The primary public beta for Android 15 has lastly landed, and it’s giving us an early peek at some significantly cool new options and enhancements coming to the world’s hottest cell working system. Whereas some anticipated goodies are nonetheless MIA, there’s nonetheless loads to get enthusiastic about on the brand new construct.
One headliner is improved help for satellite tv for pc connectivity, extending Android’s networking capabilities into the stratosphere. The platform now bakes in UI parts to streamline the satellite tv for pc hyperlink expertise throughout apps and providers.
However satellite tv for pc expertise received’t be restricted to emergency use solely. Android 15 clears the best way for SMS and RCS messaging apps to ship/obtain messages by way of orbiting relays when earthly networks are unavailable.
Partial display screen sharing
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Whereas Android 14 enabled partial display screen recording on Pixels, model 15 rolls out this helpful characteristic throughout the complete Android ecosystem. As an alternative of capturing the complete show, customers can now share or report only a particular app window – excellent for troubleshooting glitches, creating tutorials, and extra.
Android 15 additionally will clue apps in when display screen recording is energetic. That approach, they will modify for any app switching which will happen, stopping these awkward clean display screen moments in recordings.
Edge-to-edge apps by default
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One eye-catching tweak might be Android 15’s push for edge-to-edge app experiences. Whereas Android already helps fullscreen app modes that maximise show actual property, many apps nonetheless use older layouts. With this replace, Google could merely drive all apps into edge-to-edge fullscreen mode by default – very similar to how apps show on iOS.
Notification cooldown
App notifications will be overwhelming generally, particularly once they’re arriving again to again. Android 15 appears to be like to curb this downside by way of a brand new “Notification cooldown” perform. When a number of alerts from the identical app begin flooding in, this setting will routinely decrease the amount and frenzy of these successive pings.
Whereas this characteristic hasn’t made the beta minimize, there’s a superb probability it’ll be there on the secure model.
New quantity panel
Google has revamped Android’s quantity controls with model 15 with thicker, pill-shaped sliders. It additionally permits extra performance – one faucet mutes the stream, whereas the panel can collapse for a cleaner look throughout media playback. Google has additionally baked in further controls for spatial audio and noise filtering.
Default pockets apps
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On Android 14 and earlier, you’d discover choices for tweaking default browser, assistant and most different app classes below the Default apps settings. However the “Default fee app” possibility was stashed away elsewhere. Fortunately, Google is fixing this with Android 15. The most recent beta promotes the rebranded “Default pockets app” setting to its correct dwelling alongside different defaults below Settings -> Apps -> Default apps -> Pockets app.
New Bluetooth popup
One other quality-of-life enchancment includes Bluetooth accent administration. In prior Android variations, the Fast Settings tile merely toggled Bluetooth on/off with no further controls. Android 15 supercharges this, permitting you to not solely disable Bluetooth but additionally view, join/disconnect paired gadgets and even kick off pairing for brand new equipment.
Supercharged built-in PDF reader
Whereas Android’s built-in PDF viewer covers fundamentals like viewing and scrolling by means of paperwork, it lacks superior capabilities present in devoted reader apps. That’s lastly being addressed, as Google is upgrading Android 15’s PDF rendering engine with strong annotation, form-filling, textual content search, and even help for password-protected information.
Improved foldable help
Love or hate the folding type issue, these shape-shifting gadgets are right here to remain. So Google is rolling out the pink carpet in Android 15 with new foldable optimisations – most notably, a cleaner approach for apps to help exterior cowl shows on clamshell fashions.
A brand new property will let builders designate apps or app home windows as specifically tailor-made for these compact outer screens.
App archiving by means of Settings
Taking a cue from iOS, Android 15 is lastly gaining the ability to archive sometimes used apps. When archived, apps are successfully uninstalled however retain information for simple restoration later. Archived apps nonetheless present on the house display screen.
Android has beforehand allowed app archiving by way of the Play Retailer, however Android 15 codifies it into the OS itself. Machine Settings will now provide an “Archive and Restore” button for managing put in apps, no Play involvement wanted.
Larger refresh charges for video games
For the cell gaming crowd, Android 15 Developer Preview 2 delivered an thrilling addition: the power to disable Android’s 60fps cap for video games. With a brand new toggle enabled, titles can lastly take full benefit of excessive refresh-rate shows as much as 120Hz.
In fact, sport makers might want to optimise their creations to leverage this. Nonetheless, Android 15 removes a long-standing roadblock to clean gameplay on trendy {hardware}.
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With a number of extra beta iterations left earlier than an anticipated October secure launch, Android 15’s full imaginative and prescient ought to crystallise quickly – so keep tuned.