If you just want to know who owns Android in spirit, there’s no mystery: it’s Google. The company bought Android, Inc. in 2005 and helped foster the operating system before the first Android phone, the T-Mobile G1, arrived in 2008.

Is Android owned by Samsung?

The Android operating system is developed and owned by Google. … These include HTC, Samsung, Sony, Motorola and LG, many of whom have enjoyed tremendous critical and commercial success with mobile phones running the Android operating system.

Is Android owned by Apple?

The iPhone is only made by Apple, while Android isn’t tied to a single manufacturer. … Think of Android as being like Windows: the software is made by a single company, but it’s sold on hardware from a lot of companies. The iPhone is like the macOS: it’s made by Apple and only runs on Apple devices.