The next version of Google’s mobile operating system, Android 15, is coming soon with a host of new features and improvements. Google is committed to increased productivity, improved privacy and security, and smooth performance. There are also upgrades for foldable and large screen devices. Android 15 is currently only available in beta for select devices, with the final release coming in a few months. But we’ve been trying it out, and these are our favorite new features so far.
Google officially retired dessert naming in Android 10, but internally it still uses codenames. Android 14 was Upside Down Cake, but this year’s release is Vanilla Ice Cream.
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How to download and install Android 15
Google released the first beta version of Android 15 in April, with further releases planned for May, June, and July, before a final public release likely in August or October. These releases allow developers to test the next version of Google’s mobile operating system, learn about new features, and prepare their apps and games to work well. Early adopters will also have the opportunity to see a little bit of Android 15.
Although beta releases are more stable than developer previews, they can still introduce some bugs and require you to jump through some hoops to install, so they are not recommended for everyone. If you want to try it out, you’ll need a Google Pixel smartphone (Pixel 6 or newer) or a supported partner device (including some phones from Honor, Nothing, OnePlus, and Xiaomi). You need to sign up for the Android Beta program. Most people who sign up for the program will be able to get beta updates OTA (over the air) without wiping their phone, but they won’t be able to exit the beta program without doing a factory reset. Make sure to back up your Android phone first.
Updates usually appear automatically, but you can always check to see if you have the latest version. setting > system > system update by tapping Check for updates. Want to exit the beta and return to Android 14? Go to Google’s Android Beta page, scroll down to find your device, and select (opt out. This will erase all locally stored data, so back up your device first. An update prompt will appear to revert to the older version.
Those who don’t have a Pixel or a supported partner device should look to their phone manufacturer’s website, forums, or social media to find out when Android 15 will be released.
Key new features in Android 15
These are our favorite features and improvements so far, but we won’t know what will make the final cut until Android 15 is released. Learn more on Google’s developer site. Read about all the new features coming to Android and the Android ecosystem, including Wear OS, Android Auto, Android TV, and more.
private space
Provided by Google
Android 15 includes a new Private Space that lets you keep sensitive apps separate from the rest of your phone. Whether you want to protect your health data or your banking apps, Private Space keeps it safe behind a second layer of authentication, using the same password or password you use to unlock your device. Protect with an alternate PIN. When a private space is locked, the app is hidden from recent views, notifications, settings, and other apps. Private spaces can also be completely wiped down.
More satellite connectivity
Provided by Google
Android 15 greatly expands satellite connectivity. Some of his RCS and SMS apps will now allow you to send text messages via satellite (previously limited to emergency use). Google has also standardized pop-ups and other user interface elements to make it more obvious that you’re connecting via satellite.
partial screen recording
Provided by Google
Instead of recording or sharing your entire screen, Android 15 lets you share individual apps without showing the rest of your screen or incoming notifications. Logins and one-time passwords (OTPs) are automatically hidden from remote viewers. It’s already available on Pixel, but now Google has brought it to Android.
Block malicious apps
Several updates in Android 15 make it more difficult for malicious apps to attack. You can no longer hide behind other apps by bringing them to the front or invisibly layering yourself on top. There are also changes designed to prevent misuse of intents, which are often exploited by malware, allowing you to start an activity in another app by writing the action you want to perform. . This is behind the scenes stuff to keep you safe.
App archive
Provided by Google
If you haven’t used an app or game in a while, you might be asked to delete it, but what if you might want to use it again in the future? App Archiving in Android 15 lets you offload most apps by archiving them, but retains user settings and game saves. The auto-archive feature was announced last year, but in Android 15 it’s now a system-wide option, allowing you to choose to auto-archive your apps when you’re low on storage.
Improved PDF handling
Provided by Google
Trying to do anything with PDF files on an Android smartphone can be a pain, so the news that Google has included some PDF enhancements in Android 15 is welcome. PDF loading is now smoother with support for password-protected files, annotations, form editing, and copy selection. Perhaps the best part is that you can search within PDF files.
Enhanced fraud and fraud prevention
Provided by Google
Android 15 has several updates aimed at thwarting scammers and fraudsters. Google employs AI in Play Protect and on your devices to scan and flag suspicious behavior. Messages containing one-time passwords (OTPs), typically used for two-factor authentication, will now be hidden from notification systems, making them difficult to intercept. Restriction settings are also extended to sideloaded apps that are not downloaded through the Google Play Store.
loudness control
When you switch from one app to another, the volume suddenly gets louder, which can be annoying. Thankfully, Android 15 introduces support for the CTA-2075 loudness standard. This means it compares volume between apps and takes into account the characteristics of your speakers, headphones, or earbuds and intelligently adjusts your audio to avoid sudden jumps or drops.
Better low light camera
Android 15 brings some significant improvements to the camera app. First, Low Light Boost gives you better previews in low-light conditions, so you can better frame night shots or scan QR codes when light is limited. There’s also a new camera app option that gives you more control over your flash, allowing you to adjust the intensity for both single flash and continuous flash light modes.
Taskbar options
For Android tablets and foldable phones, Google has changed the way the taskbar dock works. At first it was permanent, then it became temporary, and now it is optional. This is useful for docked tablets where you want the taskbar to always be visible, but it’s also nice to have the option to hide the taskbar. You can also pin your favorite split-screen app combinations. Android 15 allows apps to display edge-to-edge, allowing you to take better advantage of available screen real estate, even when there’s a taskbar or system bar at the bottom.
Improved battery life
Android updates always come with efficiency tweaks and improvements that should have a positive impact on battery life, but with Android 15, Google has tightened up its checks on foreground services to prevent them from running actively. We are now cracking down on apps that continue to do so. On devices with large amounts of RAM, support for larger page sizes should result in lower power consumption and faster app and camera startup times.
good vibration
With Android 15, you can turn keyboard vibrations on or off system-wide without digging into your keyboard settings.New toggle added setting > sound and vibration > vibration and tactile sensation, you can also adjust the intensity of the haptics using a slider (this was available on some Android smartphones, but is now available system-wide). The second beta also introduces richer vibrations, so you can tell what type of notification you’re getting without looking at the screen.
Added collapsible cover screen option
Some of the best folding smartphones automatically switch the actions you’re performing on the cover screen when you fold them, and Google is now integrating that option into Android 15. If you want to lock the cover screen when folded, that will also be an option. The more compact foldable phone category also has better support for apps displayed on the smaller cover screen.
More data from Health Connect
Health Connect started out as an app that collected all your health and fitness data from various devices and apps. Preinstalled in Android 14, Android 15 adds two new data types. A training plan that can include skin temperature (collected by wearables like the Oura ring or Pixel Watch 2) and completion goals such as calories burned, distance, and effort. It includes performance goals for duration, repetitions, and steps, but also for as many repetitions as possible (AMRAP), cadence, heart rate, power, perceived speed of exertion, and speed.
Enhanced anti-theft features
Provided by Google
Many of the new Android protections Google is rolling out to prevent theft, including automatic locking and remote locking options when someone steals your phone, will be coming to devices running Android 10 and later. However, the Factory Reset Protection update, which forces a reset on a stolen device and prevents anyone from setting it up again without knowing the device or Google Account credentials, is available only in Android 15. Applies.
