After six major previews and betas, Google is ready to launch Android 15 for Pixel devices today. There are some notable additions and changes, but it’s not a particularly notable release in a continuation of the recent trend. Today’s release also coincides with the October 2024 Pixel (Feature) Drop.
The Android 15 for Pixel launch starts with a secret compartment for apps called Private space. During the set-up process, you decide whether you want to sign-in or create a separate Google Account so that data doesn’t appear outside the locker. You also decide whether to create a new lock (PIN/password and/or fingerprint/face) method or keep the existing one.
Once done, “Private” appears at the bottom of your app drawer. Alternatively, you can hide that and access it by searching for “private space.” Some applications are there by default: Camera, Chrome, Contacts, Files (which can be used to sideload apps), Photos, Pixel Buds, and Play Store.
You can customize how often the Private space locks automatically: Every time device locks, 5 minutes after screen timeout, and Only after device restarts. Once that occurs, the Private apps are invisible from Recents multitasking, notifications, settings, and other apps.
Similarly, besides Theft Detection, Offline Device, and Remote Lock for all Android 10+ devices, Android 15 will require PIN, password, or biometric authentication when changing Find My Device and other sensitive settings, as well as SIM removal. After “multiple failed login attempts,” Android 15 will “lock down your device, preventing unauthorized access.” Finally, enhanced factory reset protection “makes it even harder for thieves to reset your device” without your Google Account password.
Meanwhile, later this year, you can opt-in to Identity Check and require “biometric authentication when accessing critical Google account and device settings, like changing your PIN, disabling theft protection, or accessing Passkeys from an untrusted location.”
Predictive back shows a preview of the homescreen when you’re able to close an application. This shrinking of the current window lets people confirm that they’re exiting the app. Preventing accidental app closures has been a multi-year effort that started in Android 13 and is being enabled by default in Android 15 after previously requiring a Developer option. Support is on an app-by-app basis.
Apps targeting Android 15 (SDK 35) go edge-to-edge by default. The status and gesture navigation bars become transparent.
The screenshot and copied text preview (in the bottom corner) has been redesigned with a pill-shaped container for the Share, Markup, Capture more, etc. buttons, which are now rounded. While the text design is unchanged, Android 15 has moved the screenshot thumbnail above the pill.
Android 15 introduces a new screen saver that shows Home Controls when charging. This primarily benefits the Pixel Tablet, but also works on phones. Settings > Hub Mode [or Display & touch] > Screen saver. The Favorites UI is nearly identical to the Home controls UI on the lockscreen and in Quick Settings.
When adjusting the brightness in Quick Settings or volume using the slider (with a finger), you’ll feel haptic feedback. More broadly, Android 15 redesigns the Volume panel that’s accessed through the three-dot menu at the bottom of the slider. There are large Material You sliders for Media, Call, Ring, Notification, and Alarm, while you can tap for the output switcher — which has removed the “Speakers and displays” distinction — at the very top.
Adaptive vibration takes into account your phone’s current environment — “like when it’s in a pocket or a loud place” — to adjust haptic intensity. This leverages the microphone and other sensors to “determine sound levels and context,” with no data recorded. Settings > Sound & vibration > Vibration & haptics > Adaptive vibration.
The Pixel Launcher now lets you “Show long app names” that take up more than one line to avoid truncation. Pixel Launcher long-press > Home settings > App list settings.
Previously, you had to drag the app up as if you were deleting to stop the Pixel Launcher from suggesting it in the top row. Now, you can long-press for “Don’t suggest app.”
The Widgets picker adds a carousel of highlights, including Essentials, News & magazines, and Suggested for you, while the big change is how you can tap on a widget to add it to your homescreen. The app-based widget picker has been placed in a container, while it’s now “Pixel Weather” on Google devices.
In Wallpaper & style, you have a new Color contrast page that’s more interactive than the old Developer options version. There’s Default, Medium, and High, while “High contrast text” lets you “Change text color to black or white.”
The Android 15 wallpaper picker does a better job distinguishing between the Lock and Home screen through a card-based UI. Tapping brings you to a fullscreen preview — without the two buttons at the bottom — where you can zoom in/out to adjust. This new card UI is particularly nice on the Pixel Fold for showing a preview of the inner screen.
On foldables and tablets, you can now have a persistent Taskbar when apps are open. Long-press on the “action key” at the left for Circle to Search. To enable, get the Taskbar to appear > long-press the divider > Always show Taskbar. Then there’s a “Continue using apps on fold” setting to have the front display always or never turn on, with “Swipe up to continue” in the middle.
You can now Save app pairs to the homescreen. On large screen devices, the button appears in the Recents menu. However, this feature is also available on phones by tapping the side-by-side icons for “Save app pairs.”
By default, Bluetooth will “Automatically turn on tomorrow” when you disable it. However, you can change this behavior: Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > Bluetooth.
On Pixel, you can now run Device diagnostics on Component health, like display and touch tests. There’s storage and battery status, with the latter showing Manufacturing date, First usage date, and Cycle count. On a related note, the dual-tone Dynamic Color Pixel Battery widget is nice. In Evaluation mode, you “use one device to assess another device.” Go to Settings > System > Device diagnostics.
Going to App info reveals a new “Archive” option. On your homescreen and app launcher, that icon is grayed out with a cloud/download icon overlaid. Tapping starts a Play Store download, or you can go back to App info and hit “Restore.” As part of this, the “Open” action has been moved to the top-right corner.
The Security & privacy settings page has been reorganized. A new “Privacy” heading links directly to Privacy controls, Privacy dashboard, and Private space to save you a step.
On a related note, authentication panels have been redesigned to be taller and show the app icon.
Other Settings related changes include:
- Network & internet > Internet > Network details > Privacy: New “Send device name” toggle
- Apps > Default apps > Wallet app
- Display & touch (which has been renamed) > Screen timeout > Adaptive timeout: “Automatically turns off your screen if you’re not using your device”
- There’s a new “Hearing devices” Quick Settings Tile
- In Storage, “System” is split into “Android 15” and “Temporary system files”
- In Notifications, “Device & app notifications” has been renamed to “Notification read, reply & control”
- System > Navigation mode: More prominent Circle to Search on/off switch
- In Passwords, passkeys & autofill, there’s a prominent “Change” button to pick another manager.
- It now says “Enter PIN” on the lockscreen with slightly larger text
Android 15 Pixel launch
Android 15 is launching and rolling out starting today for the Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
Visit Settings > System > System update and click the “Check for update” button if the OTA hasn’t already appeared on your device. Android 15 Beta 4.2 users will get a small update to this final release.
The Android Beta Program will remain open and continue testing QPRs and feature drops. To get the stable version, those running Android 15 Beta 4+ have to opt out first. Devices will not be wiped by the stable OTA once that becomes widely available.
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