Final yr’s Android replace was tame by any customary; exterior of some customization choices, tweaks to the Materials You aesthetic, and the same old safety updates, we did not get many new options in Android 14. That is why I used to be excited once I put in the Android 15 beta earlier within the yr; Google launched over a dozen new options, together with notification cooldown, battery charging restrict, and a lot extra. Â
There’s only one drawback: most of those options are lacking within the steady launch. Some options — like the flexibility to restrict battery charging to 80% — have been pushed to the QPR1 launched that is slated to reach in December, and others are possible coming in subsequent yr’s Android 16 launch.
That mentioned, there are quite a few smaller adjustments that find yourself making a distinction in day-to-day use, and should you’re on a Pixel, you may instantly discover the smoother animations. Whereas most up-to-date Pixels have 120Hz panels, the interface is nowhere as clean because the likes of MIUI or ColorOS, and that is fortunately altering; I seen a giant uptick in fluidity on my Pixel 9 Professional XL after switching to the Android 15 steady construct.
This is not simply the case on the Pixel 9 Professional XL; I discovered the identical to be true on my Pixel 9, and final yr’s Pixel 8 and 8 Professional as effectively. This modification alone makes Android 15 a lot better, and also you get a slate of safety updates and theft safety options that guarantee it’s almost not possible for thieves to entry your stolen system’s information.
Whereas there is not a lot in the best way of UI adjustments, the redesigned quantity panel on the Pixels is nice to make use of, Non-public Area is a incredible addition, and there are smaller tweaks all through the interface. I used the preview builds of Android 15 and examined all beta releases, and converted to the steady construct on my Pixel 9 Professional XL as quickly because it grew to become accessible. So here is all the things you have to learn about what Android 15 has to supply, and when (or if) all of those options will make their approach to your system.
Android 15 brings much-needed fluidity to Pixels
Whereas I like Pixel Launcher usually, the interface has its share of points; there’s noticeable jitter, the animations are janky, and it simply is not an important expertise. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is somewhat higher on this space, however the system nonetheless does not measure as much as different Android skins when it come to fluidity.
That is altering with Android 15. Google overhauled the animations, and they are much smoother; whether or not it is going again to the house display, utilizing the overview menu, switching between apps, or simply navigating the app drawer, there is a fluidity that was clearly lacking in Android 14. That is probably the most noticeable distinction in Android 15, and it makes Pixels that a lot better to make use of. The change is not simply restricted to the Pixel 9 collection, however goes again to the Pixel 8 and eight Professional, and the Pixel 7 collection as effectively.
Different skins like OxygenOS nonetheless have an edge on the subject of general fluidity, however Google made up plenty of floor on the Pixels, and it lastly appears like these units can take full benefit of 120Hz panels.
One other drawback that routinely plagues Pixels is scrolling; when studying a long-form article or regularly scrolling, there has at all times been a noticeable stutter, and fortunately, Android 15 addresses this difficulty. Scrolling is simply as clean as common navigation, and once more, it is a important change that makes an actual distinction in usability.
Non-public Area locks down your information
Most Android skins include the flexibility to lock apps and delicate information behind a password, and with Android 15, Google is introducing its tackle the function. Dubbed Non-public Area, it lets you lock apps in a definite house that is exterior the principle app drawer.
It principally creates a sandbox, so you have to to make use of a special Google account with the mode. Any apps inside Non-public Area do not present up within the app record, privateness dashboard, or permissions supervisor, and it is not attainable to maneuver them to a brand new system. You can even arrange a brand new display lock to entry Non-public Area, and the mode is accessible by navigating to the underside of the app drawer and selecting the Non-public part.
What’s attention-grabbing about Non-public Area is which you could run a second occasion of an app with out an excessive amount of of a trouble. MIUI and ColorOS have a nifty app clone function, however Non-public Area lets you do one thing comparable on Pixels; if something, it’s a higher implementation as you should use any app or messaging service you need on this mode.
You additionally get full entry to the digicam, and any photographs or movies taken when utilizing this mode can be saved within the Non-public Area gallery and will not present up within the common gallery. General, Google did an important job with Non-public Area, and if you wish to cover delicate information, that is an extremely helpful function.
Android 15 has a lot better widget previews
Android 15 does not introduce any main adjustments to the interface, and that is not a foul factor. The Materials You aesthetic clearly has rather a lot going for it, and three years after its debut, it continues to face out for its utilization of daring colours and distinctive styling. I get that not everyone seems to be a fan of the design, however it is among the causes I like utilizing Pixel units, and it is good to see Google not altering issues wholesale.
That mentioned, there are just a few smaller additions, beginning with widget previews. Once you go into the widget part, you get a reside preview of the widget, and that offers you a a lot better thought of the way it will seem like on your house display. It is a minor tweak as issues go, however it makes choosing the proper widget simply that little simpler.
As regards to issues that have not been addressed, themed icons are nonetheless annoying to make use of, and after three years, the function remains to be in beta. Google simply is not in a position to ship on this regard, and it ought to look to iOS 18 to see learn how to get this proper in a single go — my iPhone 16 Professional Max has higher icon styling than my Pixel 9 Professional XL.Â
Android 15 has a brand-new quantity panel
Google likes twiddling with the amount management on Pixels, and this time, I really just like the adjustments. The quantity panel (accessible by choosing the three dots beneath the amount slider) is noticeably greater and has chunky controls, and it appears cleaner. You additionally get to see what system is getting used to play audio, and like all the things else, the colours change primarily based on the accent colours you have chosen.
After all, there is a good likelihood that this quantity panel is proscribed to Pixels; different skins use their very own system, and it is unlikely they will use Google’s panel.
Android 15 delivers a lot better haptics
Android 15 unlocks the usage of haptics in new areas, and it is a nice transfer. The haptic motor is now triggered if you change the brightness utilizing the brightness slider, or adjusting the amount. You continue to get haptic suggestions if you use the again gesture, within the overview menu, and if you’re utilizing the keyboard (if in case you have it enabled).
Now you can choose the depth of haptic suggestions; I like this function in ColorOS, and it is good to see Google bringing it to a greater diversity of units. One other new addition is adaptive vibration, which dynamically adjusts the depth of the haptic motor primarily based on the setting; you get a stronger suggestions in case your cellphone is in your pocket or in case your environment are noisy, with gentler vibration when it is subsequent to you on a desk.
Android 15 safeguards your information like by no means earlier than
Google does job including safety and privateness options to each new Android launch, and that is true with Android 15 as effectively. This time, a key focus is theft prevention, with Google leveraging its on-device AI smarts to supply a set of options aimed toward guaranteeing your information is not accessible in case your system is stolen.
Distant Lock is the very best function on this regard; in case your lose your system, you’ll be able to simply lock its display with a cellphone quantity by going to android.com/lock — it is as simple as that. All you have to do is allow the function in your cellphone — it is situated within the Theft safety menu within the Machine unlock settings — and confirm your cellphone quantity related along with your Google account.
Clearly, the system must be on-line for this function to work. If it is offline, the system will lock the following time it goes on-line. There’s one other function dubbed Offline system lock that locks the display shortly after your system goes offline, and that is finished mechanically to safeguard your information.
Theft Detection Lock makes use of onboard sensors to find out in case your cellphone is stolen. If you happen to’re utilizing your cellphone and somebody snatches your cellphone and tries to run or drive away, the system mechanically locks. Google is rolling out this function broadly, stating that each one units operating Android 10 and above must be getting an replace to incorporate this function shortly.
There are many smaller adjustments designed to guard your information:
- Google is rolling out “enhanced manufacturing unit reset safety,” which makes it tougher to reset your system whether it is stolen. You will must confirm your Google account credentials earlier than a reset, and that ought to deter thieves from having the ability to reset a tool.
- Coming into a number of incorrect passwords will lock the system for a period, which is what most different Android skins already do.
- Any adjustments made to Discover My Machine settings will now want a PIN, password, or biometrics.
- Google will roll out an Identification Verify function later this yr that may require biometric authentication when accessing key Google account or system particulars, like altering the PIN, accessing Passkeys from an unknown location, or disabling theft prevention. The function can be opt-in.
Android 15 brings selective display recording
Android 15 brings adjustments to the built-in display recording service; now you can use partial display recording to document simply an app window as a substitute of the whole display. That is helpful should you’re documenting one thing inside an app and don’t desire different particulars — community connectivity, unread notifications, or the standing bar — to indicate up within the recording.
As at all times, you’ll be able to document audio together with the display, and there is the flexibility to decide on the supply: system audio, mic, or a mix of the 2.
App archiving in Android 15 is definitely nice
App Archiving is now accessible in Android 15, and it lets you delete an app whereas nonetheless having its information preserved. Mainly, the information related to that app is saved in your Google account, and as soon as you have to use it once more, you’ll be able to simply set up it. The app icon stays in your app drawer, however it’s greyed out and has a obtain icon. Choosing it’ll obtain the app onto your system once more, and all of the settings and information is unbroken.
It is a incredible function to make use of on Pixels; Google nonetheless has simply 128GB of storage on base fashions of its newest flagships, and should you do not pay an extra $100 to get further storage, there is a good likelihood you may refill the storage in your cellphone in a matter of months. To present you some context, in lower than two months of utilizing my Pixel 9 Professional XL, I used up 138GB of information; I am utilizing the 256GB mannequin, but when I had the 128GB model, I might’ve needed to archive nearly each put in sport.
Predictive again gesture would possibly simply be usable now
It feels just like the predictive again gesture has been round for some time now, and whereas Google initially showcased it two years in the past, it is lastly usable now. The again gesture lets you basically preview the web page you may be returning to if you begin utilizing the again gesture, and it’s a nifty navigational support.
The predictive again gesture is enabled by default on Pixels, however Google does not implement its use, so it its utilization is not constant — even Chrome does not have it but. And it stays to be seen if different manufacturers make the most of the function in any respect in their very own skins.
Foldables get much-needed love in Android 15
Foldables are mainstream sufficient as of late, however the usability varies considerably primarily based on producer. Google is addressing this in Android 15 by making just a few options customary on foldables, together with the flexibility to pin the taskbar on the backside of the display.
Different manufacturers do job with multitasking options, however it has been a little bit of an afterthought on Pixels. That is fortunately altering with App Pairs; the function lets you launch two apps in split-screen mode without delay. It is simple to arrange and use, and should you launch the identical two apps in split-screen mode, you’ll be able to principally arrange an icon that may launch that app pair mechanically — the window configuration can be preserved as effectively.
Android 15: Coming to a cellphone close to you
Android 15 does not have many thrilling options, and that is by design. Google modified the way it handles updates within the final two years; as a substitute of bundling all its options right into a single model replace on the finish of the yr, it regularly rolls out new options as they turn into accessible. By guaranteeing that system and safety patches aren’t linked to the model launch, Google successfully ensures {that a} wider swathe of units can get important updates.
That mentioned, you continue to get noteworthy additions. Non-public Area does an important job locking down delicate information, the UI tweaks and enhancements to haptics make utilizing Pixels that rather more pleasing, and Google launched much-needed theft safety measures.
What I like probably the most about Android 15 is the elevated fluidity; it simply makes such a giant distinction on Pixels, and the system-level optimization ought to enable different manufacturers to benefit from this. As for when your cellphone will get the Android 15 replace, now that the steady construct is on the market, different producers will begin rolling out their very own beta packages, and we should always get the steady launch on most flagships earlier than the top of the yr.
