools. They are mostly developed in Java or Kotlin and packaged in APK format.
• Application FrameworkIt provides the APIs used by applications, both the default ones and those installed by users. This framework is designed to facilitate component reuse, so that one app can "publish" certain functionalities and another app can take advantage of them, always within the system's security rules.
• Native LibrariesThese are libraries written in C or C++ that offer low-level functions: 2D/3D graphics (OpenGL ES), multimedia (codecs, audio and video playback), SQLite database, WebKit engine for the browser, SSL, Bionic C standard library, etc. These libraries are accessible through the application framework.
• Android RuntimeThis includes the core Java language libraries and the runtime environment. Up to Android 4.4, the main runtime environment was Dalvik, which executed .dex files with just-in-time (JIT) compilation. From Android 5.0 onwards, ART (Android Runtime) It replaces Dalvik and compiles the bytecode at the time of app installation (AOT, ahead of time), improving performance and consumption.
• Linux KernelIt is the heart of the system. It manages security, memory, processes, network and hardware drivers, and acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software.

In total, the system is composed of millions of lines of code: around 12 million linesThis includes XML, C, C++, and Java. This size and complexity partly explain why updates and compatibility can be so delicate, especially when so many different manufacturers are involved.

Key features, connectivity, and development tools

In terms of specifications, Android supports a huge variety of technologies connectivityGSM/EDGE, CDMA, EV-DO, UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+, LTE, WiMAX (on some older models), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (various versions), NFC, and more. Messaging features include SMS, MMS, and services like Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications.

The traditional Android web browser is based on WebKit and the V8 JavaScript engineHowever, in practice most users use Google Chrome or other browsers such as Mozilla FirefoxFor years, the default browser has achieved top scores in tests like Acid3, reflecting its good support for web standards.

In multimedia, the system is compatible with a very wide range of formats: WebM, H.263, H.264, MPEG‑4 SP, AMR, AMR‑WB, AAC, HE‑AAC, MP3, MIDI, Ogg Vorbis, WAV, JPEG, PNG, GIF, BMP and more, in addition to supporting streaming via RTP/RTSP, tags

At the hardware level, Android can work with photo and video cameras (including the use of telephoto lens in mobile photography), multi-touch screens, GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, proximity and light sensors, pressure, gamepads, 2D and 3D GPUs… in general, any modern sensor or peripheral that the manufacturer integrates, provided that the appropriate drivers are developed.

To develop apps, the official environment is Android StudioBased on IntelliJ IDEA, it includes a device emulator, debugging tools, performance analysis, and everything needed to compile APKs. Historically, Eclipse was used with the ADT plugin, but today virtually all serious development is done with Android Studio and the Google SDK, using Java or Kotlin as the primary languages ​​(in addition to the NDK for C/C++ code when higher performance is required).

App ecosystem, Google Play and APK formats

One of Android's defining characteristics is the enormous freedom to install applicationsOfficially, the main app store is Google Play, home to millions of apps of all kinds: social media, messaging, games, banking, productivity, health, education, multimedia, shopping, and much more. By early 2018, there were already over two million apps in this store alone.

To use Google Play, you need a Gmail account, which is linked to your device. In return, you have access to free and paid apps, using methods such as credit card, PayPal, or prepaid codes. Google typically shares around 70% of the price of each sale with the developer, keeping the rest as a commission.

However, Android doesn't tie you exclusively to the Play Store. It's possible install apps from other stores such as the Amazon Appstore, F-Droid (focused on free software), or alternative repositories, or even directly uploading APK files downloaded from a browser or transferred from a PC. However, to allow installation from "unknown sources," you need to enable the corresponding option in Settings, precisely to prevent the installation of unwanted software without permission.

Android applications are distributed in APK formatAn APK is a compressed package containing the app's code, resources, and manifest. On many devices, simply opening the APK file with a file manager will launch the installer. This flexibility is a huge advantage for advanced users, but it also introduces security risks if APKs are downloaded from untrusted sources.

In terms of categories, the universe of Android apps can be grouped into several large blocks: social networks and messaging (TelegramWhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.), lifestyle (Netflix, Spotify, Uber, food delivery apps, health and nutrition apps), basic utilities (alarm, flashlight, weather, calculator), productivity (email, task managers, Slack, office suites), and, of course, games, one of the most lucrative sectors of the ecosystem.

Security, privacy and surveillance: the other side of Android

In terms of security, Android has received equal parts criticism and praise. On the one hand, studies such as one by Symantec in 2013 showed that, in strict terms of system vulnerabilitiesiOS had far more serious vulnerabilities than Android. On the other hand, in terms of actual attacks and active malware, Android suffered significantly more incidents, largely because it allows the installation of apps from outside the official store and because it is a priority target due to its enormous market share.

Google has been strengthening the system over time: Google Play Protect automatically analyzes apps and updates, permissions have been tightened, background access is increasingly limited, and the execution of unsigned code is prevented in many scenarios. Even so, the basic recommendation remains to only install apps from trusted sources and carefully review the permits they request.

There has also been controversy in the area of ​​privacy. Similar behaviors to those of iPhones have been discovered regarding location tracking, although on Android, users are warned when using wireless networks to improve location tracking, and this data is deleted when the option is disabled; for example, you can clear search historybecause they are treated as a temporary cache and not as a permanent record.

The 2013 and 2014 leaks about mass surveillance revealed that agencies such as the NSA (United States) and GCHQ (United Kingdom) They specifically targeted Android users. Various documents indicated they were able to access SMS messages, emails, locations, notes, and other messages, even leveraging data collected for advertising purposes by popular apps like Angry Birds. It was also revealed that they made a special effort to intercept Google Maps searches to record positions on a large scale.

In response to these revelations, some game developers, such as Rovio (creators of Angry Birds), announced they would review their agreements with advertising networks and called for greater transparency across the industry. To this day, the debate about the extent to which complete privacy can be guaranteed on a mobile device remains very much alive, and Android is no exception.

Relationship with iOS, competition and litigation

From its beginnings, Android has been the great rival of Apple iOSThe competition has taken place in market share, the application ecosystem, security, user experience, and, of course, in the courts. A prime example is the conflict with Oracle, which in 2010 sued Google alleging a supposed intellectual property violation due to the use of Java in Android.

After years of litigation, in 2012 a court ruled in favor of Google, concluding that Android did not infringe Oracle's patents as alleged. This case was key in clarifying how certain API elements can be used in open-source and commercial software projects.

Today, the war between Android and iOS is fought less in the courts than in each platform's ability to offer a solid, secure ecosystem with good updates and attractive features. Android continues to win in terms of device variety and price range, while Apple dominates in high-end markets and in countries with greater purchasing power.

Looking at Android with some perspective, we see a system that has gone from being an experiment bought by Google to becoming the foundation of global mobile computing, with a huge community of developers, millions of applications, a flexible architecture and a very high rate of innovation, but also with important challenges such as fragmentation, security on older devices and the real ability of users to control their data in an increasingly connected world.