What is Android?
The short answer
Android is the operating system made by Google that runs on most smartphones and tablets in the world — it’s the software that powers everything you see and do on your phone.
What does it actually do?
An operating system is the base software that makes your phone work. Without it, your phone is just a slab of glass and metal. Android handles things like:
- Showing your home screen with apps, widgets, and notifications
- Running apps like YouTube, WhatsApp, and Chrome
- Managing hardware like the camera, speakers, and touchscreen
- Connecting to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and mobile data
If you’ve used a Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, or OnePlus phone, you’ve used Android.
Android vs iPhone
The main alternative to Android is iOS, which runs only on iPhones. Here’s how they compare:
- Android runs on phones from many different brands and comes in a wide range of prices
- iOS runs only on Apple’s iPhones
- Android lets you customize more — home screen layouts, default apps, and widgets
- iOS is more locked down but tends to get software updates for longer
Both can run the same popular apps. Choosing between them mostly comes down to personal preference and which devices you already own.
Why do so many phones use it?
Google makes Android available for free to any phone maker. That’s why Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi, and dozens of other companies all use it. Each brand can customize the look and feel, which is why a Samsung phone looks different from a Pixel even though both run Android.
What about updates?
Android gets a major update once a year with new features, plus monthly security patches. However, how quickly you get updates depends on your phone’s manufacturer. Google Pixel phones get updates first, while other brands may take weeks or months to roll them out.
How to check your version
Go to Settings > About phone and look for “Android version.” Most phones today run Android 14, 15, or 16.