Android 15: Possible release date, announced features, supported devices and more
Android 15 latest news
Updated May 15
• Android 15 beta 2 appeared at Google I/O.
• Circle to Search is adding support for symbolic formulas, diagrams and graphs later this year, possibly as part of Android 15.
Android 15 won't arrive until later in the year, but we already know plenty about what Google has in store for this year’s software upgrade. We've now had two developer previews, with Android 15 beta 2 arriving in May. That means people have been crawling through this early code in search of new features, upgrades to existing ones and any fine-tuning Google’s been up to.
So far we’ve seen features that let users cooldown notifications, changes that could see in-app web pages load faster, a change that offers partial screen sharing. the return of lock-screen widgets on Pixel Tablet, better visual accessibility and forcing apps to fill the screen edge-to-edge.
Of course that’s no doubt just scratching the surface of what Android 15 could offer. Here’s everything we know so far.
Android 15 Possible Release Date
The release date for Android 15 remains unclear. Typically the new software arrives in late Summer, but there have been instances where this wasn’t the case. The launch of Android 12 and Android 14 happened in October, much closer to the launch of that year’s Pixel phones.
So while there’s every possibility Android 15 launches in late summer, as usual, we may have to wait a couple more months. Unfortunately we’re not going to find out for certain until much closer to the time.
Google’s Android 15 development calendar doesn’t help much either, noting that beta releases will commence in Spring ahead of Platform Stability from June. So far we've hit the part of the process where a second beta of Android 15 is now available, following the release of the first Android 15 beta in April. The final release window is rather vague, simply noting that the final release will happen an unspecified time after July.
We expect that, as per usual, Android 15 will arrive on Pixel phones first, with other phone makers following on at their own pace.
Android 15 Supported Devices
Initial Android 15 developer previews and public betas has confirmed which Pixel devices are set to get an Android 15 upgrade later this year. The oldest devices in line for the upgrade are the Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro. Just don’t expect many additional updates, since both devices will stop receiving full Android updates sometime in October.
Naturally this means the Google Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 series and Google Pixel 8 series will be getting an Android 15 upgrade as well. All those phones can install the Android 15 beta right now.
The Google Pixel 5a is set to lose access to new Android updates at some point in August and definitely won’t be getting Android 15. So if you still have a Pixel 5a, it may be worth upgrading to the Pixel 8a now that the midrange phone has been released.
As for other Android phones, that’s entirely dependent on what sort of software support your phone’s manufacturer has pledged. The oldest Samsung flagship scheduled to get Android 15 is the Galaxy S21, as will mid-range phones up to the Galaxy A33 and foldables up to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3.
Android 15 developer preview & beta
The first two Android 15 developer previews launched in February and March. Now we're deep into beta territory after the Android 15 public beta arrived in April. And while May's Google I/O conference focused more on AI features than Android, we still got a second beta release. (Check out our favorite Android 15 features as of the second public beta.)
From here on out, we'd expect Google to focus more on platform stability than adding big feature updates. Subsequent betas will likely offer bug fixes and other behind-the-scenes changes ahead of the final release.
However these timeline isn't set in stone, and there could be issues with Android 15 that Google needs to fix (like the late April fix for broken NFC functions and other bugs) — pushing these dates back by an unspecified amount.
Android 15 features
Now that we're in the beta stage, we have a better idea of what Android 15 will offer, with the caveat that things could change between now and the final release. Here's a look at what we've seen so far from Google's assorted updates.
One of the main new features Google announced alongside the first developer preview is partial screen sharing, which allows Android users to share windows from a single app, rather than sharing their whole screen — much like some of the best video chat apps already do on desktops.
There’s also the strong possibility that Android 15 will see lock-screen widgets return to Android phones, after options to set them appeared in the Android 14 QPR3 beta. While they may be limited to devices that support Android hub mode, like the Pixel Tablet, it’s something we would like to see return. Lock screen widgets vanished with the arrival of Android 5, and have since appeared on iOS, so they’re due a comeback on smartphones.
Android 15 could also feature a big accessibility change that would be useful for anyone with visual impairments. This involves an “easy pre-set” feature that utilizes larger text and icons, additional contrast and bold effects, plus three on-screen buttons for navigation. While unfinished from what we can tell, it looks pretty similar to iOS’s Assistive Access — which simplifies the phone interface and uses more visual cues rather than harder-to-read text.
At Google I/O, Google did show off an update to the Talkback accessibility feature, which describes what's happening in images on a phone screen for people with impaired vision. Sometimes, there aren't descriptions for those images, so Talkback is going to tap into AI to fill in the missing data.
Another feature in the developer preview could see in-app web pages load slightly faster. That’s thanks to Google pinning the WebView protocol that powers those pages to your phone’s memory, and ensuring it doesn’t have to boot up from scratch each time you use it.
If excessive notifications tend to get on your nerves, then Android 15 may offer something you’ll be happy about. A “notification cooldown” has been spotted in the developer preview, which gradually lowers the volume of successive notifications apps are throwing at you. That means you don’t need to choose between putting your phone on silent, and being irritated by every last message sent to your group chats.
We may also see Android 15 force app developers to offer edge-to-edge display coverage, a feature that’s currently optional. The idea is that apps use up all available screen space, including the areas normally taken up by status bars — which already have the ability to vanish where necessary.
The preview also features a new keyboard vibration toggle, letting you disable haptics in the keyboard app, as well as some haptic feedback when you lower the display brightness. Plus like Android 14 QPR betas, it looks like it’ll be possible to switch between Bluetooth devices from the Quick Settings menu — rather than the full Bluetooth menu.
Finally Pixel Fold owners may be able to use the “continue using apps on Fold” feature that lets you continue using apps on the cover display whenever you shut the foldable display.
It appears that Android 15 will include a new feature that allows users to find turned-off devices. A recent report indicates that both the Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a and the Pixel 9 can use the feature. As of this moment, it seems that the only limitation on compatible devices is that there needs to be some reserve power in the battery.
The Android 15 beta has also confirmed better cellular network security, featuring warnings about unencrypted networks and the option to avoid them all together. There's also set to be support for external Braille displays, the choice of a new default wallet and measures to avoid malicious apps pushing other apps to the foreground.
The second beta of Android 15 has clarified a few new features like Private Space, which will be a vault for stashing sensitive apps, similar to how you can hide away files and photos you don't want others to see. You'll also be able to add passes to Google Wallet using photos, and Maps will add AR content that's aimed at teaching you about different places. (Singapore and Paris will be the first cities to add these AR experiences.)
On the security front, a theft detection lock is going to use AI to determine when your phone's been snatched and lock things down to keep vital information out of the sight of thieves. Google Play Protect will also leverage AI for real-time detection of fraud or phishing attempts by apps you've installed.
Google says that Circle to Search is picking up new capabilities beyond just tapping objects to trigger a search. The updated feature will be able to understand symbolic formulas, diagrams and graphs. It's unclear if this update is coming via Android 15 or a different software update later this year.
Android 15 outlook
There’s still a few months to go before Android 15 is ready for your phone (and then even longer before it will be time to install it, if you're using an Android phone built by someone other than Google). That means parts of the software update are still coming into focus.
Still, from the official details we’ve received so far, there's a lot to like about Android 15. And we're expecting to get an even better sense of what's coming to Android phones now that we're deeper into the beta process.
