Compare version of local SQL Server 2019 with Azure SQL DB

Question

I just setup a new instance of Microsoft SQL Azure and wanted to compare it's version to what I have installed locally on my PC.

Executing
select @@version

I get this from my local pc:

Microsoft SQL Server 2019 (RTM-GDR) (KB4583458) - 15.0.2080.9 (X64)
Nov 6 2020 16:50:01

and this from Azure:

Microsoft SQL Azure (RTM) - 12.0.2000.8

Sep 18 2021 19:01:34 

this is confusing. the date for the Azure instance is newer than my local instance, but my local instance has a higher version number.
I have 2019 installed locally and if I look up Azure's version number its in the SQL Server 2014 range.

Am I really getting 2014 on Azure?

Thank you.

Answer 1

this is confusing. the date for the Azure instance is newer than my local instance, but my local instance has a higher version number.

This is a known issue with the product version returned by @@VERSION in Azure SQL Database. From this doc page

We are aware of an issue where the product version reported by @@VERSION is incorrect for Azure SQL Database.

The version of the SQL Server database engine run by Azure SQL Database is always ahead of the on-premises version of SQL Server, and includes the latest security fixes. This means that the patch level is always on par with or ahead of the on-premises version of SQL Server, and that the latest features available in SQL Server are available in Azure SQL Database.

To programmatically determine the engine edition, use SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('EngineEdition'). This query will return '5' for Azure SQL Database and '8' for Azure SQL Managed Instance.