Final 12 months’s Android replace was tame by any commonplace; 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 after I put in the Android 15 beta earlier within the 12 months; Google launched over a dozen new options, together with notification cooldown, battery charging restrict, and a lot extra. Â
There’s only one downside: most of those options are lacking within the secure 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 12 months’s Android 16 launch.
That stated, there are quite a few smaller adjustments that find yourself making a distinction in day-to-day use, and in case 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 secure 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 12 months’s Pixel 8 and eight Professional as effectively. This variation alone makes Android 15 significantly better, and also you get a slate of safety updates and theft safety options that guarantee it’s practically unattainable for thieves to entry your stolen gadget’s knowledge.
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 House 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 secure construct on my Pixel 9 Professional XL as quickly because it turned out there. So this is every little thing it is advisable to find out about what Android 15 has to supply, and when (or if) all of those options will make their solution to your gadget.
Android 15 brings much-needed fluidity to Pixels
Whereas I like Pixel Launcher on the whole, the interface has its share of points; there may be noticeable jitter, the animations are janky, and it simply is not an awesome expertise. The Pixel 9 Professional XL is a bit higher on this space, however the gadget nonetheless would 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 significantly 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 in terms of total fluidity, however Google made up loads of floor on the Pixels, and it lastly appears like these gadgets can take full benefit of 120Hz panels.
One other downside 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 subject. Scrolling is simply as clean as basic navigation, and once more, this can be a very important change that makes an actual distinction in usability.
Non-public House locks down your knowledge
Most Android skins include the flexibility to lock apps and delicate knowledge behind a password, and with Android 15, Google is introducing its tackle the function. Dubbed Non-public House, it permits you to lock apps in a definite area that is exterior the primary app drawer.
It principally creates a sandbox, so you’ll need to make use of a unique Google account with the mode. Any apps inside Non-public House do not present up within the app listing, privateness dashboard, or permissions supervisor, and it is not doable to maneuver them to a brand new gadget. You may also arrange a brand new display lock to entry Non-public House, and the mode is accessible by navigating to the underside of the app drawer and selecting the Non-public part.
What’s fascinating about Non-public House is that you may 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 House permits you to do one thing related on Pixels; if something, it’s a higher implementation as you need to use any app or messaging service you need on this mode.
You additionally get full entry to the digicam, and any pictures or movies taken when utilizing this mode shall be saved within the Non-public House gallery and will not present up within the common gallery. General, Google did an awesome job with Non-public House, and if you wish to disguise delicate knowledge, that is an extremely helpful function.
Android 15 has significantly better widget previews
Android 15 would not introduce any main adjustments to the interface, and that is not a foul factor. The Materials You aesthetic clearly has so much 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, nevertheless it is among the causes I like utilizing Pixel gadgets, and it is good to see Google not altering issues wholesale.
That stated, there are just a few smaller additions, beginning with widget previews. Whenever you go into the widget part, you get a dwell preview of the widget, and that offers you a significantly better thought of the way it will appear to be on your own home display. It is a minor tweak as issues go, nevertheless it makes choosing the precise 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 continues to be in beta. Google simply is not capable of 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 truly 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 seems cleaner. You additionally get to see what gadget is getting used to play audio, and like every little thing else, the colours change based mostly on the accent colours you have chosen.
After all, there is a good probability that this quantity panel is restricted to Pixels; different skins use their very own system, and it is unlikely they will use Google’s panel.
Android 15 delivers significantly better haptics
Android 15 unlocks the usage of haptics in new areas, and this can be a nice transfer. The haptic motor is now triggered while you change the brightness utilizing the brightness slider, or adjusting the amount. You continue to get haptic suggestions while you use the again gesture, within the overview menu, and while you’re utilizing the keyboard (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 variety of gadgets. One other new addition is adaptive vibration, which dynamically adjusts the depth of the haptic motor based mostly on the atmosphere; 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 knowledge like by no means earlier than
Google does a very good 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 collection of options geared toward making certain your knowledge is not accessible in case your gadget is stolen.
Distant Lock is the very best function on this regard; in case your lose your gadget, you possibly can simply lock its display with a cellphone quantity by going to android.com/lock — it is as simple as that. All it is advisable to do is allow the function in your cellphone — it is positioned within the Theft safety menu within the Gadget unlock settings — and confirm your cellphone quantity related along with your Google account.
Clearly, the gadget must be on-line for this function to work. If it is offline, the gadget will lock the subsequent time it goes on-line. There’s one other function dubbed Offline gadget lock that locks the display shortly after your gadget goes offline, and that is achieved mechanically to safeguard your knowledge.
Theft Detection Lock makes use of onboard sensors to find out in case your cellphone is stolen. For those who’re utilizing your cellphone and somebody snatches your cellphone and tries to run or drive away, the gadget mechanically locks. Google is rolling out this function broadly, stating that each one gadgets working Android 10 and above ought to be getting an replace to incorporate this function shortly.
There are many smaller adjustments designed to guard your knowledge:
Google is rolling out “enhanced manufacturing unit reset safety,” which makes it tougher to reset your gadget 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.Getting into a number of incorrect passwords will lock the gadget for a length, which is what most different Android skins already do.Any adjustments made to Discover My Gadget settings will now want a PIN, password, or biometrics.Google will roll out an Id Verify function later this 12 months that can require biometric authentication when accessing key Google account or gadget particulars, like altering the PIN, accessing Passkeys from an unknown location, or disabling theft prevention. The function shall 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 report simply an app window as an alternative of all the display. That is helpful in case 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 possibly can report audio together with the display, and there is the flexibility to decide on the supply: gadget audio, mic, or a mixture of the 2.
App archiving in Android 15 is definitely nice
App Archiving is now out there in Android 15, and it permits you to delete an app whereas nonetheless having its knowledge preserved. Principally, the information related to that app is saved in your Google account, and as soon as it is advisable to use it once more, you possibly can simply set up it. The app icon stays in your app drawer, however it’s greyed out and has a obtain icon. Deciding on it is going to obtain the app onto your gadget once more, and all of the settings and knowledge is undamaged.
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 in case you do not pay an extra $100 to get additional storage, there is a good probability you may replenish the storage in your cellphone in a matter of months. To offer you some context, in lower than two months of utilizing my Pixel 9 Professional XL, I used up 138GB of knowledge; I am utilizing the 256GB mannequin, but when I had the 128GB model, I might’ve needed to archive nearly each put in recreation.
Predictive again gesture may 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 permits you to basically preview the web page you may be returning to while you begin utilizing the again gesture, and it’s a nifty navigational assist.
The predictive again gesture is enabled by default on Pixels, however Google would not implement its use, so it its utilization is not constant — even Chrome would 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 based mostly on producer. Google is addressing this in Android 15 by making just a few options commonplace on foldables, together with the flexibility to pin the taskbar on the backside of the display.
Different manufacturers do a very good job with multitasking options, nevertheless it has been a little bit of an afterthought on Pixels. That is fortunately altering with App Pairs; the function permits you to launch two apps in split-screen mode without delay. It is simple to arrange and use, and in case you launch the identical two apps in split-screen mode, you possibly can principally arrange an icon that can launch that app pair mechanically — the window configuration shall be preserved as effectively.
Android 15: Coming to a cellphone close to you
Android 15 would not have many thrilling options, and that is by design. Google modified the way it handles updates within the final two years; as an alternative of bundling all its options right into a single model replace on the finish of the 12 months, it regularly rolls out new options as they develop into out there. By making certain that system and safety patches aren’t linked to the model launch, Google successfully ensures {that a} wider swathe of gadgets can get important updates.
That stated, you continue to get noteworthy additions. Non-public House does an awesome job locking down delicate knowledge, the UI tweaks and enhancements to haptics make utilizing Pixels that rather more satisfying, 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 permit different manufacturers to make the most of this. As for when your cellphone will get the Android 15 replace, now that the secure construct is offered, different producers will begin rolling out their very own beta packages, and we must always get the secure launch on most flagships earlier than the tip of the 12 months.