Android 15 is shaping up to be a feature-rich release, with the third beta now available on supported Pixel devices. To recap, Beta 2 introduced some highly anticipated features like Private Space, App Pairs, and Rich Widgets previews. Now, Android 15 Beta 3 brings additional improvements and new features, which we’ll explore below.
Circle to Search Toggle
The navigation menu now includes a toggle to enable Circle to Search, making it easy to turn the feature on or off quickly. Google emphasized the broader availability of Circle to Search at the 2024 I/O, and this could be the first step towards its rollout on supported devices. You can find this option under Settings > System > Navigation Mode.
Better Passkey and Credential Management
In Beta 3, Google has simplified the process for users to sign in using passkeys. For those unfamiliar, passkeys allow you to sign into your accounts using biometrics or a device pin. The process has been streamlined from interacting with two prompts to just a single one.
One notable improvement is that if a user accidentally dismisses the passkey prompt, they can still access it via autofill options. However, this feature will need to be implemented by apps that support passkey sign-ins.
Screenshot Preview Change
Screenshot previews now have a slightly different look. Instead of the edit and share icons appearing beside the screenshot, they are now located below it. While the impact on user experience is unclear, it’s a notable change worth mentioning.
Automatically Turn on Bluetooth
The new Find My Device experience emphasizes the importance of keeping your phone’s Bluetooth turned on for network beacons to detect and locate it. This feature ensures that even if you disabled Bluetooth before losing your device, the phone will eventually and automatically turn it back on.
Google Home Screensaver
There’s a new screensaver available! The Google Home screensaver, first seen by Mishaal Rahman in April, has now been included in Android 15 Beta 3. This screensaver provides a convenient way to access all your smart home appliances directly from your smartphone’s screen when it’s docked or charging. This feature could be particularly useful on the Pixel Tablet.
Making it Contrasty!
The System Update and App Updates options in the Settings app now feature more contrasting overlays, resembling the look found across the Pixel UI. Additionally, there’s a new contrast setting in the wallpaper customization section with three options: Default, Medium, and High.
Auto-Delete Biometrics and Face Data
Starting with Android 15 Beta 3, if biometric data fails to work as intended and you encounter unsuccessful attempts to unlock your device, Android will promptly delete the biometric data and ask you to re-enroll. This feature, first spotted by Mishaal Rahman, has now been rolled out.
Long App Names
If an app has a long name, you may have noticed that the Pixel launcher previously displayed part of it and replaced the rest with dots. This has changed with the addition of a “Show long app names” toggle, which allows long app names to be displayed on the next line if they are too long for a single line.
These are some of the key changes and additions in the latest Android 15 Beta. With this release, Android 15 has achieved platform stability, meaning Google has finalized all APIs for developers to start integrating into their apps.
How do you feel about Android 15 Beta 3? How excited are you about the latest Android releases? Let us know in the comments below.
