Android 15: Latest news and rumors

Android 15, codenamed "Vanilla Ice Cream," won't be released in its final form for a while yet, but the first preview and beta versions could be released soon and could give us a glimpse of Google's next big Android update.

Waiting for the release

The first developer build of Android 15 has already been released and is available for download. It needs to be downloaded manually and the version is compatible with Google Pixel 6 and newer models. The version was previously disclosed by one of Google's developers in the Android open source project and discovered by 9to5Google. As the name suggests, this is a very early version of Android 15, which is likely to contain bugs and have few updates.

Estimated release date

On Google's blog, Dave Burke, who announced the developer preview, said that the public beta will be available in April and the full version will be available later this year. The final version of Android 15 should arrive between August and October, analyzing their predecessors. Android 14 was released on October 4, 2023, and Android 13 was released on August 15, 2022.

Device compatibility

As is the norm for Android, Pixel phones will be the first to get the preview and beta versions and the first to get the final Android 15 update.However, many other devices will also benefit from Android 15. Most manufacturers have promised a number of updates, so we have an idea of which models will get Android 15.

On Google's side, all devices above the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are expected to get Android 15, including the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7, Pixel 7, Pixel 7, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. The Pixel 5a 5G may also get Android 15 as updates are guaranteed until August this year.

Which models will get the new Android 15

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra will also be equipped with Android 15. Samsung, Samsung Galaxy S24, Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S23, Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S21 will get Android 15. The same goes for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 foldable phones, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, which are yet to be released.

Several Galaxy A models, the Galaxy A24, A33, A34, A53 5G, A54 5G and A73, run Android 15.

A number of models from other companies are also expected to run Android 15, including the OnePlus 12, OnePlus 11, OnePlus Open, Sony Xperia 1 V, Sony Xperia 5 V, Xiaomi 13 and Motorola Razr Plus 2023.

Many Android tablets, such as the Pixel tablets and Samsung's Galaxy Tab S9 series of tablets, will be on Android 15.

That's not all the models that should get Android 15. As a general rule of thumb, if your phone is mid-range or above and is no more than two years old when Android 15 is released, it will get the update. Many older and cheaper phones will also get the update.

Expected features

It's still unknown what Android 15 will offer, but some potential features have already leaked online. These include: A battery level indicator, a hidden battery monitoring screen. A new, small but very useful feature may see the light of day in Android 15. This feature will display the approximate percentage of the current battery level compared to the previous battery level, giving a clear indication of how low your phone's battery is. This is especially useful for determining whether a low battery level is due to a low battery or a program crash.

This feature already exists in iOS, and Android Authority and Nail Sadikov (Google's newsgroup editor at Telegram) have revealed that it's already in the Android 14 update. So, it's clear that Google is working on this feature and it's likely to be a candidate for Android 15.

Lock screen widget

Android no longer supports lock screen widgets as of Android 4.2, but they may return in Android 15 as a hidden "shared storage" feature was discovered in a recent Android beta, Android Authority has learned. This unfinished feature allows users to add widgets to a shared lock screen space.

However, there are a few important caveats. First, only Google Calendar, Google Watch, and Google Apps are currently supported, but it's possible that other apps will be supported at launch. Second, the feature appears to be only for Hub-enabled devices (currently Pixel tablets). Therefore, it may be very limited.

Personal Space

Android 15 may also see a native version of Samsung's Secure Folders feature, which will allow phones from other manufacturers to hide sensitive apps in a separate hidden area called Private Space.

The Android beta was recently revealed by Android Police, and in its imperfect form Private Space requires a PIN, pattern, password or biometric authentication to access it and you don't want other phone users to know you have it, or download apps you don't want other users to be able to open, and includes your own version of the Google Play Store. This feature is also useful if you give your phone to someone else, as these apps will only show up in a private area.

Bluetooth Auracast

In the latest Android 14 update, much of the code mentions sharing audio over Bluetooth, suggesting that Bluetooth Auracast support is planned. This feature will allow users to share audio they're listening to on their phone, such as music or podcasts, with those around them via Bluetooth. You'll be able to connect multiple Bluetooth headsets, earbuds or earbuds to a single audio stream, so you can listen to a music album with a friend at the same time. Thanks to a QR code, you can connect other people to the music you're listening to without the usual Bluetooth pairing process.

Easy control

Android Authority has discovered a hidden settings page for a new mode called "Default Easy Mode" in the recently released Android beta. According to the code snippet, the feature improves Android's user interface by "enlarging icons and text, increasing contrast and boldness, and adding navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen" to "improve readability and ease of navigation."

This feature is useful not only for those who are not tech savvy, but also for those with vision or manual dexterity issues. The feature is not yet in practice, but it may be built into Android 15.

Archive of running apps for Android

Android 14 already has an app archiving feature that allows users to archive less-used apps from the Google Play Store to free up memory space. However, this version only works on the Play Store and doesn't allow users to manually select apps for archiving.

Android 15 will introduce the ability to select apps for archiving. This process removes some apps without deleting them completely, so you won't lose app icons on your home screen or have to completely reinstall them the next time you launch them, but it will free up memory space.

Android Authority has found a few hints in the Android code that indicate that manual archiving of apps is planned. So it's not guaranteed that this feature will be included in Android 15, but the likelihood of it appearing is very high.

Saved app pairs

Those who frequently use the split-screen feature on their Android devices may have pairs of apps that they often use together, such as YouTube and Chrome. In Android 15, there is an option to save these pairs so that they automatically run next to each other.

This hidden feature was discovered in the recently released Android beta, and no doubt Google is working on it. The site was also able to run the feature and it is almost ready for release. This means that it will not be included in Android 15 and will probably be plugged into later versions of Android 14. However, it will definitely be included in Android 15 as soon as possible.