Six months after the first developer preview was released, Android 15 is finally rolling out to Google Pixel devices. It was sent over to AOSP last month, and we’ve seen a few other manufacturers already push out Android 15. So it was about time that the Pixels received the update.
Google released the first developer preview on February 16, 2024, and the final stable version was released on October 15, 2024. Six months almost to the day.
So, what’s new in Android 15? On the surface, it doesn’t look like much. But as we dive deeper, there’s quite a bit that has changed. We’ve rounded up the top 15 features in Android 15, which is worth checking out as well. Otherwise, here’s everything you need to know about Android 15.
What will Android 15 be called?
Publicly, Google has dropped dessert names from new versions of Android. However, it is still used internally, and Android 15 is using the letter “V”. So Android 15 is referred to internally as Android V or Vanilla Ice Cream. This follows Upside Down Cake for Android 14 and Tiramisu for Android 13. Here are the most recent versions of Android and their dessert names. I wonder what Android 16 will be with “W” next year?
- Android 10 – Quince Tart
- Android 11 – Red Velvet Cake
- Android 12 – Snow Cone
- Android 13 – Tiramisu
- Android 14 – Upside Down Cake
- Android 15 – Vanilla Ice Cream
When will Android 15 be released?
Typically, Google will put out a developer preview or beta every month until August. Then, in either August, September, or October, the final stable version will start to roll out. This has moved around a bit in recent years, being as early as mid-August for Android 13 in 2022 or mid-October for Android 12 in 2021 and Android 14 in 2023. Here are the stable release dates for previous Android versions:
For the first time, Google is releasing Android 15 to AOSP about a month ahead of it landing on Pixel devices. Android 15 was available in the Android Open Source Project on September 3, 2024, while the Pixel update is set to arrive sometime in October.
Update: Android 15 started rolling out to Google Pixel devices on October 15, 2024.
What’s the developer preview and beta schedule?
The first developer preview launched on February 15, 2024. We typically get a new developer preview or beta just about every month. The full schedule is below.
We’re expecting two developer previews in February and March. Then, the beta cycle begins in April, with four betas each month until July. After that is the final release, which Google is not adding a month for this time; it could be as early as August or as late as October, as we’ve seen in recent years.
- Developer Preview 1 – Released on February 16, 2024
- Developer Preview 2 – Released on March 21, 2024
- Public Beta 1 – Released on April 11, 2024
- Public Beta 1.1 – Released on April 22, 2024
- Public Beta 1.2 – Released on April 25, 2024
- Public Beta 2 – Released on May 15, 2024
- Public Beta 2.1 – Released on May 20, 2024
- Public Beta 2.2 – Released on June 3, 2024
- Public Beta 3 – Released on June 18, 2024
- Public Beta 3.1 – Released on July 1, 2024
- Public Beta 4 – Released on July 18, 2024
- Public Beta 4.1 – Released on July 29, 2024
- Public Beta 4.2 – Released on August 22, 2024
- Android 15 pushed to AOSP – on September 3, 2024
- Android 15 pushed to Pixel devices – on October 15, 2024
What devices will get Android 15?
Right now, we can only speak to the Google Pixel range of smartphones. Google says that the Pixel 6 and later will be the only devices on the schedule for getting Android 15. Here’s the complete Pixel list:
- Google Pixel 6
- Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Google Pixel 6a
- Google Pixel 7
- Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Google Pixel 7a
- Google Pixel Fold
- Google Pixel Tablet
- Google Pixel 8
- Google Pixel 8 Pro
- Google Pixel 9
- Google Pixel 9 Pro
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
- Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
What features is Android 15 bringing?
So far, Android 15 is very developer-focused, hence the “developer preview” state. The majority of the changes are under-the-hood changes that developers and OEMs will be able to use in their apps and phones. But here’s a short list of what we have so far.
Circle to Search that Tune
Circle to Search debuted earlier this year on the Galaxy S24 series as a quick way to search for things on your screen. Now, Google is expanding this once again. With Android 15, you can long-press the home button or navigation bar to activate Circle to Search. Then, tap on the music button to identify the song that is playing. With some songs, you can also get a link to their YouTube video.
Hear detailed audio descriptions of images
TalkBack, Android’s invaluable screen reader designed to empower those with blindness or low vision, is about to make the digital world even richer. Thanks to the integration of Google’s powerful Gemini models, TalkBack will now offer detailed audio descriptions for a wide array of images on supported devices.
Imagine browsing an online store and hearing not just that there’s a “blue shirt” but a vivid description of its style, fabric, and even pattern. Picture scrolling through your camera roll and reliving memories through detailed accounts of the scenes captured. Even text messages and social media posts will become more accessible as TalkBack translates visual content into descriptive narratives.
This breakthrough leverages the latest advancements in Google’s AI technology to provide more meaningful and context-rich information about images. The integration of Gemini models enhances TalkBack’s ability to recognize objects, scenes, and actions within images, enabling it to generate remarkably detailed audio descriptions. This functionality will bridge the gap between visual and auditory experiences, allowing users to engage with digital images in a way that was previously impossible.
Offline Google Maps for Wear OS
Wear OS isn’t being left out this year either, as it is getting a new Google Maps feature in Android 15. This will allow you to store offline maps on your phone and access it on your smartwatch. Since smartwatches generally don’t have that much storage. Now you’ll be able to navigate a new city with ease, even without an Internet connection.
Improved App Archiving
Now, app archiving is not new on Android, but it is improving, starting with Android 15 Beta 1. Google is making it easier for users to free up space on their Android devices with this feature. You can easily archive and unarchive apps as needed. An important thing to remember between archiving and uninstalling is that, with archiving, your user data remains on your phone. So, unarchiving the app is a breeze. Uninstalling the app means that you’d need to re-login, change all your settings again, etc.
This change is also going to make it easy for third-party app stores to support app archiving.
Default edge-to-edge display for Android 15-targeted apps
Also new in Android 15 Beta 1 are some new tools for developers. Google is making it easier to implement edge-to-edge display visibility for apps so developers can easily make the app take up the entire screen with better touch targets.
For the user, this means that apps should appear edge-to-edge and place the content behind the default and system bars that will be transparent or translucent.
Theft Detection Lock
There’s a new Theft Detection Lock feature on Android 15, which uses AI to help keep your data safe. Essentially, if your phone senses that someone has snatched and is trying to run, bike, or drive away, it will automatically lock your device. Remote Lock still works for quickly locking your device by using your phone number and a simple security check. This is actually a feature that is being made available for Android 10 and later devices.
With Android 15, Google is bringing additional protections here that will prevent thieves from guessing your passwords and accessing sensitive information. Google is adding authentication requirements for settings targeted by thieves, like removing your SIM or turning off Find My Device, and it will lock down your device if it senses multiple failed attempts for apps and settings.
Better Low-Light Camera
Google is making a few changes to the camera app on Android 15. First up is Low Light Boost. This makes better previews in low-light conditions, so you can frame your nighttime shots better and scan QR codes when the light is extremely limited. Google is also giving users new options to give you finer control over the flash so you can adjust the intensity for both single flashes and continuous flashlight mode.
Performance
Google is also making some changes to improve the performance and quality of apps across all of the Android devices on the market. The Android Dynamic Performance Framework is getting updated. Which now has a new power-efficiency mode for hint sessions to indicate that there associated threads should prefer power saving over performance.
GPU and CPU work durations can both be reported during hint sessions, which is going to allow the CPU and GPU to adjust the frequencies together to best meet workload demands. Thermal headroom thresholds are also added, which will interpret possible thermal throttling status based on headroom prediction.
Private Space
New, in Android 15 is a feature called “Private Space”. As the name indicates, this is going to allow you to hide your most sensitive apps and data from other people. This includes notifications from specific apps that are in your Private Space. It can also be automatically hidden when the phone is locked.
When will my phone get Android 15?
As mentioned already, Google started the rollout of Android 15 on October 15, 2024, for supported Pixel devices. That’s Pixel 6 and later. We should see announcements from other OEMs in the coming weeks about what devices will get updated to Android 15. Obviously, the Galaxy S24, Galaxy Z Fold 6, and Flip 6 will be updated as they are set to get seven years of updates.