The next version of Google’s mobile operating system is not far away now.
Android 15 is expected to be shown off at the upcoming Google I/O event in May, before it likely debuts alongside the Pixel 9 range later this year.
However, a public beta of Android 15 is now live, and Google has already announced several new features to developers.
While Android 15 is likely to be a small refresh rather than an overhaul, there are still 10 new features that are worth getting excited about.
1. Satellite messaging
Apple recently introduced the ability for some iPhones to use a satellite uplink to make emergency calls when in a remote area with no network coverage.
While this feature won’t be coming to Android 15, the ability to send messages (SMS and MMS) via satellite will.
This is great if you’re the adventurous type or spend time heading off grid but still want to stay safe. It’s uncertain at the moment whether you’ll need particular hardware built-in to your phone though, so we’ll have to wait and see how the service will work.
2. Faster NFC payments
Google is adding more code to the NFC payments area of Android 15, which should make the process faster and more convenient. It looks like your phone will communicate with the other NFC device, but not respond until you tap the screen to confirm a payment. Small change, but might be one you use a lot.
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3. Easier to choose an alternative to Google Pay
Android 14 already allows you to select your bank’s own contactless payment app (provided it has one) as the default Wallet instead of Google Pay, but the setting can be a little hard to track down.
This was adjusted in the first Beta release of Android 15, making it much simpler. The setting is now in the Default Apps section rather than buried in the NFC section.
4. Screen-sharing an app
You’ll now be able to screen-share only the app you’re using, rather than the whole display.
We did see this make its debut on the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro in late 2023. But in Android 15 it should be a feature available to all devices.
5. Improved PDF viewing and editing
Google has been hard at work on improving the rendering and handling of PDFs in the built-in PDF reader.
This should mean that not only will documents be displayed faster, but you’ll be able to use features such as annotations, form editing and password protection natively in Android 15.
6. Better camera performance
The Beta versions of Android 15 come with some subtle upgrades to the cameras.
One is ‘Low Light Boost’, a new auto-exposure capability that should provide better previews of how a night shot will turn out. There’s also more granular flash controls to tune the brightness of the flash and prevent white-outs.
Martyn Casserly
7. Audio equalisation
Another new feature is ‘Loudness Control’, a system-wide option that monitors and adjusts the volumes of the media you’re using so that they all have approximately the same volume.
The idea is that you don’t find yourself listening to a quiet recording of something, then accidentally open YouTube and get deafened by an ad.
8. Notification Cooldown
If you sometimes feel overwhelmed by constant notifications lighting up your phone, Android 15’s Cooldown feature will bring you some welcome respite.
The setting prevents the same app from barraging you with alerts one after another. If an app sends you lots of notifications in a short space of time, the later ones will get silenced by default.
9. Screen recording detection
Security improvements are always welcome, and this new monitoring of system activities is a good one.
Android 15 will allow apps to detect if the screen is being recorded while they are in use. This should prevent sensitive data from being watched and caught on video, either by accident or via malware.
10. New Health Connect app
The Health Connect app was a Beta test that ran with Android 14, but Google could be bringing it as an actual system app in Android 15. As the name suggests, this is intended to allow users to display health, nutrition and fitness data from various third-party apps in one place.
These are the 10 most interesting new features, but they’re not the only ones to have been confirmed. Android 15 will be able to differentiate between SDR and HDR images more easily, support virtual Midi 2.0 devices and better recognise multiple languages at the same time. You can also expect the usual general performance and battery life refinements.
Google may also be reserving some of the more exciting features for its I/O keynote, so it’s worth tuning in then.
Want to buy a new handset ready for Android 15? All of the best Android phones will get the update, though it’ll look different depending on which company you go for.
