Guess what? Google just dropped the news about Android 15, the next big thing for their mobile OS. They’re sticking to their usual three-phase plan for development and release. The first phase kicked off on February 16, 2024, and it’s all about giving developers and phone makers a sneak peek at what’s coming, so they can start getting used to the new software.
The first version of Android 15 is called Developer Preview 1, and it’s just the beginning. After that, we’ll get a Beta version, which you can download easily without any tricks. Once the beta testing is over, they’ll drop the final stable version. That usually happens by the end of the year.
Which phones will get Android 15?
Like before, the first Developer Preview of Android 15 is only for Google’s Pixel phones. Here’s the full list of phones that can handle Android 15:
- Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro
- Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro
- Pixel 7a
- Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro
- Pixel 6a
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel Tablet
Android 15 will eventually roll out to more phones from different brands, but for now, only the Pixel phones listed above can get in on the Android 15 action during the Developer Preview stage.
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When is the Android Developer Preview coming out?
Starting from Friday, February 16, you can grab the first Developer Preview of Android 15 from the official Android page. Developers can now flash the Android 15 system image on a compatible smartphone.
If you don’t have a compatible device, don’t worry! You can still check out Android 15 and start building your apps using the official Android emulator that comes with the Android Studio kit. Google plans to drop two Developer Preview versions of Android 15 in total, with the second one set to come out in March.
When is the Android 15 Beta launching?
The developer community will keep putting Android 15 through its paces for a few more weeks. Google’s official roadmap says the first beta version of Android 15 will drop in April.
As mentioned earlier, beta testing is open to everyone and doesn’t need special invites or privileges. Just sign up your device for the public beta testing group. But here’s the kicker: it’s way less buggy than the development builds, so it’s the only one we suggest for casual enthusiasts to try out.
Google plans to drop four beta updates in the next few months. The fourth one, which they say is “almost there” in terms of being ready for the public, is set for the July-August timeframe.
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Android 15 release date
The beta testing phase for a new Android version takes the longest and includes many beta updates. For Android 15, the beta builds will start in April, and they’re aiming to have everything stable by June.
Google hasn’t given a specific date for when Android 15 will be released as a stable update for everyone, but it’s probably going to be around the end of the third quarter of 2024. Just to give you an idea, Android 14 came out in October last year, and Android 13 was released in August.
For Android 15, the safest guess is somewhere around September or October. But, depending on how big the changes are and how much software tweaking they need to do, the release date could end up being earlier or later than that.
What’s different in Android 15?
Google’s all about three things with Android 15: privacy/security, helping creators and developers, and making apps run better. They’ve beefed up the Android AD Services to level 10, which basically means they’ve got some new tech under the hood that’s all about “improves user privacy and enables effective, personalized advertising experiences for mobile apps.”
Users will now be able to record just a part of an app screen instead of the whole thing. Plus, Google’s Health Connect platform is getting more fitness and nutrition data types, and there are extra security measures to keep your files safe from malware and unwanted changes.
Android 15 is shaking things up in the camera department too. They’ve made some tweaks for low light situations, giving developers the power to make the camera preview brighter. Plus, you’ll have more control over the camera flash. And if you’re into making music, Android 15 now supports UMP in virtual MIDI apps, which means you can do more with composition and synthesizer apps.
When it comes to making apps run better, Android 15 is stepping up its game with an upgrade to the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF). On devices that support it, this upgrade brings a new power-efficient mode that should make long-running background tasks smoother. Plus, there are new thermal thresholds that should help cut down on thermal throttling.
As you can tell, most of the new stuff in Android 15 is about making things work better behind the scenes. Google will probably reveal more features in future previews and betas, but for now, it looks like Android 15 is a pretty modest upgrade compared to Android 14.
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Gemini to be a huge part of Android 15?
Google just dropped a new Gemini app for Android, and they’re also bringing the Gemini experience to iPhone users through the Google app on iOS. But here’s the kicker: there’s a catch when it comes to the price.
Google’s got three versions of Gemini: Nano, Pro, and Ultra. The size of the training dataset and the capabilities of the app determine which one you need.
The Gemini Nano model is already up and running on the Google Pixel 8 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S24 series phones. Now, Google’s giving access to the first-gen Ultra model, which they’re calling Gemini Advanced. It’s part of a new Google One AI Premium subscription that’ll set you back $19.99 a month.
You might think all this Gemini talk is just another AI hype, but it’s actually a big deal. Don’t be shocked if Google Assistant starts fading away while Gemini takes over on your phone, tablet, smartwatch, and other ecosystem hardware.
