Android 15 (reportedly codenamed Vanilla Ice Cream) won't be released in its final form for quite some time, but the first developer preview has arrived and hints at Google's next major Android update. You can get a taste of the early days.
Numerous features and potential improvements have been leaked ahead of the public beta and final version, so we already have some idea of ​​what to expect.
Here's all the news and rumors about Android 15. This also includes possible features, expected release dates, and which phones will be supported. We'll update this article as we learn new information about Android 15, so check back here soon.
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what is that? When will the next major version of Android be released? The final version is expected between August and October.How much does it cost? This is a free update.
Android 15: Scheduled release date
The first Android 15 developer preview is now live and available for download. However, I don't recommend it unless you are an actual developer. Currently you have to load it manually. The version is available for Google Pixel smartphones starting with Pixel 6.
This release was previously leaked by a Google developer who posted on the Android Open Source Project (spotted by 9to5Google). As the name suggests, this is a very early Android 15 release, likely buggy and missing many upgrades yet.
First version of Android 15 released (Image source: Google)
In a blog post announcing the developer preview, Google's Dave Burke hinted that a public beta will begin sometime in April, with the full version expected to be released later this year. The goal is what he calls “platform stability” from June onwards. Intention.
Based on past releases, the final version of Android 15 could be released between August and October. Android 14 was successfully released on October 4, 2023, while Android 13 was released on August 15, 2022, so it's difficult to predict.
Android 15: Compatibility
As always with Android, Pixel phones will likely be the first to get the finished Android 15 update, with first previews and betas likely to be accessible. But many other devices will also be running Android 15.
We also have a good idea of ​​which phones will ship with Android 15, as most device manufacturers promise a certain number of updates.
As for Google, all products starting with the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro should ship with Android 15, including the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro.
The Pixel 5a 5G could also come with Android 15, as the update is guaranteed until August of this year.
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra should come with Android 15 (Image credit: Aakash Jhaveri)
For Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy S24, Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S23 line, Galaxy S22 line, and Galaxy S21 line must all run Android 15. The same goes for Samsung's foldable phones from the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip. 3 and later includes the unreleased Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6.
Many Galaxy A models will also come with Android 15, including the Galaxy A24, A33, A34, A53 5G, A54 5G, and A73.
Many phones from other brands should also come with Android 15, including OnePlus 12, OnePlus 11, OnePlus Open, Sony Xperia 1 V, Sony Xperia 5 V, Xiaomi 13, and Motorola Razr Plus 2023.
This is not the case for all phones expected to run Android 15. As a general rule, if your phone is midrange or above and is less than two years old at the time of Android 15's launch, it will likely ship with Android 15. update. However, so do many older, cheaper cell phones.
Android 15 will also be available on many Android tablets, including the Pixel Tablet and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series.
Android 15: Rumored features
It's not yet clear what Android 15 will offer, but a number of possible features have been leaked. These are below.
Battery health percentage
Hidden battery status screen in Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 (Image credit: Android Authority / Mishaal Rahman)
One small but very useful new feature that may be coming in Android 15 is battery health percentage. This allows you to see an estimated percentage of the charge the battery can currently hold compared to when it was new, giving you a clear indication of how drained your phone's battery is.
This is especially useful when trying to diagnose whether increased battery drain is due to malfunctioning software draining the battery.
This is a feature that already exists in iOS, but an inactive version of it was discovered hidden in the Android 14 update by Android Authority. Nail Sadikov (Editor of Google News Telegram group). So this is definitely a feature that Google is working on and is likely to be a candidate for Android 15.
Shared space in progress (Image credit: Android Authority / Mishaal Rahman)
Android hasn't natively supported lock screen widgets since Android 4.2, but Android 15 might see a return of lock screen widgets after a hidden “Community Spaces” feature was discovered in a recent Android beta. This unfinished feature, discovered by Android Authority, allows you to add widgets to the shared space on your lock screen.
However, there are some big caveats here. First, only Google Calendar, Google Clock, and Google apps are supported at this time, but more apps may be supported before launch.
Second, this currently appears to be only designed for devices with hub mode. This currently only means Pixel tablets. Therefore, it can be quite limited.
private space
(Image source: Android Police / Google)
Android 15 may also include a native version of Samsung's Secure Folder feature, giving non-Samsung phones the ability to hide sensitive apps in a separate hidden area called Private Space.
Spotted in an unfinished state by Android Police in a recent Android beta, Private Space requires a PIN, pattern, password, or biometrics to access and includes its own instance of the Google Play Store. You can use it to download apps you don't own. You don't want other people using your phone to know that you have it open or can open it.
These apps are only visible in your private space, so this is a useful feature if you hand your phone over to someone else.
bluetooth aura cast
Pixel Buds Pro does not support Auracast, but the following products may support it (Image credit: TechRadar)
The recent Android 14 update hides a lot of code regarding Bluetooth audio sharing, strongly hinting that support for Bluetooth Auracast is on the way.
This is a feature that allows you to share the audio you're listening to on your phone (music, podcasts, or whatever) with people around you via Bluetooth. Multiple girlfriend Bluetooth headphones or earbuds can be tuned to the same audio stream, so you can listen to an album in sync with a friend, for example.
The discovered code states that it uses a QR code to allow others to tune in to what you're listening to, so you don't have to go through the normal Bluetooth pairing process .
easy mode
(Image credit: Android Authority / Google)
If you're reading this, Android probably doesn't need to be any simpler, but maybe you're not very tech-savvy either. It looks like Google is working on a feature to help with that.
A hidden settings page for a new feature called “Easy Presets” was discovered by Android Authority in a recent Android beta. The code string explains that the feature optimizes the Android UI for “improved readability and navigation.” “Enlarge icons and text, add contrast and boldness, and add navigation buttons to the bottom of the screen.”
Therefore, this could be beneficial not only to people who are not very familiar with technology, but also to people with visual or dexterity impairments. This feature isn't working yet, but it could come as part of Android 15.
App archive
(Image credit: Android Authority / Google)
Android 14 already has an app archiving feature where the Google Play Store automatically archives apps you don't use often to reclaim storage space. However, this version only works within the Play Store and does not allow manual selection of app archives.
In Android 15, you may be able to choose which apps to archive. This process removes parts of the app rather than completely uninstalling it, so you won't lose your home screen icons and don't need to fully configure them. It will start again the next time you boot, but you can still get your storage space back.
Android Authority has discovered various hints in the Android code that manual app archiving is in the works, so while there's no guarantee this will make it to Android 15, it's very possible.
Pairs of saved apps
(Image source: Android Police / Google)
If you use split-screen mode a lot on your Android device, there are probably certain pairs of apps you tend to use together, like YouTube and Chrome. Android 15 has the possibility to save these pairs, so you can launch them automatically side by side.
This feature was spotted hidden in recent Android betas by Android Police, so there's no doubt that Google is working on this. So the question is when will it actually be released? The site was even able to get the feature working, so it's probably almost ready for release. This means that this feature may arrive in a future version of Android 14 instead of Android 15. But we definitely expect it to be introduced in Android 15, if not before. .
DeX-like desktop mode
It's unclear if this feature will actually arrive, but Android Authority reports that Google is working on a slick desktop mode that you can display on an external display when you connect your phone with a USB-C cable. It means. We also discovered that display output over USB-C is enabled on the Pixel 8 in the recent Android 14 beta.
While this doesn't offer the polished desktop experience that's been rumored, it could be a step toward delivering it in Android 15.