The first public beta of Android 15 is now available for Pixel devices. The upcoming Android version has been under the developer preview for the past few weeks, and Google has finally released the first beta version for the general public. Let’s look at all the new features to understand what we can expect from the next major Android update.
Android 15 Beta 1: List of Eligible Devices
The Android 15 Beta 1 is currently available only on Google Pixel smartphones. Here is the list of supported devices.
- Google Pixel 6
- Google Pixel 6 Pro
- Google Pixel 6a
- Google Pixel 7
- Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Google Pixel 7 Pro
- Google Pixel 7a
- Google Pixel Fold
- Google Pixel Tablet
- Google Pixel 8
- Google Pixel 8 Pro
If you have a compatible Google Pixel smartphone, you can sign up for the Android Beta Program from the official website. Note that you will require a Windows, macOS, or Linux computer to install the Android 15 Beta update on your Pixel device. After enrolling in the beta program, use the official Android Flash Tool and follow the on-screen instructions.
Android 15 Beta 1: What’s New?
Here are the features you get with the upcoming Android 15 update. Note that since this is the first beta, these features may not work properly, and the final looks and implementation in the stable update could be slightly different compared to what’s available now.
Archiving Apps Instead of Uninstalling
Android 15 will now allow users to archive an app, instead of completely uninstalling it from the system. This process will save all the important information from the app such as login credentials, personal data, and other on-device info. It will only delete the information that can be re-downloaded from the cloud.
This will help users to save space on their Android phones. If you need to temporarily uninstall an app, archiving it would be a much better option as it will save you time and resources to reconfigure the app after a fresh re-install.
Edge-to-Edge App Support
This feature will help apps utilize the entire screen space, without wasting any area near the navigation or the status bar. Previously, this setting was available as an option for app developers to implement in their apps. Android 15 will now try to enforce this setting by default.
Considering the wide range of Android smartphones with different aspect ratios and screen sizes, the Edge-to-Edge app support will help to create uniformity among apps on all devices and use the entire screen for the best visual experience.
Braille Display Support
Android 15 will have native support for external Braille Displays that use the HID standard over USB and Bluetooth. It will help visually impaired people to easily connect their braille displays to Android devices, and utilize Google’s Talkback services.
Smoother NFC Payments
Google says that Android 15 will improve the tap-to-pay functionality using NFC. Android 15 is optimized for more seamless and reliable NFC payments using an Observe mode. This can be utilized by app developers to make the payment process faster.
System Optimizations and other changes
In addition to the above-mentioned new features, Android 15 also brings improvements in system stability and security. This version brings additional protections that prevent malicious apps from becoming active in the foreground. It also improves end-to-end encryption features in the system.
Android 15 will support an inter-character justification, which is helpful for languages like Japanese, Chinese, etc. It improves the character spacing between Latin alphabets when a text is converted or translated from non-Latin languages.
Android 15 Stable Release Date
Google has not disclosed the exact release date for the stable version of Android 15. According to the official timeline shared by the company, Android 15 will remain in the beta stage up to May 2024. Google will then ship platform stability updates in June-July. We can expect the stable version of Android 15 to arrive in August 2024.
