The Android update system is a mess. Here’s how to understand it

If you have ever read about a new Android feature and wondered why your phone doesn’t have it, or why some people are talking about it months before Google officially announces anything, you are probably not alone. Android’s release cycle sounds simple on paper, but it’s anything but. Scratch the surface, and you’ll find a maze of previews, betas, and other mysterious builds that often just go over your head.

Android releases don’t move in a straight line, from…