Android 15 is in the works and Google has made the first public beta version of Android 15 official. Beta versions of Android are meant for developers to tinker around, but you can try it out yourself by installing Android 15 Beta if you have a compatible phone. Let’s check out all the top new features coming with Android 15 Beta and the list of compatible devices.
Android 15 Expected Release Date
Android 15 Beta has started rolling out to the supported Google Pixel devices. Google has released a timeline for the release of Android 15 as well. Take a look:
We can expect the release of Android 15 in August or September as per the timeline.
Android 15 Beta Top Features
Partial Screen Sharing
Note: This thread is comparing Android 15 DP1 to Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1, so if it seems like there's not a lot new here, that's why. I will mention some stuff that's already in the QPR beta because Android 15 is when non-Pixel devices will get these features, though, like partial… pic.twitter.com/ur3NAmMh5R
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) February 16, 2024
Screen sharing is getting better with the partial screen sharing feature which lets users share just an app window, rather than the whole screen to apps like Zoom and Google Meet. You’ll get the option to choose a single app or the entire screen while launching screen sharing.
Edge-to-edge Apps By Default
Android apps will now be forced to use the entire height and width of the display to display content. Previously, some apps would not be displayed to the entire display, it is changing with Google forcing app developers to adopt edge-to-edge apps on Android 15 Beta.
Satellite Connectivity Support
Android 15 brings extended satellite connectivity support. Users can now send and receive messages using SMS or RCS via satellite connection.
Notification Cooldown
Android 15 DP1 has added the "notification cooldown" feature I first revealed in the Android 14 QPR2 beta for @AndroidPolice. This feature "gradually lower[s] the notification volume when you get many successive notifications from the same app." pic.twitter.com/Cd4Rh0EWbV
— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) February 16, 2024
The Notification Cooldown feature in Android 15 Beta can lower successive notifications from the same app so that users won’t be overwhelmed by continuous notifications from a single app.
Smoother NFC
Tap and pay transactions using NFC will be more reliable and seamless in Android 15 Beta. This will make making payments using apps like Google Pay and Samsung Pay smoother in Android 15. These apps will be able to register fingerprint authentication to determine whether the transaction should be processed or not.
New In-app Camera Controls
Google is giving more control to developers of third-party apps to use cameras in the phones. This is said to improve the brightness level of the camera preview and achieve better low-light enhancements.
App Archiving Unarchiving
Android 15 now features OS-level app archiving and unarchiving. Apps installed from the Google Play store can be removed from the device to free up storage space by keeping the user data intact. Play Store supported the feature from last year, now it is supported at the OS level and third-party app stores can now archive and unarchive apps.
Universal Vibration & Haptics Control For Keyboards
Android 15 has a new universal vibration and haptics control setting for keyboards that lets you control the vibration and haptics of all keyboards with a single toggle.
Sensitive Notifications Control
Third-party apps will not be able to read SMS notifications containing 2FA codes such as OTPs in Android 15.
Auracast Focus
Auracast is a feature of Bluetooth LE Audio that lets your device broadcast audio to various nearby devices. Android 13 brought basic support for Bluetooth LE Audio, Android 15 brings a dedicated Audio streams page to Bluetooth, which lets you listen to audio streams by scanning a QR code.
Android 15 Beta List of Compatible Devices
Google announced Android 15 Beta for a select list of Google Pixel devices, here’s the complete list of devices:
- Pixel 5a
- Pixel 6
- Pixel 6 Pro
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel 7
- Pixel 7 Pro
- Pixel 7a
- Pixel Tablet
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel 8
- Pixel 8 Pro
How to Install Android 15 Beta?
Here’s how you can install Android 15 Beta on your Pixel device:
- Visit https://www.google.com/android/beta
- Click View your eligible devices.
- If your phone is eligible for Android 15 Beta, it will show up under Your eligible devices list.
- Select the phone and register for the Beta program.
- Your device will shortly receive a system update, which will be the Android 15 Beta update.
