Google just released the second developer preview of Android 15 on time. Like the original version, anyone with a compatible Pixel device can install the second preview, but we don’t recommend installing it due to bugs, app compatibility, and more. And it lacks the overall refinement that official updates provide.
The second developer preview adds support for satellite communications, improved NFC interactions, more privacy features involving screen recording…
What’s new in Android 15? Currently, as expected, most of the new features are aimed at developers since it’s a developer preview. We’ll definitely see more consumer-facing features announced at the Google I/O conference on May 14-15. That said, the second developer preview adds support for satellite communications, improved NFC interactions, more privacy features involving screen recording, and improvements to how apps look and work on foldable and flippable screens . These features, plus features like easier integration of your phone’s camera into apps like Instagram or TikTok, or expanded health tracking tools, are sure to improve the overall experience once Android 15 is released.
We’ll certainly know all about Android 15 when it’s officially released later this year. For now, though, Google says people should be excited at this very early stage.
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Features you really care about
The Developer Preview is aimed at one type of people and one type of people only: developers. This means you can’t make a ton of boring changes on your own, but it will have an impact in terms of compliance, performance, and user outcomes. We’ll focus here on some notable changes and the results we think you’ll be able to experience from the code-heavy parts.
satellite communications
There have been some rumors and leaks over the past few weeks that Google is preparing to launch a satellite communications feature for Pixel phones. Similar to the iPhone’s satellite emergency SOS feature, Pixel users can call for help in areas with no satellite signal. Cellular or Internet coverage. However, Google is adding support for satellite communications directly to Android, not just Pixels.
Camera in third-party applications
Android users have had trouble using apps like Instagram in the past because they couldn’t take full advantage of their device’s raw camera output – our sister site Android Police has a great explanation for this . Platform developers have updated the operating system with APIs to expose more camera controls to third-party apps, but the effort to get any app that uses the camera uploaded remains ongoing and onerous.
In Android 15, the operating system will offer two additional extensions that let apps adjust the device’s camera system: low-light enhancement to improve camera previews, and the ability to use one LED or use a flashlight in a multi-diode flash system (official ” Torch”) mode.
google/pocket-lint
PDF search and editing
The way you interact with PDFs on Android 15 devices is about to get even better. Google is adding appropriate tools for developers to integrate, allowing you to search, edit, annotate, and open password-protected files.
Partial screen sharing
Screen sharing is a great feature, but there are situations where you’d rather share just a portion of the screen, maybe just a specific app in a multi-window situation. Google said the feature first rolled out in the Android 14 Q2 Platform Revision (QPR2) beta and will be carried over to Android 15.
Health Connect API
Android’s traditional fitness and nutrition app data center will collect new metrics for tracking, such as average cadence, trans fat, and more.
Niche features that developers will care about
These new additions mentioned in Android 15 will cater to or potentially excite a smaller audience, but we think they’re still worth discussing and thinking about here.
Android dynamic performance framework
Essentially, ADPF sets up a communication channel between your device and performance-intensive applications (including games) to develop expectations for short- and medium-term power consumption (including background usage), CPU, GPU, and memory resource allocation, and thermal management. Android 15 will add new features to ADPF so that long-running background apps consume less power.
Apps are also able to report how long previous jobs lasted—users may see more informed estimates about battery, performance, and task completion. The system will also respond more carefully by adjusting performance to control heat. Heat is a major stressor on electronics, especially batteries.
Virtual MIDI 2.0 Application
If you use an Android device to compose music, you’ll be able to connect to the synthesizer application as a virtual MIDI 2.0 device, just like you would with a USB MIDI 2.0 device.
File integrity management will be improved
Android’s FileIntegrityManager service received a major boost from a feature in the Linux kernel called fs-verity. This means, among other things, that you can select which files you want to protect with cryptographic signatures. We’re guessing this could manifest as Private Space, a protected cache of apps that you access by performing device unlock authentication and similar to Secure Folders on Samsung Galaxy devices.
Privacy Sandbox protects your online activities
Google continues to refine its legally mandated attempts to replace tracking cookies on the web with a (literally) sophisticated approach to ensure ad buyers can still target you without knowing too much about you. news.
What is Google Privacy Sandbox? How will it replace cookies?
Google Privacy Sandbox will change the future of web browsing by replacing cookies. Here’s the schedule for the plan and what it means.
FAQ
Q: When will Android 15 be officially released?
Google has not revealed the official release date of Android 15. We know it’ll be released later this year, based on past major Android releases and Google’s own timeline, which details when Android 15 will move from developer preview to public beta to official release. Last year, Android 14 wasn’t released until October. In previous years, Google released major operating system updates in late summer. Google’s current Android 15 release schedule is as follows.
Q: Which devices will support Android 15?
You can try the Android 15 developer preview on any Google Pixel device from the Pixel 6 series and above, including the Pixel Fold, Pixel tablets, and Pixel A series. As part of Pocket-lint’s full coverage, we’ve got more details on joining the preview program and why you might not want to join right now.
As for whenever an update finally releases (late summer or early fall for Watch ranges), device manufacturers add a few more years to their software update policies — which is a good thing for many phone owners. Here’s a quick overview of which phones will be supported, focusing on Android brands serving the United States:
- Google: Pixel 6, Pixel 6a and newer devices as well as Pixel Fold and Pixel Tablet
- Samsung: Galaxy S21 series (including S21 FE), Z Flip/Fold 3, Tab S8 series, A33, A53, A73 and newer devices
- OnePlus: OnePlus 10 Pro, OnePlus 10T, OnePlus 10R and newer devices
- Motorola: Razr+ and Razr (2023)