To the surprise of absolutely no-one, a new major version of Android is coming later this year.
We’ve known that Android 15 was on the way for a while now, but Google used its I/O developer conference keynote to reveal lots more about the new software.
That includes all its top new features, and there are three in particular that I’m really excited to try. Let’s dive in.
Private Space
I use my smartphone more than any other piece of technology, meaning it has a lot of sensitive information stored on it.
But right now, when I give it to a friend or family member, they’re just one tap away from accessing this information.
Enter Private Space. It’s a space that’s totally separate from the rest of Android 15, allowing you to hide any sensitive apps (such as for health or banking) behind an extra layer of authentication.
You can also ensure that notifications from these apps are only displayed when you’re in Private Space and make it hidden completely when you’re using the rest of the phone. Very handy.
Google Wallet photo support
I love all the different kinds of cards, tickets and passes that Google Wallet supports, but adding them can be a pain. Adding each one is such a hassle that I usually don’t bother with it.
However, that looks set to get much easier in Android 15. Google will let you add any passes with barcodes or QR codes by simply scanning them, meaning it’ll take a fraction of the time it usually does.
My only disappointment is it’ll initially be limited to the US. Hopefully it’s expanded to include the UK and other countries soon.
Theft Detection Lock
OK, so I definitely don’t want my phone to actually be stolen. But I’m looking forward to pretending it’s happened to see if Google’s new Theft Detection Lock feature works.
It supposedly uses AI to sense if your phone has been snatched from you and someone is running, cycling or driving away. In that scenario, your phone is instantly locked down to prevent the thief from accessing any personal information.
Currently, you must manually do this from a device signed into the same Google account, which could take a while if you’re not at home.
Having your phone stolen is traumatic enough without worrying about criminals having access to your personal information. If Theft Detection works as advertised, it’ll be one less thing to worry about.
The second public beta of Android 15 is available now on recent devices from Google, Honor, Iqoo, Lenovo, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Tecno, Vivo and Xiaomi ahead of a public release later this year.
Learn more about Android 15 in our article on the top 10 features that had already been revealed. You may also be interested in four critical Wear OS 5 reveals from Google I/O 2024.
