New features, how to install, and more [Updated]

Only some months after the official launch of Android 14, Google has already began testing the following model, Android 15. The corporate launched the primary Android 15 Developer Preview in February 2024, and now the corporate has released the second model for supported Pixel units. The brand new Developer Preview has given us a sneak peek at what’s to come back earlier than the official announcement, which is anticipated to be at Google I/O 2024.

Right here, we check out among the new options of Android 15, although it is possible that Google is hiding just a few options beneath the wraps for now — the corporate will in all probability showcase all the brand new main options in a few months. Moreover, we’ll present directions on putting in the Developer Preview and record the supported units. So, with out additional ado, let’s start.

What’s Android 15 referred to as?

Google stopped utilizing inside codenames to advertise Android variations some time in the past, however they nonetheless use them internally. As an illustration, Android 14 was dubbed “Upside Down Cake” for the letter U, and now, for the letter V, we’ve got Android 15, nicknamed “Vanilla Ice Cream.”

Nevertheless, the official emblem for Android 15 would not resemble ice cream in any respect. As an alternative, it incorporates a triangular form outlined in inexperienced with the Android mascot sporting a “15” on its again. It seems to be gazing towards what appears to be a gate or the tip of a bridge with stars on either side.

Android 15: New Options

Whereas Android 14 introduced significant changes compared to Android 13, Android 15 seems to be extra of a modest replace, at the least at this stage. Google says Android 15 focuses on bettering 4 areas throughout the OS: bettering media experiences, minimizing battery impression, maximizing easy app efficiency, and defending person safety. This is all the pieces new we’ve got present in Android 15 up to now:

Bettering digicam feed in third-party apps

Pocketnow / Jaime Rivera

Samsung Galaxy S24 is undeniably probably the greatest telephones proper now, however one characteristic that makes it stand out is that apps like Instagram and Snapchat can make the most of superior digicam options — ones obtainable in the principle digicam app, similar to Nitography and Tremendous HDR — inside social media apps. Nevertheless, on different Android smartphones, issues are very completely different resulting from restricted digicam controls obtainable to the social media apps.

With Android 15, Google is working to make digicam controls higher for third-party apps by providing extra accessible APIs. Two new options have been added to the digicam API: enhancements for low-light situations to enhance the brightness of digicam previews and the flexibility to manage flash depth. Additional updates might introduce further enhancements

Partial display sharing

Android 15 will enable customers to report or share solely a particular app window or a portion of a display reasonably than sharing the entire display. This characteristic debuted first on Google Pixel units with Android 14, however will now be obtainable on different Android units as properly with Android 15.

Excessive-High quality Webcam mode

With Android 14 QPR 1, Google launched a characteristic for Pixel telephones to make use of them as webcams, however the video high quality was common. Now, in Android 15, Google is including a brand new “Excessive-High quality Webcam mode” toggle to the display that considerably improves video high quality. The characteristic does eat extra energy and result in heating points, however it offers you the selection to toggle between higher or normal high quality.

Notification cooldown

Do you ever discover your cellphone exploding with notifications throughout peak chatting instances? Nicely, Google’s coming to avoid wasting you as Android 15 introduces a useful new characteristic referred to as “notification cooldown.” This characteristic lowers the notification quantity if you obtain a number of notifications from the identical app in fast succession.

The brightness slider now offers vibration suggestions

A minor however a noteworthy characteristic is that now, if you alter the brightness slider, you will really feel a slight haptic suggestions. It is a delicate contact, however it exhibits Google’s dedication to refining each {hardware} and software program for a extra polished Android expertise.

Common toggle to manage keyboard vibrations

Android 15 introduces a brand new “keyboard vibration” setting whereby the person can disable vibrations for all of the keyboards put in in your cellphone. When this setting is disabled, no keyboards will vibrate when tapped. Nevertheless, if enabled, customers can nonetheless handle vibration settings inside every keyboard app individually.

Foldables get new continuity options

Foldable units have gotten more and more well-liked within the Android market, and Google has been fine-tuning the working system for large-screen foldables since Android 12L. Now, Android 15 brings in a useful new continuity characteristic. Now you possibly can management what is going to occur to the entrance display if you shut the foldable. You’ll be able to select to have the entrance show activate everytime you fold your machine, have it turned on for particular apps like video games and movies, or just lock it each time you fold the display.

It’s value noting that Google can also be testing a OnePlus Open-like characteristic whereby customers will be capable of proceed utilizing apps on the duvet display with a “swipe as much as proceed” gesture (through Mishaal Rahman). Nevertheless, this characteristic continues to be not obtainable in Android 15 Developer Preview 1.

App Archiving

In Android 15 Developer Preview 2, Google has additionally added help for app archiving. As an alternative of uninstalling the app altogether, app archiving retains the important knowledge, similar to knowledge, login credentials, and extra. This lets you begin utilizing the app from the place you left off if you restore it. You’ll be able to entry this characteristic within the App Data part of the app.

Satellite tv for pc Connectivity Help

Android 15 Developer Preview 2 additionally provides help for satellite tv for pc connectivity natively for the primary time. It consists of new person interface parts to point satellite tv for pc connection and makes the apps conscious in regards to the satellite tv for pc connection, lowering knowledge utilization. Moreover, SMS/MMS and RCS messaging will now work over satellite tv for pc connections for sending and receiving messages.

Android Dynamic Efficiency Framework enhancements

Android 15 additionally improves the Android Efficiency Sturdiness Energy Framework (ADPF), including a brand new power-efficiency mode. This mode will enable the OS to cut back energy consumption by long-running background apps. Furthermore, the system can now report each GPU and CPU work durations, permitting Android to optimize CPU and GPU frequencies to higher deal with workload necessities.

Different Options

Android 15 additionally features a few different behind-the-scenes modifications. For instance, the brand new Well being Join API provides help for extra fitness-related metrics similar to common step cadence, trans fat, and extra. Android 15 additionally helps the fs-verity characteristic within the Linux kernel, which means information can now be protected by customized cryptographic signatures, stopping any sort of file corruption. Moreover, Android 15 additionally provides help for the most recent model of Privateness Sandbox.

Options That Aren’t Official But

Android 15 Might Convey Revamped Standing Bar

For years, the standing bar of Android — the highest bar that exhibits issues like time, mobile connectivity, Wi-Fi, and extra — has remained the identical. With Android 15, Google may deliver again pre-Android Lollipop like segmented design (through Android Authority) and likewise enable customers to show the battery share contained in the battery icon.

Android 15: Record of Supported Gadgets

For now, Android 15 is barely obtainable for Google Pixel units with Tensor chipsets. Whereas Google may broaden the Developer Preview program to units from different manufacturers at a later stage, there is no such thing as a affirmation but. Proper now, you possibly can set up the primary Android Developer Preview solely on the next units:

Android 15: Set up

Not like the Android Beta program, which permits customers to enroll and obtain beta software program on their Pixel units simply by signing up on the Android Beta website, putting in Developer Preview is a bit difficult. These previews are primarily for app builders and are fairly unstable for every day use. Nevertheless, when you’re eager on attempting Android 15, this is a simplified information:

First, allow USB debugging and OEM unlocking in your machine. Then, set up the Android Flash Instrument on Google Chrome in your desktop. As soon as arrange, go to this website and comply with these steps:

1. Join your Pixel machine together with your desktop and permit ADB entry when the pop-up seems.
2. Now click on “Add new machine,” choose your machine, and click on “Join.”
3. Subsequent, in your cellphone, allow “All the time enable from this laptop” and faucet “Permit.”
4. Your Pixel ought to present up on the display. Now beneath well-liked builds, choose “Developer Preview.”
5. Click on “Set up construct” after which “Verify.”
6. Android 15 will probably be put in in your Pixel.

For a extra in-depth information, take a look at the explainer from our sister-website Android Police masking the steps to Android 15 on Pixel units in nice element.

When will Android 15 be launched?

At present, Google has solely launched the primary Developer Preview of Android 15. The corporate will launch one other Developer Preview subsequent month. And, as per the timeline shared by the corporate, the Android 15 beta is anticipated to drop in mid-March, with the ultimate launch possible scheduled for later this 12 months, presumably coinciding with the Pixel 9 occasion within the fall.

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