Is Android L the most important Android update ever?

Google this week announced a brand new version of Android, and you probably heard about it even if you’re not an Android user. Google is referring to the new iteration of its platform as “Android L”, and we expect it to receive a proper moniker come launch time.

Regardless of its final name, Android L is impressive, because it brings a surprisingly high number of novelties, starting with a massive UI redesign that’s the result of what Google is calling Material Design. Put simply, Android L looks very different from Android KitKat - and we think that this is a good thing (of course, KitKat itself looks good, too). Google even redesigned Android’s on-screen buttons, which, in Android L, are basic, flat geometric shapes. You can see the visual differences between Android L and Android KitKat here.  

The changes that are under the hood in Android L include a new set of tools and APIs gathered under the name Project Volta. According to Google, Project Volta will allow apps - and the whole system - to run more efficiently in order to save battery life. Google also added 64-bit support, as well as support for OpenGL ES 3.1. You can check out many more details in our Android L preview.

All in all, it seems to us that this may be Google’s biggest, most important Android update ever - since the platform’s initial release back in 2008. Do you agree? Cast your votes in the poll below!

P.S.: While an Android L developer preview is already available to Nexus 5 and Nexus 7 owners, Google did not say exactly when it’s going to properly launch the new version of the OS. It should happen sometime this fall anyway.