A brief history of Android phones

Almost three years after the birth of the T-Mobile G1, the world’s first Android smartphone, we pause to take a look back at what the little green dude has given us. Sure, we’ve known that the OS has been very busy in the United States and around the world, but we really had no idea just how busy it was. And if we expanded the list beyond handsets not with U.S. carriers, it would be even longer.

Remember that it wasn’t so long ago when Android was just a concept. And not long before that, the only android we knew was Data on “Star Trek.” But now as its market share continues to grow and the OS has landed in the tablet space, Android has emerged as a powerhouse in the mobile space.

Editors’ note: This list is current as of August 2, 2011. For brevity’s sake, we’ve focused only on models previously or currently sold by U.S. carriers.

Phone	Availability date	Carrier	Highlights	OS version *
* At time of release
T-Mobile G1	October 2008	T-Mobile	First-ever Android device; had quirky design elements like the swing-out keyboard and the “chin”	1.0
T-Mobile MyTouch 3G	July 2009	T-Mobile	First device with 1.5; debuted with Exchange support	1.5 (Cupcake)
HTC Hero	October 2009	Sprint	First CDMA Android phone; offered HTC Sense interface	1.5
Samsung Moment	October 2009	Sprint	First Android handset with a slider design; lacked camera-editing options	1.5
Motorola Cliq	October 2009	T-Mobile	Debut of MotoBlur interface; first Motorola Android phone	1.5
Motorola Droid	October 2009	Verizon Wireless	First Verizon Android device, and first appearance of Eclair	2.0 (Eclair)
HTC Droid Eris	November 2009	Verizon Wireless	One of the earliest phones to offer pinch-to-zoom multitouch; first under $100 price point	1.5
Samsung Behold II	November 2009	T-Mobile	Used Samsung’s TouchWiz interface and offered new media player; not upgradable past OS 1.6	1.5
HTC Nexus One	January 2010	T-Mobile	Sold unlocked through Google’s direct sales channel; first Android 2.1 phone	2.1
Motorola Devour	February 2010	Verizon Wireless	First device that debuted with Donut; called the Droid’s “little brother”	1.6 (Donut)
Motorola Backflip	March 2010	AT&T	First AT&T Android phone; had awkward design with “Backtrack” feature on rear side	1.5
Motorola Cliq XT	March 2010	T-Mobile	Upgrade to the Cliq; replaced physical keyboard with virtual keyboard and Swype	1.5
HTC Droid Incredible	April 2010	Verizon Wireless	“Blazingly fast” processor and loaded feature set; won CNET’s Editors’ Choice Award	2.1
LG Ally	May 2010	Verizon Wireless	LG’s Android debut in the United States; included LG Socialite app	2.1
HTC Evo 4G	June 2010	Sprint	First 4G phone in the United States; offers a mobile hot-spot feature and HDMI port	2.1
MyTouch 3G Slide	June 2010	T-Mobile	Update to original MyTouch 3G; featured T-Mobile’s custom interface	2.1
Garminfone	June 2010	T-Mobile	Robust GPS integration; much improved over its G60 predecessor	1.6
HTC Aria	June 2010	AT&T	Based on HD Mini design; like most AT&T Android phones, it didn’t permit third-party app downloads	2.1
Motorola Droid X	July 2010	Verizon Wireless	Offered broad multimedia features and revamped MotoBlur interface	2.1
Motorola i1	July 2010	Nextel; Boost Mobile	First Android device with iDEN, and first handset with a prepaid carrier	1.5
Samsung Vibrant	July 2010	T-Mobile	Part of the Samsung Galaxy S series; came with a full-length copy of “Avatar”	2.1
Samsung Captivate	July 2010	AT&T	Second Galaxy S phone; AT&T’s best Android offering to date	2.1
Samsung Acclaim	July 2010	U.S. Cellular	First Android device for U.S. Cellular; positioned as a budget model	2.1
Samsung Intercept	July 2010	Sprint	Not compatible with Sprint’s 4G network; positioned as a budget model	2.1
Motorola Droid 2	August 2010	Verizon Wireless	Similar to the Droid X but with a physical keyboard; first device to ship with Froyo	2.2 (Froyo)
Samsung Epic 4G	August 2010	Sprint	Only Galaxy S phone to have physical keyboard; featured Samsung’s TouchWiz 3.0 interface	2.1
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10	August 2010	AT&T	Sony Ericsson’s first Android phone; featured company’s Timescape feature and UXP interface	1.6
HTC Desire	August 2010	U.S. Cellular	Based on the Nexus One design; second U.S. Cellular phone	2.1
Sanyo Zio	August 2010	Cricket Wireless	First Android device for Sanyo/Kyocera and first for Cricket Wireless	1.6
Motorola Charm	September 2010	T-Mobile	Featured a square design with a roomy keybaord but a small, crowded display	2.1
Samsung Fascinate	September 2010	Verizon Wireless	Last Galaxy S series phone for “big four” carriers; features Bing search and maps	2.1
Dell Aero	September 2010	AT&T	Dell’s first Android phone, but that’s about it	1.5
T-Mobile G2	October 2010	T-Mobile	Update to original G1; first T-Mobile phone built for carrier’s HSPA+ network	2.2
Samsung Transform	October 2010	Sprint	First handset with Sprint ID feature	2.1
Sanyo Zio	October 2010	Sprint	First Android device for Sanyo/Kyocera; features Sprint ID	2.1
Samsung Intercept	October 2010	Virgin Mobile	First Virgin Mobile Android phone	2.1
Motorola Flipout	October 2010	AT&T	Square design with swivel opening	2.1
Huawei Ascend	October 2010	Cricket Wireless; Metro PCS	Huawei’s first Android phone for the U.S. market; display has nine-panel grid design	2.1
HTC Wildfire	October 2010	Alltel	Entry-level device with bargain price	2.1
Samsung Mesmerize	October 2010	U.S. Cellular	Part of the Galaxy S series; featured Samsung’s TouchWiz 3.0 interface	2.1
T-Mobile MyTouch 4G	November 2010	T-Mobile	Next in MyTouch series; supports T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network	2.2
LG Optimus T	November 2010	T-Mobile	First handset in LG’s entry-level Optimus series	2.2
Motorola Defy	November 2010	T-Mobile	Rugged design; features revamped MotoBlur interface	2.1
LG Optimus S	November 2010	Sprint	Sprint’s Optimus model; features Sprint ID	2.2
Motorola Droid Pro	November 2010	Verizon Wireless	Offers enhanced security features for business users and a mobile hot spot	2.2
Samsung Continuuim	November 2010	Verizon Wireless	Part of the Galaxy S series; features a second “ticker” display	2.1
LG Vortex	November 2010	Verizon Wireless	Part of the Optimus series; features Bing search and maps	2.2
Motorola Citrus	November 2010	Verizon Wireless	A beginner Android devices; features Bing search and maps	2.1
Motorola Bravo	November 2010	AT&T	Includes DLNA support; features revamped MotoBlur interface	2.1
Motorola Flipside	November 2010	AT&T	Slider design with physical keyboard; features revamped MotoBlur interface	2.1
T-Mobile Comet	November 2010	T-Mobile	Free with a two-year contract; available with prepaid plans	2.2
Motorola Droid 2 Global	November 2010	Verizon Wireless	Similar to Droid 2, but with world-roaming capabilities	2.2
LG Apex	November 2010	U.S. Cellular	Similar to Verizon’s LG Ally; has a full physical keyboard	2.1
LG Optimus M	November 2010	MetroPCS	First Android device for MetroPCS; part of the Optimus series	2.2
LG Optimus U	December 2010	U.S. Cellular	Free with a two-year contract; part of the Optimus series	2.2
Samsung Nexus S	December 2010	T-Mobile	Follow-up to Nexus One; delivers stock Android interface; sold unlocked; first device with Gingerbread	2.3 (Gingerbread)
HTC Evo Shift 4G	January 2011	Sprint	Follow-up to the HTC Evo 4G; compact design but includes a physical keyboard; cheaper than Sprint’s previous 4G phones	2.2
Motorola Cliq 2	January 2011	T-Mobile	Update to the first Cliq; has a larger displayand a redesigned keyboard	2.2
LG Optimus V	February 2011	Virgin Mobile	Yet another model in the Optimus line; competitively priced without a contract	2.2
HTC Inspire 4G	January 2011	AT&T-Mobile	Offers a mobile hot spot and an excellent 8-megapixel camera; runs on the carrier’s HSPA+ network	2.2
Samsung Galaxy Indulge	February 2011	MetroPCS	Part of the Samsung Galaxy series; first Android phone for MetroPCS’ LTE network	2.2
Samsung Galaxy S 4G	February 2011	T-Mobile	Update to Samsung Vibrant but with a larger battery; supports T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network	2.2
Motorola Atrix 4G	March 2011	AT&T	Has a dual-core processor and support for the carrier’s HSPA+ network; compatible with the Motorola Laptop Dock	2.2
HTC ThunderBolt	March 2011	Verizon Wireless	Supports Verizon’s 4G LTE network for incredible fast data speeds; can deliver simultaneous voice and data	2.2
Kyocera Echo	April 2011	Sprint	Has two screens that can combine to form one 4.7-inch display	2.2
Samsung Gem	April 2011	U.S. Cellular	Budget device with a compact design	2.2
Samsung Sidekick 4G	April 2011	T-Mobile	Reinvents the Sidekick line with a familiar design and features; supports T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network	2.2
Samsung Galaxy Prevail	April 2011	Boost Mobile	Boost Mobile’s second Android phone; minimal features in an agreeable design	2.2
T-Mobile G2X	April 2011	T-Mobile	CNET Editor’s Choice winner; has a dual-core processor; HSPA+ support and a sharp display	2.2
HTC Droid Incredible 2	April 2011	Verizon Wireless	Update to Droid Incredible; offers world roaming	2.2
Casio G’zOne Commando	May 2011	Verizon Wireless	Sports a rugged design and a suite of applications for outdoor enthusiasts.	2.2
Samsung Droid Charge	May 2011	Verizon Wireless	A 4G LTE device with longer battery life than on the ThunderBolt.	2.2
Samsung Replenish	May 2011	Sprint	Made from recycled and recyclable material.	2.2	Samsung Infuse 4G	May 2011	AT&T	Marketed as the thinnest smartphone available in the U.S.; supports AT&T’s “4G” network.	2.2	Samsung Nexus S 4G	May 2011	Sprint	Sprint’s version of the Nexus S adds WiMax support.	2.3	LG Phoenix	May 2011	AT&T	Another model in the Optimus line, the Phoenix is an entry-level device.	2.2	LG Thrive	May 2011	AT&T	The Thrive is identical to the Phoenix, though it’s available only through AT&T’s prepaid service.	2.2	Motorola Droid X2	May 2011	Verizon Wireless	Features a qHD display and a dual-core processor for faster performance.	2.2	Sony Ericsson Xperia Play	May 2011	Verizon Wireless	As Sony’s long-awaited “PlayStation phone,” the Xperia Play integrates a phone and a gaming device.	2.3	HTC Merge	June 2011	U.S. Cellular	Includes a SIM card slot for international roaming; has a bulky design.	2.2	LG Revolution VS910	June 2011	Verizon Wireless	Verizon’s third LTE device has a great display and a 1GHz processor. Uses Bing instead of Google.	2.2	HTC Sensation 4G	June 2011	T-Mobile	CNET Editors’ Choice winner; offers a loaded feature set and excellent performance.	2.3	Pantech Crossover	June 2011	AT&T/td>	You’ll find a physical keyboard, but only entry-level features.	2.2	HTC Evo 3D	June 2011	Sprint	Upgrade to the HTC Evo; features a glasses-free 3D display and can capture 3D photos and video.	2.3	Motorola XPRT	June 2011	Sprint	Like the Droid Pro, it has a physical keyboard and enterprise-level security features.	2.2	Samsung Gravity Smart	June 2011	T-Mobile	An update to the Gravity T, it offers a physical keyboard and a slider design.	2.2	Samsung Dart T499	June 2011	T-Mobile	The definition of an entry-level smartphone, the Dart is free with service.	2.2	LG Genesis US760	July 2011	U.S. Cellular	Based on the LG EnV series, the Genesis flips open to expose a full keyboard.	2.2	HTC Status	July 2011	AT&T	The “Facebook phone” is hampered by a tiny landscape-oriented screen.	2.3	T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide	July 2011	T-Mobile	Sports an 8-megapixel camera with impressive multimedia performance.	2.3	Motorola Droid 3	July 2011	Verizon Wireless	Despite an improved keyboard, Gingerbread, a dual-core processor, and a better camera, it’s not worth the upgrade.	2.3	Huawei M835 Ideos	July 2011	Sprint	Runs stock Andorid and is affordable, but may be too small for some users.	2.2	Motorola Titanium	July 2011	Sprint	Runs on the iDEN network; supports Nextel’s Direct Connect, but lacks 3G.	2.1	Motorola Triumph	July 2011	Virgin Mobile	With high-end features and zippy performance, it’s Virgin Mobile’s best Android phones to date.	2.2	Motorola Photon 4G	July 2011	Sprint	Sprint’s answer to the Moto Atrix, the Photon 4G offers just about every feature you’d want plus support for a number of accessories.	2.3