Android 13 vs 14: Key Differences, Which Phones Get It, and Is Android 11 Still Supported?
Android updates confuse people more than they should — partly because phone manufacturers handle updates differently, and partly because ‘Android 14’ means something different on a Samsung Galaxy than it does on a Google Pixel. Here is a plain-English guide to what changed between Android 13 and 14, which version your phone needs to run specific features, and what ‘end of support’ actually means for your device.
Quick answer: Android 14 is the current stable release. Android 13 is still fully supported. Android 11 is no longer receiving security updates from Google — though your phone may still function perfectly, it is not receiving patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities.
Android 13 vs 14: What Actually Changed?
| Feature | Android 13 | Android 14 |
| Release date | August 2022 | October 2023 |
| Text size scaling | Up to 130% | Up to 200% — major accessibility improvement |
| Photo/media permissions | Granular permissions (photos vs videos) | Improved partial access — share specific photos only |
| Lock screen customisation | Limited | Extensive — widgets, clock style, shortcuts |
| Health Connect | Introduced | Expanded — more health data types |
| Satellite connectivity | Not supported | Emergency satellite SOS support (selected devices) |
| App archiving | Not available | Archive unused apps to free storage |
| Predictive back gesture | Preview | Fully implemented |
| Ultra HDR photos | Not supported | Supported — richer colours in compatible apps |
| Regional preferences | Language per app | Per-app date, temperature, and measurement formats |
Android 14: The Key Improvements Worth Knowing
Bigger Text Scaling — Up to 200%
Android 13 allowed text scaling up to 130% of the default size. Android 14 pushed this to 200% — a significant accessibility improvement for users with visual impairments. Crucially, Android 14 also implemented non-linear scaling, which means body text scales up more than headings and interface elements, preventing the layout from breaking at high magnification settings.
Better Photo Privacy Controls
Before Android 14, granting an app access to your photos meant granting access to all of them. Android 14 introduced partial photo access — when an app requests photo permissions, you can now choose specific photos or albums to share rather than granting access to your entire gallery. This is a meaningful privacy improvement for apps like social networks, document scanners, and messaging tools.
Lock Screen Customisation
Android 14 brought lock screen customisation similar to what iPhone users have had since iOS 16. You can change the clock style, font, and colour, add widgets (weather, music controls, calendar), and customise the shortcut buttons in the corners. Samsung and other manufacturers had their own lock screen customisation tools before, but Android 14 made this a platform-level feature available across all Android phones.
App Archiving
Android 14 introduced the ability to archive apps — temporarily removing the app’s data from your device to free up storage while preserving your account data and settings on Google’s servers. When you restore an archived app, it re-downloads and continues as if it was never removed. This is different from uninstalling, which deletes your local data permanently.
Emergency Satellite SOS
Android 14 added platform support for emergency satellite connectivity — the ability to send an SOS message to emergency services via satellite when there is no mobile or WiFi signal. This requires compatible hardware in the phone. As of 2026, a small number of Android devices support satellite SOS — primarily newer Pixel phones and select Samsung Galaxy models. The feature requires network operator support in your region and is not universally available in the UK yet.
Is Android 11 Still Supported?
Android 11 reached end of life for Google security updates. Google provides security patches for each Android version for approximately three years after release. Android 11 was released in September 2020 — meaning Google’s security update support for the base Android 11 platform ended around late 2023.
What this means in practice:
- Your phone running Android 11 will continue to work — the OS does not stop functioning
- You will not receive patches for newly discovered security vulnerabilities in the base Android platform
- Some apps may begin to drop support for Android 11 as developers focus on newer versions
- Google Play Services — which handles background functions like location, payments, and app security — continues to receive updates on Android 11, providing some continued protection
The practical risk depends on how you use your phone. For most everyday use — calls, messaging, social media, banking — a phone on Android 11 remains functional and reasonably secure thanks to Play Services updates. The elevated risk comes from sophisticated targeted attacks exploiting known platform vulnerabilities — which affects a very small proportion of everyday users.
If your phone is stuck on Android 11 with no upgrade path (your manufacturer has stopped supporting it), considering an upgrade in the next 12-18 months is a reasonable precaution.
Is Android 13 Still Supported?
Yes — Android 13 is still fully supported as of 2026. Google’s three-year security update cycle means Android 13 (released August 2022) will receive support until approximately late 2025. As of mid-2026, Android 13 devices are still receiving Google Play system updates, which extends security coverage beyond the base platform update window.
If your phone is on Android 13 and cannot update to Android 14 (because your manufacturer has not released the update, or your phone does not meet the hardware requirements), you are still in a reasonable security position for now — but the window is closing.
If you are wondering whether your phone supports Android Auto or wireless CarPlay, see our Android Auto vs Apple CarPlay guide for UK drivers — Android 10 is the minimum version required for Android Auto.
Android Version History: From Jelly Bean to Android 14
| Version | Name | Release Year | Support Status |
| Android 4.1-4.3 | Jelly Bean | 2012-2013 | End of life — unsupported |
| Android 4.4 | KitKat | 2013 | End of life — unsupported |
| Android 5.0-5.1 | Lollipop | 2014-2015 | End of life — unsupported |
| Android 6.0 | Marshmallow | 2015 | End of life — unsupported |
| Android 7.0-7.1 | Nougat | 2016-2017 | End of life — unsupported |
| Android 8.0-8.1 | Oreo | 2017-2018 | End of life — unsupported |
| Android 9 | Pie | 2018 | End of life — unsupported |
| Android 10 | (no dessert name) | 2019 | End of life — unsupported |
| Android 11 | (no dessert name) | 2020 | End of life — Google security updates ended |
| Android 12/12L | Snow Cone | 2021-2022 | Approaching end of life |
| Android 13 | Tiramisu | 2022 | Supported — approaching end of window |
| Android 14 | Upside Down Cake | 2023 | Fully supported — current version |
| Android 15 | Vanilla Ice Cream | 2024 | Current / latest — flagship devices |
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean: Why Are People Still Searching for It?
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was released in 2012 and is now over a decade old. Searches for it in 2026 typically come from people with very old devices, users trying to find old APK files or game versions, or students researching Android’s history.
If you have a device running Jelly Bean, it is receiving no security updates and many apps will no longer support it. Banking apps, Google apps, and social media applications have all dropped support for versions this old. If you are using an Android 4.x device for anything sensitive, upgrading the hardware is strongly recommended.
Jelly Bean was, however, a genuinely important release in Android’s history — it introduced Project Butter (the smooth 60fps animations that made Android feel fluid for the first time), Google Now (the precursor to Google Assistant), and expandable notifications. For its time, it was a dramatic improvement over previous Android versions.
Who Developed Android? A Brief History
Android was originally developed by Android Inc., a small company founded by Andy Rubin, Rich Miner, Nick Sears, and Chris White in Palo Alto, California in 2003. Google acquired Android Inc. in 2005 for approximately $50 million — one of the most valuable acquisitions in tech history in terms of eventual return.
Google released the first public version of Android (version 1.0) in September 2008, alongside the HTC Dream (known as the T-Mobile G1 in the US and UK). The Android Open Source Project (AOSP) made the core Android platform open source, allowing phone manufacturers to build their own devices without paying licensing fees — a strategic decision that enabled the rapid global spread of Android.
Today, Android runs on approximately 72% of smartphones worldwide, making it by far the most widely used mobile operating system. The Android team is now part of Google’s Platforms and Ecosystems division.
The full Android version history and release notes are available on Google’s Android developers site — useful if you need to check the specific features or API levels introduced in each version.
Android 14 End of Life: When Will It Stop Being Supported?
Android 14 was released in October 2023. Based on Google’s approximately three-year security update cycle for platform releases, Android 14 can be expected to reach end of life for base platform security updates around late 2026. However, Google Play system updates — which extend security coverage — continue for longer, meaning Android 14 devices will retain meaningful security support into 2027.
The more relevant question for most users is when their specific phone manufacturer stops supporting their device model — Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, and others have varying commitments to how many years of updates they provide. Samsung has committed to seven years of OS updates for flagship Galaxy devices from 2023 onwards — one of the strongest commitments in the Android ecosystem.
For the latest information on which Android versions are still receiving Google Play system updates, check Google’s security bulletins page — updated monthly with the latest Android security patch information.
Should You Update to Android 14?
If your phone offers an Android 14 update and you have not installed it yet, yes — update. Android 14 brings meaningful improvements:
- Better privacy controls for photos and media
- Improved accessibility with larger text scaling options
- Lock screen customisation
- App archiving to free storage
- Security patches for known vulnerabilities
The update is free, takes approximately 20-40 minutes including download and installation, and does not delete your data. Back up your phone before updating (Settings → Google → Back up now) as a precaution, then proceed with the update from Settings → System → System Update.
Bottom Line
| ✅ Android 14 | Current stable version — fully supported, update if available |
| ✅ Android 13 | Supported — approaching end of security update window |
| ⚠️ Android 11 | End of Google security updates — still functional, consider upgrading device |
| ❌ Android 10 and below | Unsupported — no security patches |
| ✅ Key Android 14 upgrades | 200% text scaling, photo privacy, lock screen widgets, app archiving |
| ✅ Android history | Developed by Android Inc., acquired by Google in 2005, first public release 2008 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Android 13 and Android 14?
Android 14 adds text scaling up to 200% (vs 130% in Android 13), improved photo privacy controls that let you share specific photos rather than your entire gallery, lock screen customisation with widgets and clock styles, app archiving to free storage, and emergency satellite SOS support on compatible devices. Android 13 is still supported but will reach end of life for security updates in late 2025.
Is Android 11 still supported?
No — Android 11 has reached end of life for Google’s security updates. Your phone will continue to work, and Google Play Services still receives updates which provides some continued protection. However, the base Android 11 platform is no longer receiving patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities. If your phone is stuck on Android 11 with no upgrade path, consider upgrading the device within the next 12-18 months.
Is Android 13 still supported?
Yes — Android 13 is still fully supported as of mid-2026. Based on Google’s support cycle, Android 13 will approach end of life for base platform updates in late 2025, with Google Play system updates continuing to provide extended coverage.
Who developed Android?
Android was developed by Android Inc., a company founded by Andy Rubin and colleagues in 2003. Google acquired Android Inc. in 2005 and released the first public Android version (1.0) in September 2008. Android is now maintained by Google as part of its Platforms and Ecosystems division.
What was Android 4.1 Jelly Bean?
Android 4.1 Jelly Bean was released in 2012. It introduced Project Butter (smooth 60fps animations), Google Now, and expandable notifications — significant improvements for Android at the time. It is now entirely unsupported and too old to run most modern apps. Devices running Jelly Bean should be considered end of life for any sensitive use.
When will Android 14 reach end of life?
Based on Google’s approximately three-year security update cycle, Android 14 (released October 2023) can be expected to reach end of life for base platform updates around late 2026. Google Play system updates extend meaningful security coverage beyond that date. Your phone manufacturer’s device-level support commitment is typically the more relevant factor.