We’re gearing up for the discharge of Android 15, but it surely’s simple to overlook what number of ups and downs exist within the historical past of Android. It is our favourite working system at Android Police, but it surely wasn’t all the time nice. Many people fondly keep in mind the early variations of Android and the classic handsets that ran them. Nevertheless, once we take off our rose-colored glasses, it is easy to see the terrible variations all through Android’s 16-year historical past.
Let’s break down the 5 worst Android updates to grace (or, extra precisely, beleaguer) our dependable and go-to phones. Whether or not as a result of bugs, poor efficiency, or undesirable adjustments, these Android variations earned a spot on the one record they did not wish to be on.
5
Android 6 Marshmallow had its vibrant spots
However fragmentation issues and basic points affected this model
Supply: Google
Android 6.0 Marshmallow had some positives, like strong battery life, however launched a number of issues. For starters, unclear and complex app permissions in Marshmallow confused builders and customers. Fragmentation issues, basic points, and subpar efficiency on older units have been black marks on Marshmallow’s document.
Considered one of Android Police’s writers, Roland Udvarlaki, recalled Android 6.0 rendering his Sony Xperia Z5 as a paperweight. We do not know whether or not this specific instance was the fault of Google or Sony, however there are a lot extra experiences like this one the place Marshmallow is anxious.
Supply: Google
Marshmallow was one of the best of the worst. It launched options like a fingerprint sensor and USB Sort-C port help, in addition to apps just like the now-defunct Google Pay (Android Pay on the time). There have been causes to recollect it fondly, however bugs and issues left a bitter style within the mouths of some Android customers.
And it made Android followers keep in mind Pie in a adverse mild
Supply: Google
Android 9.0 Pie earns a spot on this record for one purpose: capsule navigation. Pie launched necessary pill-shaped gesture navigation on telephones just like the Pixel 3. Android is all about alternative, and Android 9.0 took that alternative away in favor of uniformly by transport the odd capsule navigation. Customers typically hated it, and Google killed off pill-shaped navigation on the Pixel 4. Gesture navigation is almost ubiquitous on Android telephones and iPhones as we speak, however the first try at it by Google in Pie was a swing and a miss.
3
Android 12 Snow Cone had issues and delays
And we cannot even discuss Android 12L
Supply: Google
Android 12 dissatisfied as a result of issues, delays, and gradual operation. Google had its personal issues with Android 12, and that induced ripple results with different prime OEMs on the time. OnePlus had so many issues creating its Android 12 pores and skin that it confronted quite a few delays, and the OnePlus Nord N20 shipped with out it. Different points with the replace included gradual efficiency, lagging, and delayed notifications. Issues have been poorly acquired, and numerous posts on boards and Google’s support hubs requested how customers may roll again their units to Android 11.
Then, there was Android 12L, an replace optimized for tablets and foldables that was solely obligatory as a result of how badly Android ran on irregular type components. It barely made a dent within the person expertise, including a dock and little else, as Apple continued to make iPadOS the usual for big-screen working techniques.
2
Android 5 Lollipop was laden with bugs and points
It felt like a step backward from Ice Cream Sandwich
Supply: Google
Our penultimate decide is Android 5.0 Lollipop, which had a couple of redeeming qualities however was overrun with bugs and efficiency points. This launch launched Materials Design, which nonetheless influences some elements of Android. Lollipop felt like a step again from the cohesive really feel of Ice Cream Sandwich and lacked reliability. We appreciated that Android 5.0 Lollipop introduced a transparent design language to the platform for the primary time, however that formidable overhaul got here with too many undesirable bugs.
Supply: Google
Though Lollipop had a tough launch, with many efficiency points and bugs, it improved over time. The early days of Android 5.0 Lollipop induced phantom battery drain issues that annoyed customers. The replace finally supplied extra battery life on Android telephones because of Venture Volta, however issues obtained worse earlier than they obtained higher. Moreover, some folks did not just like the obvious oversimplification of Materials Design in its early days.
Another excuse Android 5.0 Lollipop is not remembered fondly is as a result of it was miles behind iOS 8 on the time. Apple was chasing peak ecosystem-level integration with Continuity, which debuted with iOS 8, and Android did not have any equal options. It is solely now catching up with cross-device services, roughly 10 variations later.
1
Android 3 Honeycomb was the one we by no means obtained
Oh, it was actually dangerous, too
Supply: Google
Irrespective of the way you slice it, the worst Android model to ever ship (or not ship, for that matter) was Android 3.0 Honeycomb. It was a colossal failure by nearly each measure, beginning with its course. Android wanted to compete with the iPad, so Honeycomb was a tablet-only launch supposed to assist the best Android tablets of the time entice extra customers. We all know now that this did not occur. Android 3.0 Honeycomb’s standing as a tablet-only launch meant that only a few folks may use it since Android pill shipments have been extraordinarily low.
Supply: Google
The replace solely made its option to a couple of dozen units and rapidly fell into obscurity. The few who used Honeycomb could keep in mind it for bugs, frequent crashes, and basic instability. In some methods, Android 3.0 Honeycomb was too formidable as a result of some design decisions and UX parts are present in future variations of Android. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich featured among the concepts of Honeycomb in a extra fleshed-out method and suitable with extra units.
Honeycomb’s failure may be seen as a “rooster or egg” situation. It was dangerous as a result of Android tablets on the time have been dangerous. Nonetheless, the working system was plagued with points and did not help Flash. Subsequent Android 3.1 and three.2 updates tried to repair a few of these issues, though it was a misplaced trigger by that time. So, have been terrible tablets or the disastrous replace most accountable for the failure of early Android tablets? We would by no means know, however regardless, Android 3.0 lives in infamy because the worst Android model ever, at the very least for now.
Android Police’s record of honorable mentions
The Android Police workforce debated lengthy and arduous earlier than coming to this remaining record, and we now have a couple of honorable mentions. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich virtually earned a spot right here as a result of its unusual efficiency points on older units. We thought the Android 10 replace was boring and felt unhappy that we not get official dessert names for Android variations as of that launch. Android 7.0 Nougat is not fondly remembered right here as a result of its atrocious efficiency on the Nexus 6.
What’s subsequent for Android?
Now, we now have two questions. What is the subsequent Android replace that may be part of these ranks? And what features is Android 15 hiding underneath the hood that may preserve this replace from becoming a member of our record of worse Android variations?
