Completely happy birthday to us! Android Police turns 16 at this time. We had been based the 12 months that Google launched its first telephone, the Google Nexus, and we’ve been right here ever since to carry you the most recent information, authoritative evaluations, dependable guides, skilled opinions, and scorching takes throughout cell expertise.
In that point, we’ve coated telephones, wearables, tablets, audio, and the whole lot sensible house. So we had a tough time narrowing down a few of our favourite tales over the previous decade and a half plus. However we’ve finished our greatest to carry you some highlights and we sit up for persevering with to be your supply for all issues Android (and past) far into the longer term.
2010
The 12 months we began is the 12 months Android began to take over the world. Android grew to become the quickest rising OS, up 22%, from 2% to 24%, from 2009 to 2010.
2011
In 2010 Steve Jobs declared “thermonuclear battle” in opposition to Android and in a single battle sued HTC. Our former Editor-in-Chief David Ruddock stated it wasn’t that necessary or scary and, as time has advised, he was proper. Although HTC did finally fall to one among Android’s personal, Samsung.
2012
Although it began the 12 months earlier than and didn’t wrap up till an out-of-court settlement in 2018, 2012 was the peak of Apple v. Samsung. We broke down the entire trial.
With Samsung and Apple’s California trial scheduled for Monday, an increasing number of info is being unearthed in regards to the events’ respective claims. Yesterday,
2013
He’s a family identify now, however again in 2013 Marques Brownlee was simply gaining traction in tech. That’s when he shared his ideas on the Samsung Galaxy Observe 3 with our readers.
2014
Materials Design emerged with Android 5.0, aka Lollipop. It made Android look extra like digital paper and it’s nonetheless with us at this time. We took a glance again at its impression simply final 12 months.
5 methods Android 5.0 Lollipop modified cell UI without end
Android 5.0 made our telephones extra pleasant
2015
The primary main menace to Android customers, Stagefright, popped up in 2015. It was an exploit that solely took a textual content message to execute. The fallout resulted within the month-to-month Android updates that we’re all accustomed to at this time.
2016
Goodbye, Nexus. Howdy, Pixel. Google acquired a brand new flagship telephone in 2016. A number of years in the past we seemed again on the start of the Pixel.
2018
In 2018, the Pixel 3 XL fell off a truck, because the euphemism goes, and a Russian tech weblog was all around the story.
2019
Getting foldables proper is tough and, to be trustworthy, remains to be a piece in progress. However they’ve come a good distance because the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Fold in 2019.
2020
The pandemic stopped the world and protests gripped the nation. We don’t must remind you about 2020. All in-person reveals stopped, together with Google I/O, and Google even pushed again Android 11’s launch.
Google cancels Android 11 Beta launch occasion, citing protests round US
There is no signal as to when will probably be rescheduled, understandably
2021
LG exited the smartphone world in 2021, however that hasn’t stopped us from desirous about it since. Together with measuring our time with a few of our favourite telephones.
2022
The Pixel telephone wanted a companion and in 2022, we acquired the Pixel Watch. After all, we acquired our palms on it instantly.
Google Pixel Watch hands-on: Making an attempt to stay as much as the hype
Google’s first {hardware} Put on OS product is lastly right here, eight years after Android Put on’s inception
2023
This was the 12 months that Google promised seven years of OS, safety, and Function Drop updates for its telephones. Whereas it did away with some considerations about deliberate obsolescence, on the time we known as it a boring, although necessary, replace. Then simply this 12 months, we puzzled how a lot the pledge is value if a battery can not final that lengthy.
Google guarantees 7 years of updates, however my telephone’s battery will not final that lengthy
Do not belief the 7-year replace promise till you learn this
2024
Every little thing grew to become AI in 2024. For Google, that meant a Gemini takeover.
2025
Testing the boundaries of folding, Huawei and Samsung launched trifold telephones in 2025.
Samsung poised to launch a tri-folding gadget in 2025, and it may value greater than the Mate XT
Good luck getting your palms on it
2026
Who is aware of what the longer term holds, however we do know that issues change rapidly. One of many largest tales on this to this point brief 12 months has been that the Samsung’s trifold telephone is gone, however one other is ready to take its place subsequent 12 months.
Plus, the MWC prototype may find yourself turning into an actual product