If you have ever read about a new Android feature and wondered why your phone doesn’t have it, or why some people are talking about it months before Google officially announces anything, you are probably not alone. Android’s release cycle sounds simple on paper, but it’s anything but. Scratch the surface, and you’ll find a maze of previews, betas, and other mysterious builds that often just go over your head.
Android releases don’t move in a straight line, from ‘under development’ to ‘released’. Multiple versions of the operating system exist at the same time, at different stages of development, and are meant for completely different audiences. What creates confusion is that all of them are discussed simultaneously on online forums. The confusion spirals further when you add Pixel-exclusive features, leaked experiments, and the constant noise enthusiasts create on social media.