Google has no new Android fragmentation chart, so what? Updates have never been faster...
This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
This brought on a frenzy of speculation that Google doesn't want to give Apple fodder for its iPhone introduction keynotes to gloat over, as has happened many times before. We don't blame Apple for trying to point out that iOS updates are quicker, hate the game not the player, as this chart from May, while better than last year, still doesn't sit pretty.
While at the beginning not all phones' hardware and software was compatible with Treble, since last year the situation has changed, leading to this year's record fast Android version update sesh. Wait, what? That's right, and we will just leave a few examples to illustrate that Android's fragmentation may finally be on the way to become a non-issue a year or two down the road.

May 7 is the last time we got an Android version distribution chart, and that's OK
Alternatively, Google may have just switched to a bi-annual Android version numbers distribution reporting. Why? Because updates are now happening in a record fast manner, and Project Treble is finally giving fruit.
Ahead of I/O 2017, the Android household announced Project Treble. Touted as the biggest change to Android's system architecture ever, the undertaking separates the low-level code written by SoC manufacturers like Samsung and Qualcomm from the Android OS codebase. This is the very basic gist of it, and the result is that device makers can now deliver updates by updating only code relevant to the OS without further work needed from the silicon slingers.
Samsung Galaxy S10 Android 10 update
Last year, Google released the final Android Pie version to manufacturers at the end of August, the 9 Pie beta was served to the US carrier models in November, and the actual Android 9 Pie came to Verizon, T-Mobile and other carrier models at the end of January/beginning of February. It was not an exceptional year in that regard, as we are used to Samsung's Galaxy S series carrier models getting the newest Android version as far out as six months after its release.
This year, however, Android 10 was officially released on September 3 for supported Google Pixel and some other devices. On October 14, the Android 10 beta started rolling to T-Mobile's Galaxy S10 models already, and you'd likely be able to ring in the new year with a carrier S10 model that boast the newest version of Android, something that hasn't happened since, well, ever. Ditto for European or unlocked models.
Huawei P30 series Android 10 update
The world's second-largest phone maker already has its flagship P30 Pro from the spring being updated to Android 10 as we speak, and to the latest version of its Emotion interface. Yep, two months after Google released it, again an update speed with barely a precedent for the maker.
Other top-tier Android makers like the Chinese trifecta of OnePlus, Oppo and Vivo have also updated or started the preview process of their flagship Android 10 builds, and LG said it is following suit with Android 10 on its G8 or V50 juggernauts. Google is certainly proud of this achievement, as it clearly states with the following chart.
All in all, we are seeing an unprecedented speed in everyone getting their popular phones up to the newest Android version this year, and Google may have simply concluded that this will be the future going forward, so monthly updates of the version distribution charts will be becoming less relevant than before, what do you think?
29 Comments
1. hmd74
Posts: 542; Member since: Jan 31, 2013
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 6:44 AM 7
7. RevolutionA
Posts: 474; Member since: Sep 30, 2017
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 9:05 AM 0
9. rkoforever90
Posts: 475; Member since: Dec 03, 2011
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 9:38 AM 5
11. Rampage_Taco
Posts: 1109; Member since: Jan 17, 2017
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 10:52 AM 2
17. SaRPeR
Posts: 152; Member since: Mar 02, 2017
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 3:08 PM 12
2. dimas
Posts: 3419; Member since: Jul 22, 2014
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 7:26 AM 9
10. kplayon
Posts: 63; Member since: Mar 02, 2018
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 9:59 AM 6
19. andrewc31394
Posts: 302; Member since: Jun 23, 2012
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 3:11 PM 0
24. MrMalignance
Posts: 325; Member since: Feb 17, 2013
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 4:02 PM 0
3. jellmoo
Posts: 2660; Member since: Oct 31, 2011
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 7:30 AM 1
16. Vancetastic
Posts: 1754; Member since: May 17, 2017
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 12:10 PM 5
4. skyline88
Posts: 700; Member since: Jul 15, 2013
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 7:39 AM 7
5. toukale
Posts: 668; Member since: Jun 10, 2015
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 8:47 AM 0
8. TBomb
Posts: 1662; Member since: Dec 28, 2012
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 9:16 AM 2
18. SaRPeR
Posts: 152; Member since: Mar 02, 2017
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 3:10 PM 1
21. wickedwilly
Posts: 743; Member since: Sep 19, 2018
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 3:47 PM 0
23. MrMalignance
Posts: 325; Member since: Feb 17, 2013
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 4:00 PM 0
33. WieXXX
Posts: 25; Member since: Feb 03, 2019
posted on Nov 17, 2019, 6:39 AM 0
6. tokuzumi
Posts: 1961; Member since: Aug 27, 2009
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 8:49 AM 5
12. Rampage_Taco
Posts: 1109; Member since: Jan 17, 2017
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 10:54 AM 4
13. riteshrkm
Posts: 164; Member since: Apr 15, 2015
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 11:03 AM 3
14. ZEUS.the.thunder.god
Posts: 1172; Member since: Oct 05, 2011
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 11:33 AM 1
15. monoke
Posts: 1197; Member since: Mar 14, 2015
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 11:38 AM 3
20. TBomb
Posts: 1662; Member since: Dec 28, 2012
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 3:34 PM 0
22. Locked-n-Loaded
Posts: 62; Member since: Sep 13, 2019
posted on Nov 15, 2019, 3:54 PM 0
25. vgking9699
Posts: 214; Member since: Mar 01, 2019
posted on Nov 16, 2019, 2:17 AM 0
28. MrMalignance
Posts: 325; Member since: Feb 17, 2013
posted on Nov 16, 2019, 3:55 AM 0
29. epdm2be
Posts: 827; Member since: Apr 20, 2012
posted on Nov 16, 2019, 5:48 AM 0
34. cheetah2k
Posts: 2297; Member since: Jan 16, 2011
posted on Nov 17, 2019, 8:00 PM 0
PhoneArena Comments Rules
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please, contact us.
Comments Options
Report Post
Send a warning to post author
Send a warning to Selected user. The user has 0 warnings currently.
Ban user and delete all posts
Message to PhoneArena moderator (optional):