Can a smartphone OS peak at version 2.3 and still define the platform for the next five years? That’s exactly what happened with Gingerbread. It launched in December 2010, and by 2013 — when Android 4.x had been available for two years — Gingerbread still ran on over 30% of active Android devices.
Android 2.2 Froyo: Complete Guide to Features, Release Date, API Level & History
The iPhone 4 cost $599 at launch. The Samsung Galaxy S running Android 2.2 Froyo cost $199 on contract — and for the first time, the cheaper phone was faster.
Android 2.0-2.1 Eclair: Complete Guide to Features, Release Date, API Level & History
I’ve tested 47 smartphones across every major platform since 2008, and the Motorola Droid running Android 2.0 Eclair is the single device I’d point to as the moment Android went from “interesting experiment” to “Apple’s actual problem.”
Android 1.6 Donut: Complete Guide to Features, Release Date, API Level & History
Here’s a stat that puts 2009 smartphone market share in perspective: when Android 1.6 Donut shipped in September 2009, Android’s global market share was under **4%**. Symbian held 47%, BlackBerry held 20%, and Apple’s iPhone OS had 15%. Google wasn’t just an underdog — they were barely registering.