Getting hyped about a new Android update is like following a treasure map to discover all the cool new stuff. Especially if it's early in the release cycle and the only people who know something about it are the engineers working on it. So, let's talk about Android 15, codenamed Vanilla Ice Cream.
We have a pretty good understanding of the new features and the changes we're going to get with this mobile OS, and today we're going to talk about it, giving you a full rundown of everything you need to know about Android 15.
UPDATE: On September 4th, Google officially released the stable Android 15 version, arriving first on Pixel devices, and also made the source code available at its Open Source Project program. Here's part of the official statement:
"Today we're releasing Android 15 and making the source code available at the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). Android 15 will be available on supported Pixel devices in the coming weeks, as well as on select devices from Samsung, Honor, iQOO, Lenovo, Motorola, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, vivo, and Xiaomi in the coming months."
The release date for Android 15 was scheduled for August 13, 2024, however, Google released the OS a couple of weeks later on September 4. The latest mobile OS debut on the new Pixel 9 series devices, and Pixel owners of older models will also get it soon.
The first Android 15 developer preview, known as DP1, was released on February 16, 2024, shortly followed by the second Android 15 developer preview, or DP2, released on March 21, 2024. The first official Android 15 Beta is now out too, it launched on April 11.
Google released the final Android 15 Beta 4 (build AP31.240617.009) on July 18, and this will be the last one before the stable release we expect to debut on August 13, hand in hand with the new Pixel phones.
Android 15 eligible devices
This section will become a huge list, but at the moment, all we can do is guess. Of course, the first devices to get Android 15 will be the Pixels. Google will launch the stable Android 15 version with the Pixel 9 lineup and then gradually roll it out to other eligible devices. We expect older Pixel models that are eligible for update to get Android 15 as well, including the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro.
So, if you want to get it first, your best bet is to get the latest Pixel phone. Normally, common sense tells us that the latest flagship phones will be the ones to get the update next, but there might be delays or variations depending on the manufacturer and the specific user interface on top of the vanilla Android 15.
Of course, all flagship phones from other brands, such as the Sony Xperia 1 V, or the OnePlus 12, for example, will get Android 15 as well, but your best chance to get it first is a current Pixel device.
Android 15 new features
Thanks to the first two Android 15 developer previews, and also the official Android 15 Beta, which landed just a couple of days ago, we have a comprehensive list of all the new features that are coming to Android 15.
Android 15 might add NFC wireless charging for devices that don't have QI support
According to a code deep dive by well-known leaker and Android insider Mishaal Rahman, Android 15 will add a very interesting twist to the NFC capabilities of some smartphones out there. The new feature is called NFC Wireless Charging (WLC), and will use the NFC antennas to transfer power wirelessly to small gadgets. Using the NFC for power transfer will then make it possible to shrink these accessories even more, removing the need for a wireless charging coils. The tech isn't exactly new but lacked support from the Android side.
Android 15 will be able to identify instances when a device is linked to a satellite network, and will also extend support for SMS and MMS applications, enabling apps to use satellite connectivity for transmitting and receiving messages.
Here's a glimpse at how the new forced dark mode will work
Another APK dissection from Mishaal Rahman lead to an interesting finding. Android 15 might offer a new way to force Dark Mode on stubborn apps. This new feature is an upgrade of the existing "override-force-dark" toggle in Developer Options and it's called "make-all-dark." According to Rahman, this new and more accessible way to force Dark Mode system-wide across all apps will work better and more consistently.
In-app camera controls
Android 15 will introduce an additional extension to let users have more control over their phone's camera hardware. The first such feature will be the ability to control the strength of your phone's flash intensity, both in single and torch modes. This will allow photography enthusiasts to finetune the flash to get the best result in various low-light scenarios.
HDR headroom control
The brightness of SDR UI elements on the left screen appears to be more uniform than the brightness on the right screen, which simulates possible headroom issues when HDR and SDR content are mixed. By adjusting the HDR headroom, you can achieve a better balance between the SDR and HDR content
This one is quite cool. Android 15 will have the ability to automatically select the optimal HDR headroom based on the device's capabilities and the panel's bit-depth. However, in scenarios where there's abundant SDR content, like in a messaging app showing a single HDR thumbnail, this automatic selection may negatively impact the perceived brightness of the SDR content. To address this issue, Android 15 will introduce the ability to adjust the HDR headroom. This feature will allow users to find a balance between SDR and HDR content, ensuring a satisfactory viewing experience across different types of content.
Better notification page in landscape
The new notification page in landscape mode will offer more structured and useful information and controls
Another small change that's coming is a slight tweak to the notification page in landscape mode. Currently you need to swipe twice - once to see the actual notifications (which look ugly in the center of the shade), and another time to bring down additional controls. The new UI will arrange notifications and controls neatly next to each other, offering more information with just one swipe down.
Loudness control
Android 15 will support a new loudness standard (CTA-2075), aimed at addressing audio loudness inconsistencies and minimizing the need for users to constantly adjust volume levels when switching between different types of content.
This feature utilizes information about the output devices, such as headphones and speakers, along with the loudness metadata embedded in AAC audio content, to intelligently adjust the audio loudness and dynamic range compression levels. The end result should be a uniform loudness level across all types of audio content and source you're using on your phone.
Audio output control from Pixel Watch
This is a minor tweak that will let users change the audio output right from their Pixel Watch, without touching their phone. Normally, you can control the audio itself from the watch, pausing songs and tweaking the volume, but in order to change the output device, let's say from the phone to an external speaker or vice-versa, you need to do it on your phone. This will change in Android 15.
Notification Cooldown
Notification cooldown is a cool new feature in Android 15 that aims to reduce notification overload and interruptions. What it does is prevents apps from bombarding users with a flurry of notifications within a short period. Here's how it's done. When an app sends multiple notifications in rapid succession, Android 15 detects this and imposes a cooldown period. During this cooldown period, the app is temporarily restricted from sending additional notifications.
Low Light Boost
Android 15 will introduce a feature called Low Light Boost, which serves as an auto-exposure mode for your smartphone. This feature is different from Night Mode, as the latter captures a series of images to generate a single enhanced still image. While night mode excels at producing high-quality still images, it cannot sustain a continuous stream of frames. In contrast, Low Light Boost can. This new feature will help with things such as QR code scanning in low-light conditions and image preview, showing you a preview of the end result in real time. It will also help brighten dark videos.
Smoother NFC experiences
Android 15 is stepping up its game to make tap-to-pay smoother and more reliable, while still supporting all the cool NFC apps out there. Now, on certain devices, apps will be able to listen to NFC readers without jumping into action right away. This will ultimately speed up the transaction and make the moment when you actually pay using NFC much seem almost immediate.
Wallet Role
Android 15 will introduce something called Wallet role, which takes over from the old NFC contactless payment setup. This will allow users to select a Wallet Role app and make payments with that app much faster and reliable.
PDF improvements
In Android 15 Developer Preview 2, we got a sneak peek at some major upgrades to the way the software deals with PDF documents. What does that mean? Well, it means apps can do some pretty cool stuff, like handling password-protected files, adding with annotations, editing forms, searching through PDFs, and even selecting text to copy. Plus, there are optimizations for linearized PDFs, making them load faster locally and using fewer resources.
Volume Control for Speaker Groups
A recent update in the second Android 15 Beta saw the return of the Speaker Group control feature. Basically, when your Pixel phone is connected to a group of speaker devices (Bluetooth speakers, Nest Hubs, etc.) the volume control on the phone acts like a master volume for all of them. This was removed due to alleged patent infringement, but now it seems that Google has resolved any legal issues, as the option is back!
Partial screen sharing
Android 15 will let users share or record just a single app window instead of the whole screen. This handy feature, which was first introduced in Android 14 QPR2, comes with something called MediaProjection callbacks. What that does is ask users for consent when it detects that a partial screen sharing is happening.
Health Connect
Android 15 builds upon the Android 14 extensions 10, focusing on Health Connect by Android. This platform serves as a secure hub for managing and sharing health and fitness data collected by various apps. With this update, there's expanded support for additional data types related to fitness, nutrition, and other health-related information. Essentially, it's about enhancing the capabilities of Health Connect to handle a broader range of health and wellness data, ensuring users have a comprehensive and centralized platform for managing their health information securely.
Privacy Sandbox
The Privacy Sandbox on Android introduces some cool new tech aimed at balancing privacy and effective ad targeting. With Android 15, Google plans to bring Android Ad Services to extension level 10, which includes the latest Privacy Sandbox on Android. What this means is that you'll be able to get personalized ads without compromising privacy. It's a balancing act, so don't expect to be completely anonymous and still get relevant ads.
Screen recording detection
Android 15 will allow apps to detect if they're being recorded. Whenever an app switches between being visible or invisible within a screen recording, a callback is triggered. This feature ensures that if an app is doing something sensitive, like handling personal data, the user will be notified if the screen is being recorded. It's all about giving users more transparency and control over their data privacy.
Cover screen support
Android 15 will improve the way apps display on small cover screens of foldable devices such as the Galaxy Flip for example. While these screens are too tiny to run full-fledged Android apps, Android 15 will give developers the ability to customize their apps and bring additional functionality to those small cover screens.
Universal Toggle for Keyboard Vibration Control
The Universal Toggle for Keyboard Vibration Control in Android 15 will be a feature that provides users with a centralized setting to manage keyboard vibration across the entire system. This toggle will allow you to easily enable or disable keyboard haptic feedback for all apps and input methods on their device.
Previously, users had to navigate through various settings menus within individual apps or input method settings to control keyboard vibration. With the Universal Toggle you can adjust keyboard vibration settings system-wide.
Sensitive notifications
Sensitive notifications are notifications that contain potentially private or sensitive information. These could include messages, emails, or alerts related to sensitive topics such as financial transactions, health data, or personal communications. Android 15 will introduces enhanced controls for managing sensitive notifications, giving you more options to protect your privacy. With sensitive notifications, you can:
Choose whether sensitive content is displayed on the lock screen, in notifications, or when the device is unlocked.
Specify whether sensitive notifications can be expanded or interacted with directly from the lock screen or notification shade.
Mark notifications as sensitive, prompting the system to treat them with additional privacy considerations.
Persistent taskbar
The Persistent Taskbar for large-screen devices is a feature designed to enhance multitasking and navigation on devices with large displays, such as tablets or foldable phones. This new Android 15 feature will provide a dedicated area at the bottom of the screen where users can access frequently used apps, system controls, and navigation options. This taskbar remains visible and accessible across various activities and apps, allowing users to quickly switch between tasks or launch apps.
Bluetooth Popup Dialog Enhancements
The Bluetooth popup dialog is a user interface component that appears when users attempt to enable Bluetooth on their device. This UI element has been enhanced in Android 15, allowing users additional Bluetooth controls, such as shortcuts or links to additional Bluetooth settings or options, the ability to quickly cancel or approve certain actions over Bluetooth, and more.
App Archiving
App archiving is another cool feature that will debut with Android 15. It will allow users to archive unused or infrequently used apps to free up storage space on their device while retaining the ability to easily restore them when needed.
Archived apps can still receive updates from the Google Play Store, and their data remains intact. Users can choose to restore archived apps at any time, either individually or in bulk, without needing to re-download or reinstall them.
New "Add" button for Widgets
Android 15 Beta also brought up a tiny tweak in the way people add widgets to the home screen. Previously, you had to tap and drag the desired widget to the place you wanted it. Now, selecting a widget shows an "Add" button, and taping on it will automatically put the widget on the next empty space on the home screen. Doesn't sound like much, but it will make life easier for many people.
According to Android Authority, the Settings app will be redesigned in Android 15, to give a more organized and contextual look and feel. The different settings will be arranged in goups, aiming to make navigation more intuitive for the user.
One feature that was lacking in Android compared to iOS, for example, was predictive back or the ability to see where the "back" gesture will take you. Google added this option in Android 14 but gated it behind the Developer Options menu. Now, the company will graduate this feature and let eligible apps use predictive back to give you more information where this back gesture will take you.
Android 15 beta preview
All those new features listed above sound pretty cool, eh? You don't have to wait until October to get a taste. All you need to do is opt in the Android Beta and enroll. Typically, most Pixel phones are eligible for the program, but you can sign in you Google Account and check if your phone is eligible.
We're currently at Android 15 Beta 4 (build AP31.240617.009), which rolled out on July 18, so the final release is right around the corner. This last Beta has reached what Google calls "Platform Stability," so if you want to check out all the new features prior to the final release, now's the perfect time.
Check if your device is eligible in the Android Beta program
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless