Android 15, or Vanilla Ice Cream as it's supposedly codenamed, is unlikely to launch in its finished form for quite some time, but the first previews and betas could arrive very soon, giving us an early taste of Google's next big Android update.
However, before that, numerous possible features and improvements have been leaked, so we already have an idea of what to expect.
You'll find all the news and rumors about Android 15 below, including possible features, plus the expected release date and phones set to support it. Check back here soon too, because we will update this article whenever there is new information about Android 15.
Come to the point
- What is it? The next major version of Android
- When does it come out? Expect the finished version between August and October.
- How much will it cost? This will be a free update.
Android 15: expected release date
The first developer preview of Android 15 could be just a day away at the time of writing, as it could arrive on February 15.
This date was proposed by a Google developer who posted on the Android Open Source Project and spotted by 9to5Google. They claim that the first developer preview of Android 15 is “scheduled” for February 15 and presumably they would know that.
So while we can't take this as a confirmation, the date is likely to be February 15, especially since the first preview should be available now since the first developer preview of Android 14 was released on February 8. February of last year.
That said, as the name suggests, this is a very early version of Android 15 aimed specifically at developers. That means it will probably be very buggy and almost certainly won't contain all the features of Android 15.
So it's not aimed at most people and unless you're a developer we don't recommend downloading it, but it will give you an early look at what to expect from Android 15.
After this, based on the previous status, we will probably see the first public beta in April or May, and that is the first time you should consider jumping on board. The final version of Android 15 will likely arrive sometime between August and October.
Again, that's based on past form. For reference, Android 14 was properly released on October 4, 2023, but Android 13 landed on August 15, 2022. In any case, hopefully Google will reveal a roadmap soon, giving us a clearer idea of when to expect public betas and final versions. release.
Android 15: compatibility
As usual with Android, it's the Pixel phones that will likely have access to the first previews and betas, as well as being among the first to get the full Android 15 update. But many other phones will also get Android 15.
Since most device makers commit to a set number of updates, we also have a good idea of which phones will get Android 15.
On the Google front, everything from the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro onwards should get Android 15, including the Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro.
There is a chance that the Pixel 5a 5G will also get Android 15 as it is guaranteed updates until August this year.
For Samsung, the Samsung Galaxy S24, Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S23 line, Galaxy S22 line, and Galaxy S21 line should all have Android 15. Just like Samsung's foldable phones since the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip. 3 onwards, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, which are yet to be released.
Many Galaxy A models will also get Android 15, such as the Galaxy A24, A33, A34, A53 5G, A54 5G, and A73, among others.
Numerous phones from other brands should also get Android 15, including OnePlus 12, OnePlus 11, OnePlus Open, Sony Xperia 1 V, Sony Xperia 5 V, Xiaomi 13, and Motorola Razr Plus 2023.
These are by no means all the phones we expect to get Android 15. As a general rule, if your phone is mid-range or higher and won't be more than two years old from the release of Android 15, you'll probably get the update. However, many older and cheaper phones will do this too.
You can also expect to see Android 15 on many Android tablets, such as the Pixel tablet and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series.
Android 15: rumored features
While we still don't know for sure what Android 15 will offer, several possible features have been leaked. You will find them below.
Battery health percentage
A small but extremely useful new feature that we could see in Android 15 is the battery health percentage. This would allow you to see the estimated percentage of charge the battery can currently hold compared to when it was new, so you would have a clear indication of how worn out your phone's battery is.
This can be beneficial particularly when trying to diagnose whether increased battery consumption is due to a drained battery from some misbehaving software.
It's a feature you'll already find on iOS, and Android Authority found a dead version hidden in an Android 14 update and sadykov nails (the editor of the Google News Telegram group). It's definitely a feature Google is working on and is a likely candidate for Android 15.
Android hasn't natively supported lock screen widgets since Android 4.2, but they may return with Android 15, as a hidden 'Common Space' feature was found in a recent beta build of Android. Spotted by Android Authority, this unfinished feature would allow you to add widgets to a common space on the lock screen.
However, there are a couple of big caveats here. Firstly, there is currently only support for Google Calendar, Google Clock, and the Google app, although more apps will likely be supported in time for launch.
Secondly, this appears to be currently designed only for devices with Hub mode, which right now means only the Pixel tablet. So it could be quite limited.
Private space
Android 15 could also include a native version of Samsung's Secure Folder feature, which gives non-Samsung phones the ability to hide sensitive apps in a separate hidden area called Private Space.
Spotted in unfinished form in a recent beta build of Android by Android Police, Private Space would require a PIN, pattern, password, or biometrics to access, and would contain its own instance of the Google Play Store, which you could use to download apps you don't. uses. I don't want anyone else using their phone to find out what they have or can open.
These apps will appear only within Private Space, making it a useful feature if you ever pass your phone to someone else.
Bluetooth Auracast
A recent Android 14 update has a lot of code mentioning hidden Bluetooth audio sharing, strongly suggesting that Bluetooth Auracast support is in the works.
This is a feature that allows you to share the audio you're listening to on your phone (whether it's music, a podcast, or anything else) with other people around you via Bluetooth. It allows multiple Bluetooth headphones to tune into the same audio stream, so you could, for example, listen to an album in sync with a friend.
The code that has been detected mentions using QR codes to allow other people to tune in to what you are listening to, so they don't have to go through the usual Bluetooth pairing process either.
easy mode
If you're reading this, then you probably don't need Android to be simpler, but some less tech-savvy people in your life might, and Google is apparently working on a feature to help with that.
Android Authority spotted a hidden settings page for a new feature called “easy preset” in a recent beta build of Android, and code strings explain that this feature would optimize Android's UI for “better readability and ease of navigation.” . “Enlarge icons and text, add contrast and bold, and add navigation buttons to the bottom of the screen.”
Therefore, this would likely benefit not only those who are less comfortable with technology, but also people with vision or dexterity problems. The feature doesn't work yet, but it may be part of Android 15.
Application Archiving
Android 14 already has an app archiving feature, where the Google Play Store will automatically archive apps you don't use frequently to reclaim storage space. But this version only works on the Play Store and you cannot choose to archive an app manually.
With Android 15, you may be able to choose which apps to archive, a process that removes part of the app without uninstalling it completely, so you don't lose the icon on your home screen and don't have to configure it entirely. It will reopen the next time you start it, but you will still be able to recover some storage space.
Android Authority has found several signs that manual app archiving is in the works in Android code, so while there's no guarantee this will come with Android 15, there's a good chance.
Saved App Pairs
If you use split-screen modes a lot on your Android device, you probably have certain pairs of apps that you tend to use together, like YouTube and Chrome. And with Android 15, you may be able to save these pairs, so you can automatically launch the two side by side.
Google is definitely working on this, as Android Police found the feature hidden in a recent beta version of Android, so the question really is when it will be released. The site even managed to get this feature working, so it's probably almost ready for release, meaning it could come to a future version of Android 14 instead of Android 15. But we'd certainly expect to see it on Android 15, if not sooner. . .
