In what’s been a reasonably attention-grabbing collection of occasions, Android 15 really arrived after Google debuted its flagship lineup of smartphones. Google additionally stunned us by releasing each the Android 15 replace and the October Pixel Characteristic Drop on the similar time.
With that, we are able to get pleasure from much more options than what we initially anticipated. Though this is not a roundup of all the pieces new in Android 15, we have already completed that, these are the 9 options that I have been having fun with since receiving the replace.
App Archiving
You realize you’ve gotten an issue if you see an attention-grabbing app you need to check out, solely to comprehend that you’ve got already downloaded it. I take care of this extra typically than I might wish to admit. One other a part of the issue is that I are inclined to run out of house pretty rapidly, however I do not need to delete any apps from my telephone.
Android 15’s new App Archiving function is one thing that I by no means actually thought I’d have a use for, nevertheless it’s turn into reasonably indispensable. The most effective half is that this function is not restricted to simply apps from the Play Retailer. As a substitute, you may archive virtually any app in your telephone, no matter whether or not it was downloaded from the Play Retailer or from a third-party repository like F-Droid.
One-tap Passkey
I have not had the best expertise with Passkeys, as I nonetheless favor counting on two-factor authentication with codes being generated by my password supervisor. A part of the issue has been the less-than-seamless expertise at any time when logging right into a Passkey-enabled account.
For probably the most half, Android 15 has solved a little bit of this for me, as signing in with a Passkey now solely requires a single faucet. Certain, it is just one much less step than earlier than, however if you’re making an attempt to rapidly signal into one thing, the wasted time provides up.
Manually allow Astrophotography
Not too long ago, I used to be in a position to see the Northern Lights for the primary time due to utilizing Astrophotography mode on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Nevertheless, one of many frustrations with utilizing this at any time, and never simply making an attempt to seize a selected occasion, is that the circumstances wanted to be good to ensure that Astrophotography mode to be activated.
Beforehand, the one choices had been to both flip it off or set it to “Auto,” which was positive when your Pixel determined to allow you to use it. Fortunately, that is not an issue with Android 15, as now you can manually allow it.
Dwelling Controls on the Lock Display screen
I’ve written quite a lot of phrases about how I imagine the Pixel Pill was launched as a public beta take a look at for a redesigned Nest Hub. Android 15 provides additional credence to that concept, due to the brand new Dwelling Controls display screen saver. When activated, all of my Google Dwelling toggles and controls are simply there.
Hopefully it isn’t a bug, however that is additionally an choice on my Pixel 9 Professional Fold, which got here as a pleasant shock. One other shock is that I can swap out Google Dwelling for my Dwelling Assistant dashboard, which provides me much more management over my good house. To not point out that you simply’re in a position to customise Dwelling Assistant to your liking, and are not restricted to simply controlling your “favorites.”
Pin the Taskbar
As somebody who loves tablets and foldable telephones, I used to be reasonably stunned when the Pixel Fold did not embody the power to pin the Taskbar. That is one thing that Samsung launched again with the Galaxy Z Fold 4,and can be an choice with the OnePlus Open. Regardless of that, it isn’t presently an choice on the OnePlus Pad 2 for causes that I can not clarify.
Android 15 ought to clear up that downside as soon as it makes its method to extra tablets and foldables. On both the Pixel Pill or Google’s foldable telephones, slowly swipe as much as make the taskbar seem, long-press it, then faucet the toggle to “At all times present Taskbar.”
Go from the Massive Display screen to the Small Display screen
Though I have been utilizing foldable telephones because the Galaxy Z Fold 2, one function that I always neglect about is with the ability to proceed utilizing an app from the inside display screen on the quilt display screen. It is a kind of issues that may turn out to be useful if you need however is not a “defining” function of the consumer expertise.
Nonetheless, it is also one thing that wasn’t accessible with Android 14 on the Pixel Fold, regardless of being an choice on Samsung’s foldables and the OnePlus Open. On Android 15, it may be enabled below the “Show & contact” settings, and from there, you may select to all the time have apps seem, carry out a swipe-up gesture, or flip this off totally.
Retaining apps collectively
I can not imagine it took Google this lengthy to carry App Pairs to its Pixel units, however I am certain glad it is right here. Utilizing two apps side-by-side is already extremely useful, because it lets me use one thing like Chrome on one half and Preserve or Obsidian on the opposite.
Nevertheless, it was reasonably annoying not with the ability to save that mixture and use it later. As soon as Android 15 is put in in your foldable or Android pill, open two apps side-by-side, then swipe as much as reveal the app switcher. From there, faucet the Save app pair button, and a brand new icon will seem in your Dwelling Display screen.
Extra Gemini enhancements
As Google continues to enhance Gemini, one factor that I have been hoping for is deeper integration between apps. The newest replace does simply that, because it’s now doable to activate Gemini and ask it questions on gadgets throughout the Pixel Screenshots app.
Though it is most likely not one thing that I am going to use frequently, I am simply blissful to see extra performance being added to Gemini. Even when it is one thing that most likely ought to have been there when the Pixel 9 collection launched.
Rapidly swap between Bluetooth units
As somebody who owns virtually as many Bluetooth headphones as smartphones, switching between them has been fairly a ache. Beforehand, I might have to leap into the Settings app, head into the Bluetooth menu, after which choose the headphones that I need to swap to.
Android 15 makes life simpler, on this regard, courtesy of the up to date Fast Settings tile. Now, I can simply faucet the toggle and decide from the checklist of obtainable headphones. That is nice for once I need to go from utilizing my over-ear headphones at my desk to my Pixel Buds Professional 2.
There’s loads to like in Android 15
These are only a handful of the brand new options that at the moment are accessible with the secure launch of Android 15. There are such a lot of extra which may enchantment to others, even when they do not actually resonate with how I exploit my telephone every day.
In the event you simply acquired the replace, I extremely advocate diving into the Settings app. Simply check out all the completely different screens, panels, and toggles, so as to higher really feel for what your telephone is definitely able to.
