Exploring Android 15 exciting new Features
Android 15 Beta 2 has even more features and changes that we have all been waiting for than the first beta release. Up to this point, majority of the changes that we have seen in Android 15 were either trivial or internal and for developers only. This new update introduces a few new features for the users, modifies some elements of the interface, and enhances the users’ experience. Here are all the new features in Android 15 that you can use now.
Since it can be months before Google releases a feature after the announcement, and sometimes only using server-side switches, we have divided this list into features available now in Android 15 and features that will be enabled soon. Here are the features you can experiment with immediately on Android 15.
1. Private Space
Android 15 Beta 2 now brings Private Space. This is a sort of a secure area of your apps that you do not want other to visit or peep into. The feature works by creating another Private Space profile on your device for the purpose of concealing your apps. This profile will stay inactive as long as the phone is on lock.
Private Space Android 15
To use it, you’ll need to turn it on – go to Settings > Security and privacy > Private Space. Once it has been set up, there will be a new section called the Private Space in the app launcher. It is only secured by biometric or password entry. For more details on this feature, you can read our separate article about it.
2. Notification Cooldown
Notification Cooldown is easily one of the best features that have been added to Android in recent time. Multiple notifications from an app lead to continuous chimes of the notification, which could be very annoying. To this end, the Notification Cooldown will gradually lower the volume of the consecutive notifications coming from the app.
This feature can be enabled at Settings -> Notifications -> Notification Cooldown. You can then select one of the following options: Apply to all notifications, Apply to conversations, and Don’t use notification cooldown. If you want, you can take a look at our special guide on how the notification cooldown works.
3. New Keyboard and Brightness Haptics Features
There’s no need to adjust the keyboard settings of an alternate keyboard to disable keypress haptic feedback. Android 15 also provides an option to disable keyboard vibrations. Although the feature may not appear to be very significant, it is a good quality-of-life enhancement as keypress vibration is enabled by default in most third-party Android keyboards.
Keyboard Vibration Toggle
Android 15 also introduces haptic feedback when scratching the brightness slider in Quick Settings. This was being tested before but is fully enabled in Android 15.
4. Custom Vibrations for Notification Channels
Another example of how Android 15 will enhance notifications is through the introduction of the custom vibration style for the notification channels. This way, you can have separate vibration styles for different notifications coming from a single app making it easy to distinguish which notification you have received just from the haptics.
5. Split Screen App Pairs
Google is, however, beginning to focus on big-screen devices and foldables with a new feature called App Pairs. This allows you to open and save a shortcut of two application pairs that you wish to run side by side. This is quite convenient because you do not need to start the two apps, and then drag and drop them side by side.
The feature was already available for Samsung and some other foldable devices. While I don’t know why it took Android so long to add it, I am glad to see it is finally available.
Phone models getting Android 15?When will they get it
6. Keep Using Apps on Fold
We are still shocked that the Pixel Fold lacks what is perhaps the most evident feature of a foldable, namely an application would transfer and continue on the outer screen as soon as the smartphone’s primary screen is closed.
First, Android expert Mishaal Rahman found the feature in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1, but we never heard of it until Android 15 DP1.
There is also the “Swipe up to continue” in development for the Pixel Fold that is yet to be implemented. Enabling this would allow users to fold the device all the way and resume use by swiping up on the front screen.
Unfortunately, Pixel Fold users will have to wait a little longer to see it in action as it remains unclear whether the feature will be rolled out in the next feature drop or Android 15 stable build.
7. Bluetooth Quick Setting Tile and Auto Turn On
Another feature that was missing from the Bluetooth Quick Settings button for the Pixel devices was the pop-out menu, which is similar to that in Wi-Fi Quick Setting. This feature was brought in Android 14 QPR 3 Beta 1, meaning it’s not what can be described as a new feature.
Bluetooth Auto Turn On
Android 15 Beta 2 provides an option to enable Bluetooth automatically each time you deactivate it. This feature was added because of the new Find My Device experience that has been released recently. It also helps in making sure that Quick Share remains active to allow for the sharing of files. You can switch it off in the off position if you do not wish to use it again.
8. New Volume Panel
The expanded volume panel also underwent a change in terms of the design. It now has thicker and more emphasize sliders that are arranged horizontally. This makes them easily understandable and more approachable. You can also go to settings from here or switch audio output on the device.
9. Record the Screen of a Single Application
Again, it is not a new feature as it is an Android 14 feature and was included in Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 but here in Android 15.
Until now, users were only able to record the whole screen, which would include unnecessary information. However, in the screen recording menu there is an option that says “A single app” and it allows you to only record the app you want to record.
New Screen Recorder feature – Android 15 features
For those interested in knowing what happens when you attempt to jump to other apps, the feature continues to record for as long as the app being recorded is visible in the recent apps list. The recording will be stopped if the apps are removed from the multitasking view.
10. Screen Recording Detection
Android 15 is going to introduce a new privacy feature called Screen Recording detection. This will alert apps that the screen recorder is on and they can then take measures to protect us…
11. New Easter Egg
If you are a geek, then you might be aware that Android 15 is internally referred to as Vanilla Ice Cream. Every new OS has a new Android version easter egg; Android 15 has one also, but it is not the new one. It is similar to Android 14 and has been rotated at 90 degrees clockwise to look like V Upside Down Cake has been made upside down.
12. App Archiving
App Archiving, as the name suggests, works in a similar way to offloading apps on iOS. It has been present in Android since a while now and has been activated in Android 15 Developer Preview 2. App Archiving helps to save storage space of an application while preserving your login session and other data in the app.
.jpeg "App Archiving |Android 15")
App Archive feature Android 15 DP2
To test the feature out we archived an app that occupied 107MB of space after which it could be reduced to almost 34MB of space, and once an app is archived its app listing will still be in the launcher, and by tapping it you can restore the app. In addition you can return to the app’s page in settings and tap Restore.
13. Audio Sharing
Android 15 Developer Preview 2 came with an “Audio Sharing” feature, and it is located in the Settings app under the Connected Devices category. The feature will allow you to pair multiple headphones that have Bluetooth LE audio and listen to audio on even more Bluetooth devices.
.jpeg "Audio sharing Android 15")
Android 15 Audio Sharing
The feature is not active at the moment and the toggle switches off when we leave this page. The Stream settings section is also blank. For now, we can only look forward to Google adding it to the Android 15 stable release and test it out.
14. Video Quality in “Device as Webcam” Option
The recent Android 14 QPR releases contain the functionality for using your Android devices as a webcam, but when connected to the phone’s camera, the video quality was limited to 720p. However, in the latest Android 15 DP, there is now a new icon that you can activate to make the most out of your Android’s camera.
15. New Health Connect Features:
For those unfamiliar with it, Health Connect serves to integrate various data sets across different fitness applications so that the user does not always have to input the data manually every time they use a new application. Android 15 introduces a new Android Health Module and Health Connect supports more data types such as Fitness, Nutrition, etc.
16. Default Wallet app
default wallet app
Wallet app got an update with new Default app option in settings where users can choose preferred application. On Pixels the default app is Google Wallet and because it is a new feature not many apps currently support it for being set as default wallet apps.17. Better Wi-Fi Network Privacy
Allow WEP
Android 15 Beta 1 brings a new WEP network toggle in network preferences with a disclaimer text “WEP is an older security standard that is less secure”. In addition, there is now the privacy feature when connecting to a specific Wi-Fi network, for instance. It consists of two radio buttons for selecting Use randomized MAC or Use device MAC and a Send device name toggle that you can turn off if you do not wish to broadcast your device’s name on the network.
18. New Options in Cellular Network Security
Android 15 Beta 1 brought two switches in More privacy settings. The first option enables Android to notify you of Security when your cellular network is insecure or when it records your phone’s IMEI. The second of the given options is the Require encryption toggle, which is rather straightforward in its functionality.
19. Rich Widget Previews and Categories
Android 15 will introduce generated previews for widgets. This enables the Widget Page to be viewed remotely to make a preview on how the contents will appear on the device. In other words, a gallery widget will be able to display photos from the device rather than a default image on the Widgets Page.
Widgets Page will also suggest widgets at the top that will be divided into three categories: These include Essentials, Social, and Entertainment. These suggestions will dynamically change after every visit, but will help users filter through their app widgets.
20. Satellite Message Connectivity
Android is getting better in its satellite connectivity feature from Google. This feature gets UI elements in the new update, as well as SMS and MMS app support for sending and receiving messages. Other RCS messaging apps such as Google Messages will also integrate this feature in the future.
Other apps on your phone will also be more informed as to why full network services are not available at the moment.
21. Predictive Back Gesture by Default
Predictive Back gesture is not a new feature to Android . But it was hidden under the Developer options in previous releases. The last Beta included a new animation and the second Beta incorporated it into the system automatically. By swiping from the side to go back, you can now have a glimpse of the last page.
Predictive back gesture in Android 15
This is a minor addition but is quite good to look at in everyday practice. It is limited to Google apps and services but hopefully, third-party apps apply it soon after the Android 15s release.
22. Theft Detection
Everyone’s worst nightmare is having their phone stolen with all their data in the hands of the wrong people. To prevent this, Android introduces a new feature in Beta 2. Its name is Theft Detection and, based on its name, it can detect when your phone has been stolen and lock the device.
Theft Detection in Android
It relies on the on-device sensors and models to determine that your phone has been grabbed from your hand. The phone will get locked even if it was unlocked when you were using the phone. This will enhance the security of the device and you will have ample time to either locate your device or wipe the data using Find My Device.
Android 15 Features (Expected)
This is a list of Android 15 features that are possibly “coming soon” to your Pixel phone:This means Google could release them in upcoming feature drops or with the release of future Android 15 beta builds.23. Lockscreen Widgets
Do not get too excited though because, sadly, Lockscreen widgets are not going to make their way to our smartphones anytime soon. Nevertheless, they are on their way to Pixel Tablet. It will also allow dropping into the lock screen of the Pixel Tablet and add existing widgets by going to Settings > Hub mode soon. According to Android insider Mishaal Rahman, internally, Google has a name for this feature – Glanceable Hub.
Before you get up and start cheering, let me tell you that no, Lockscreen widgets are not going to make their way to smartphones anytime soon. They are coming to the Pixel Tablet, though. Going to Settings > Hub mode of the Pixel Tablet, the users will be able to add existing widgets to the lock screen. Mishaal Rahman, an Android insider, claims that internally, Google has a name for this feature – “Glanceable Hub”.
However, it is quite clear that the first one seems to have a lot of new features and enhancements to be considered as the major Android release. Although many more updates are anticipated in the future, people can state that Android 15 will be one of the significant Android updates. We also have a few features in wish list. If you have any suggestions as to what new features that Google should incorporate, please feel free to mention it in the comment section below.
