After six major previews and betas, Google is ready to launch Android 15 for Pixel devices today. There are some notable additions and changes, but it’s not a particularly notable release in a continuation of the recent trend. Today’s release also coincides with the October 2024 Pixel (Feature) Drop.
The launch of Android 15 for Pixel starts with a secret compartment for so-called apps Private space. During the installation process, you decide whether you want to log in or create a separate Google account so that data does not appear outside the locker. You also decide whether you want to create a new lock method (PIN/password and/or fingerprint/face) or keep the existing one.
When you’re done, ‘Private’ will appear at the bottom of your app drawer. Alternatively, you can hide that and access it by searching for ‘private space’. Some applications are there by default: Camera, Chrome, Contacts, Files (which can be used to sideload apps), Photos, Pixel Buds, and Play Store.
You can adjust how often Private Space locks automatically: every time the device is locked, 5 minutes after the screen timeout, and only after the device restarts. Once that happens, the private apps will be invisible to recent multitasking, notifications, settings, and other apps.
Similarly, in addition to Theft Detection, Offline Device and Remote Lock for all Android 10+ devices, Android 15 requires a PIN, password or biometric authentication when changing Find My Device and other sensitive settings, as well as removing the SIM card. After “multiple failed login attempts,” Android 15 will “lock your device and prevent unauthorized access.” Finally, improved factory reset protection makes it even harder for thieves to reset your device without your Google account password.
In the meantime, you can register for this later this year Identity check and require “biometric authentication when accessing critical Google account and device settings, such as changing your PIN, turning off anti-theft protection, or accessing passcodes from an untrusted location.”
Predictive return shows a preview of the home screen when you can close an application. By shrinking the current window, people can confirm exiting the app. Preventing accidental app shutdown has been a multi-year effort that started in Android 13 and is enabled by default in Android 15 after previously requiring a developer option. Support is provided per app.
Apps targeting Android 15 (SDK 35) go standard from edge to edge. The status and gesture navigation bars become transparent.
The screenshot and copied text example (in the bottom corner) has been redesigned with a pill-shaped container for the Share, Highlight, Capture More, etc. buttons, which are now rounded. While the text design remains unchanged, Android 15 has moved the screenshot thumbnail above the pill.
Android 15 introduces a new screensaver that can be seen Home control while charging. This mainly benefits the Pixel Tablet, but also works on phones. Settings > Hub mode [or Display & touch] > Screen saver. The user interface for Favorites is almost identical to the user interface for Home Controls on the lock screen and in Quick Settings.
When adjusting the brightness in Quick Settings or volume using the slider (with a finger) you feel haptic feedback. More broadly, Android 15 redesigns the Volume panel that can be accessed via the three-dot menu at the bottom of the slider. There are large Material You sliders for Media, Calling, Calling, Notification and Alarms, while you can tap at the very top for the output toggle – which has removed the ‘Speakers and Displays’ distinction.
Adaptive vibration takes into account your phone’s current environment (for example, when it’s in a pocket or in a loud place) to adjust the haptic intensity. This uses the microphone and other sensors to “determine the sound level and context” without recording any data. Settings > Sound & vibration > Vibration & haptics > Adaptive vibration.
With the Pixel Launcher you can now “Show long app names‘ that span more than one line to avoid truncation. Pixel Launcher press and hold > Home settings > App list settings.
Previously, you had to drag the app up as if you were deleting it to prevent the Pixel Launcher from suggesting it in the top row. Now you can long press for “Don’t suggest an app.”
The Widget selector adds a carousel of highlights including Essentials, News & Magazines and Suggested for You, while the big change is how you can tap a widget to add it to your home screen. The app-based widget picker has been placed in a container, while it is now “Pixel weather‘ on Google devices.
In Wallpaper & Style you have a new one Color contrast page that is more interactive than the old developer options version. There are standard, medium and high, while ‘High Contrast Text’ lets you change the text color to black or white.
The Android15 wallpaper selector better differentiates between the lock and home screens via a card-based user interface. Tapping will take you to a full-screen preview (without the two buttons at the bottom) where you can zoom in and out to adjust. This new Map UI is particularly nice on the Pixel Fold because it shows a preview of the inner screen.
On foldable devices and tablets, you can now have a persistent taskbar when apps are open. Long press the “action key” on the left for Circle to Search. To enable this, make sure the taskbar appears > long press the divider > Always show Taskbar. Then there is a “Continue using apps on the fold‘ setting to always or never turn on the front display, with ‘Swipe up to continue’ in the middle.
That’s possible now Save app pairs to the home screen. On devices with a large screen, the button appears in the Recents menu. However, this feature is also available on phones by tapping the side-by-side icons for ‘Save App Pairs’.
Standard, Bluetooth shall “Switch on automatically tomorrow‘ when you turn it off. However, you can change this behavior: Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth.
You can now run on Pixel Device diagnostics on component health, such as display and touch tests. There is a storage and battery status, the latter showing the date of manufacture, date of first use and number of cycles. Related to this, the two-tone Dynamic Color Pixel Battery widget is nice. In Evaluation Mode, you “use one device to evaluate another device.” Go to Settings > System > Device Diagnostics.
If you go to App Info, a new “Archiveoption. On your home screen and app launcher, that icon is gray with a cloud/download icon over it. Tapping will initiate a Play Store download, or you can go back to App Info and click Restore. As part of this, the ‘Open’ action has been moved to the top right corner.
The Security & Privacy Settings page has been rearranged. A new “Privacy‘ heading links directly to Privacy Controls, Privacy Dashboard, and Private Space to save you a step.
In connection with this: authentication panels have been redesigned to be larger and display the app icon.
Other Institutions related changes include:
- Network & Internet > Internet > Network Details > Privacy: New “Send device name” switch.
- Apps > Standard apps > Wallet app
- Screen & Touch (renamed) > Screen Timeout > Adaptive Timeout: “Automatically turns off your screen when you’re not using your device”
- There’s a new ‘Hearing Aids’ tile with quick settings
- In Storage, “System” is split into “Android 15” and “Temporary System Files”
- In Notifications, “Device & app notifications” has been renamed to “Read, reply, and manage notifications”
- System > Navigation mode: More prominent Circle to Search on/off switch
- In Passwords, Passcodes & Autofill, there is a prominent ‘Change’ button that allows you to choose a different manager.
- It now says “Enter PIN” on the lock screen with slightly larger text
Android 15 Pixel launch
Android 15 is launching and rolling out today for the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Go to Settings > System > System Update and click the ‘Check for Updates’ button if the OTA hasn’t appeared on your device yet. Android 15 Beta 4.2 users will receive a minor update from this final release.
The Android Beta program remains open and continues to test QPRs and feature drops. To get the stable version, those using Android 15 Beta 4+ will need to unsubscribe first. Devices will not be wiped by the stable OTA once it becomes generally available.
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