Google didn’t just showcase its AI prowess at last week’s I/O 2024. In case you missed it, the Android 15 public beta arrived on May 14, promising a slew of exciting updates and improvements for Google Pixel users and beyond. While the initial spotlight might have been on Google’s AI ambitions during I/O 2024, Android enthusiasts have plenty to cheer about with this latest release.
Unlike the early developer previews that came out a few weeks ago, this release isn’t confined to Pixel devices anymore. It’s extending its reach to a wide range of brands, including Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi. So, what exactly is in store for users with this release?
NOTE: This update is the first public beta for non-Google Pixel devices and the second public beta for Google Pixels.
This article dives deep into the myriad features, enhancements, and under-the-hood changes that Android 15 brings to the table. From privacy and security upgrades to productivity boosters and performance optimizations, this comprehensive overview will leave you well-informed and eager to experience the future of Android.
But before we get started, here’s the full list of devices currently eligible to try Android 15 beta.
- Google Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel 8a
- iQOO 12
- Vivo X100
- Nothing Phone 2a
- OnePlus 12 and OnePlus Open
- OPPO Find N3
- HONOR Magic 6 Pro and HONOR Magic V2
- Lenovo Tab Extreme
- realme 12 Pro+ 5G
- Sharp AQUOS Sense 8
- Tecno Camon 30 Pro 5G
- Xiaomi 14, Xiaomi 13T Pro, and Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro 12.4
As usual, privacy and security is a top priority
It’s not like it’s the first time. Every new Android release comes with an improved focus on privacy and security, and so is Android 15. Google has placed a strong emphasis on privacy and security in Android 15, with several noteworthy features aimed at protecting user data and enhancing user control.
- Private space: This new feature creates a separate, secure environment for sensitive apps that you want to keep hidden from prying eyes. Whether it’s your banking app, health tracker, or any other app containing personal information, Private space ensures that it remains inaccessible unless unlocked with your fingerprint or a separate passcode. This effectively creates a “phone within a phone,” allowing you to compartmentalize sensitive data and maintain peace of mind.
- Screen sharing privacy: When you share your screen with others, Android 15 now automatically redacts sensitive information such as notifications, OTPs (one-time passwords), and login pages. This prevents prying eyes from seeing confidential data while you’re collaborating or sharing content. This feature first appeared on Google Pixel with Android 14 QPR2.
- Expanded Restricted settings: To enhance security when installing apps from sources outside of Google Play, Android 15 beta 2 expands the “Restricted Settings” feature that appeared in early Android 15 builds as Enhanced Confirmation Mode. This requires explicit user approval for certain permissions when installing apps from such sources, adding an extra layer of protection against potentially harmful apps.
- Cellular cipher transparency: This feature alerts users if their cellular network connection is unencrypted, which could potentially expose their SMS and voice traffic to interception. It requires OEM integration and compatible hardware but provides an important safeguard for user privacy.
- Identifier disclosure transparency: Android 15 will notify users if a potential false cellular base station (stingray) is recording their location using a device identifier. This is another critical privacy feature that requires OEM integration and compatible hardware. In short, having Android 15 on your device doesn’t guarantee you access to this feature.
Productivity and multitasking enhancements
Android 15 isn’t just about protecting your data. It also aims to enhance your productivity and streamline your multitasking experience. For users who rely on their devices for work, communication, and entertainment, Android 15 offers several productivity and multitasking enhancements.
- App pairs: This feature allows you to save pairs of apps that you frequently use together in split-screen mode. With a single tap, you can launch both apps simultaneously in the desired configuration, saving you valuable time and streamlining your workflow.
- Predictive back: This feature, which predicts where you want to go when you press the back button, is now enabled by default. This means you can navigate through apps and tasks more quickly and intuitively.
- Customizable notification vibrations: You can now set unique vibration patterns for different types of notifications. This allows you to easily distinguish between important messages and less urgent alerts without having to look at your phone.
- Health Connect: Health Connect, Google’s platform for aggregating health and fitness data, receives two new data types: skin temperature and training plans. This opens up new possibilities for health tracking and fitness apps.
Performance and under-the-hood improvements
Android 15 isn’t just about flashy new features; it also brings a number of under-the-hood improvements that enhance performance and overall user experience.
- Smoother Picture-in-Picture animation: The transition to and from picture-in-picture (PiP) mode will now be smoother and more seamless, providing a more polished user experience.
- Richer widget previews: Apps targeting Android 15 can now provide more informative previews in the widget picker, allowing you to see exactly what a widget will look like before adding it to your home screen.
- Minimum target SDK version: Android 15 requires apps to target a minimum SDK version of 24, ensuring compatibility with the latest security and privacy features.
- 16KB page sizes: The update adds support for 16KB page sizes, potentially improving performance on devices with larger page sizes, especially in memory-intensive workloads.
- ANGLE Integration: Android 15 incorporates ANGLE as an optional layer for running OpenGL ES on top of Vulkan. This move standardizes the Android OpenGL implementation and could lead to performance improvements and better compatibility for graphics-intensive apps.
Fraud and scam protection
Android 15 continues Google’s commitment to protecting users from fraud and scams.
- OTP redaction: One-time passwords (OTPs) are now redacted in notifications, making it harder for malicious actors to intercept them. However, this doesn’t apply to WearOS companion apps.
- Live threat detection: Google Play Protect now uses on-device AI to analyze app behavior and identify potentially malicious apps in real-time. This provides an additional layer of protection against harmful apps.
Additional changes and improvements
In addition to the major features highlighted above, Android 15 includes a variety of other changes and improvements:
- Grammatical gender customization (French): If your system language is set to French, you can now customize how the Android system addresses you based on your preferred grammatical gender.
- Partial media access: Apps that request partial access to media permissions can now highlight only the most recently selected photos and videos, enhancing user privacy.
- Intent security enhancements: Android 15 introduces stricter rules for intents, making them more secure and less prone to misuse by malicious apps.
- Foreground service timeout: Certain types of foreground services now have a time limit to prevent them from running indefinitely in the background.
Android 15 is a significant update that brings a host of new features, enhancements, and security improvements to the Android ecosystem. From enhanced privacy controls and productivity boosters to performance optimizations and fraud protection measures, this update shows Google’s continued commitment to providing users with a safer, more secure, and more enjoyable mobile experience. If you’re eligible, don’t hesitate to join the Android Beta Program and experience the future of Android for yourself.
Notably, this list of Android 15 features and improvements isn’t exhaustive. I’m pretty sure that as the beta program progresses, we can expect even more new additions, refinements, and optimizations as Google gathers feedback from users and developers. The stable version will start rolling out somewhere towards the end of Q3 or in early Q4 2024, as per the timeline below.
