Android 15 Beta 2 introduces a host of features and changes that many have been eagerly anticipating, marking a significant step forward from the initial Beta release. While previous additions to Android 15 were largely minor or focused on internal changes and developer tools, this update includes several new user-facing features, tweaks to the user interface, and enhancements to the overall user experience. Here’s a rundown of all the new features currently available in Android 15.
Android 15 Features (Available Now)
Given Google’s tendency to delay the release of announced features and occasionally enable them through server-side switches, we’ve categorized this list into features currently accessible in Android 15 and those slated for future release. This division aims to prevent any confusion. Here are the features readily available for experimentation in Android 15.
1. Private Space
With the Android 15 Beta 2 update, Private Space is now available. This feature serves as a private vault for your apps that you wish to keep hidden from others. Private Space works by creating a separate profile on your device, where you can store sensitive apps. This profile remains paused whenever the phone is locked.
To use Private Space, you need to enable it in Settings -> Security and privacy -> Private Space. Once enabled, you will see a separate Private Space section in the app launcher. Access to this section is restricted to biometric or password authentication. For more information about this feature, refer to our dedicated guide.
2. Notification Cooldown Period
Notification Cooldown is considered one of the most valuable additions to Android in recent years. Getting multiple notifications from an app simultaneously can lead to continuous and sometimes annoying notification sounds. To address this, Notification Cooldown gradually reduces the volume for subsequent notifications from the same app.
To activate this feature, navigate to Settings -> Notifications -> Notification Cooldown. There, you can select from three options: Apply to all notifications, Apply to conversations, or Don’t use notification cooldown. If you’re interested, we have a dedicated guide on how to use notification cooldown that you can check out.
3. New Keyboard and Brightness Haptic Settings
Say goodbye to the hassle of navigating through third-party keyboard settings just to disable keypress vibrations. Android 15 introduces a convenient toggle for users to easily turn off keyboard vibrations. Although seemingly minor, this enhancement significantly improves the user experience, especially considering that most third-party Android keyboards have keypress vibration enabled by default.
In Android 15, haptic feedback is now integrated when adjusting the brightness slider from Quick Settings. While previously under testing, this feature is now fully operational in Android 15.
4. Custom Vibrations for Notification Channels
Another enhancement in Android 15 is the ability to set custom vibration patterns for notification channels. This feature enables you to assign unique vibration styles for different types of notifications within a single app. This customization makes it easier to distinguish between notifications based on the vibration pattern alone.
5. Split Screen App Pairs
Google is showing some love to large-screen devices and foldables with a new feature called App Pairs. This feature allows you to create and add a shortcut for launching two apps in split-screen mode. It’s convenient because you no longer have to open the two apps individually and then arrange them side by side.
Although this feature was already available for Samsung and some other foldable devices, it’s great to see it finally making its way to Android.
6. Continue Using Apps on Fold
It’s surprising that the Pixel Fold doesn’t include a feature that’s considered one of the most defining aspects of foldable devices: the ability for an app to seamlessly shift and resume on the outer display when the main display is folded.
Android expert Mishaal Rahman initially discovered this feature in Android 14 QPR1 Beta 1, yet it wasn’t officially acknowledged until Android 15 DP1.
Additionally, there’s a feature in development for the Pixel Fold called “Swipe up to continue,” which is currently inactive. Once activated, users will have the ability to fold the device closed and seamlessly resume their activity by swiping up on the front screen.
Unfortunately, Pixel Fold users will need to exercise patience as it remains unclear whether the feature will be included in the upcoming feature drop or the stable release of Android 15.
7. Quick Access Bluetooth Tile and Auto Turn On
One of the basic features that was missing from the Bluetooth Quick Settings button on Pixel devices was a pop-out menu similar to the one in Wi-Fi Quick Settings. Although this feature was introduced in Android 14 QPR 3 Beta 1, it’s not exactly new.
Android 15 Beta 2 introduces an option to automatically turn Bluetooth back on after you disable it. This feature supports the new Find My Device experience that was recently rolled out and ensures that Quick Share is always available for seamless file transfers. If you prefer not to have Bluetooth turn on automatically, you can toggle this feature off in the settings.
8. New Volume Panel
The expanded volume panel has received a design revamp, featuring thicker, more pronounced sliders arranged horizontally. This new layout makes the sliders more accessible and easier to read. Additionally, you can now jump to settings directly from the volume panel or change the device’s audio source.
9. Record Screen of Individual Apps
Once more, this isn’t an entirely new feature, as it was initially introduced in Android 14 and included in Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1. However, it has made its way to Android 15.
Previously, screen recording was limited to capturing the entire screen, which could reveal unnecessary information. With the addition of the “A single app“ option in the screen recording menu, users now have the freedom to record only the specific app they wish to showcase.
Curious about what happens when attempting to switch to other apps? This feature continues recording as long as the app being recorded remains active in the recent apps list. Deleting the app from the multitasking view will halt the recording.
10. Screen Recording Detection
As a new privacy measure, Android 15 introduces Screen Recording detection. This feature notifies apps when the screen recorder is active, allowing them to take necessary steps to safeguard user privacy. Apps can even block screen recording if they choose to, which is particularly useful for banking apps and digital wallets.
Additionally, Android 15 will hide sensitive information, such as message OTPs, usernames, credentials, and credit card details, when screen sharing is active. This measure helps prevent your data from falling into the wrong hands.
11. New Easter Egg
For the tech enthusiasts out there, you might be aware that internally, Android 15 is referred to as Vanilla Ice Cream. With each new OS release comes a unique Android version Easter egg, and Android 15 is no exception. However, it’s not entirely fresh; it’s the same as Android 14, but flipped vertically to resemble a V. In other words, Upside Down Cake has been turned upside down.
12. App Archiving
As the name suggests, App Archiving is a feature similar to offloading apps on iOS. It has been present in Android’s code for some time and has finally been enabled in Android 15 Developer Preview 2. App Archiving reduces the storage space an application occupies while preserving your login session and important data within the app.
To test the feature, we archived an app that initially took up 107 MB of space, which was then reduced to nearly 34 MB. Once an app is archived, its listing remains in the launcher, and tapping on it allows you to restore it. Additionally, you can go to the app’s page in settings and tap Restore.
13. Audio Sharing
Android 15 Developer Preview 2 introduced an “Audio Sharing” feature, located in the Connected Devices section of Settings. This feature allows you to connect multiple headphones that support Bluetooth LE audio, enabling you to listen to audio on multiple Bluetooth devices simultaneously.
Currently, the feature isn’t functional, and the toggle turns off as soon as you exit the page. The Stream settings section is also empty. We eagerly await Google’s addition of this feature to the Android 15 stable release to see it in action.
14. HD Video Feature in “Device as Webcam”
Recent Android 14 QPR releases introduced the ability to use your Android devices as a webcam. While it’s a great feature, the video quality was previously restricted to 720p when connected to the phone’s camera. This changes with the latest Android 15 Developer Preview, where you can now find an “HQ” icon to enable, allowing you to use your Android’s camera to its full extent.
15. New Health Connect Features
For those unfamiliar, Health Connect streamlines the syncing of various data sets across fitness apps, eliminating the need for manual data entry each time users switch apps. Android 15 introduces an upgraded Android Health Module and expands support for additional data types in Health Connect, including Fitness, Nutrition, and more.
16. Default Wallet app
Google has introduced a new Default app option for the Wallet app in settings. This allows users to set their preferred default Wallet app. On Pixel devices, the default app is set to Google Wallet. However, since this is a new feature, not many apps currently support being set as default wallet apps.
17. Better Wi-Fi Network Privacy
Android 15 Beta 1 includes a new WEP network toggle in network preferences, accompanied by a warning text stating, “WEP is an older security protocol that’s less secure.” Additionally, there is now a privacy option in the settings of a Wi-Fi network. This option includes two radio buttons to choose between “Use randomized MAC” and “Use device MAC,” as well as a “Send device name” toggle that can be disabled if you prefer not to send your device’s name on the network.
18. New Cellular Network Security Options
Android 15 Beta 1 introduced two new toggles in the More privacy settings. The first option enables Android to send you Security notifications if your cellular network is insecure or if it records your phone’s IMEI. The second option is the Require encryption toggle, which is self-explanatory.
19. Rich Widget Previews and Categories
Android 15 introduces support for generated previews for widgets. This feature allows remote view access to the Widget Page to display a preview of how a widget will look with the contents on your device. For example, a gallery widget can now show photos from your device instead of a placeholder image on the Widgets Page.
Additionally, the Widgets Page will now suggest widgets at the top, divided into three categories: Essentials, Social, and Entertainment. These suggestions will change after every visit, making it easier for users to navigate through their app widgets.
20. Satellite Message Connectivity
Google is enhancing its satellite connectivity feature for Android. The update includes UI elements for this feature, as well as SMS and MMS app support for sending and receiving messages. RCS messaging apps like Google Messages will also support this feature in the future.
Additionally, other apps on your phone will be more aware of why full network services are not available at the moment.
21. Predictive Back Gesture by Default
The Predictive Back gesture is not a new feature in Android, but it was previously hidden under the Developer options. The latest Beta introduced a new animation, and the second Beta made it the default system behavior. Now, when you swipe from the side to go back, you can get a peek of the last page.
While this is a minor addition, it enhances the overall user experience. Currently, it is limited to Google apps and services, but it is hoped that third-party apps will adopt it soon after the release of Android 15.
22. Theft Detection
Android introduces a new feature in Beta 2 to address the nightmare of having your phone stolen and your data compromised. Named Theft Detection, this feature automatically locks your device when it detects that your phone has been stolen.
Utilizing on-device sensors and models, Theft Detection can recognize when your phone has been forcibly taken from your possession. Even if your device was previously unlocked, it will now be locked, enhancing device security. This gives you valuable time to locate your device or remotely erase your data using Find My Device.
Android 15 Features (Expected)
These are the Android 15 features that may be “coming soon” to your Pixel phone. This implies that Google could include them in upcoming feature updates or in future Android 15 beta versions.
23. Lockscreen Widgets
Before you get too excited, lockscreen widgets are not coming to smartphones anytime soon. However, they are coming to the Pixel Tablet. Users will soon be able to add existing widgets to the lock screen of their Pixel Tablet by navigating to Settings > Hub mode. According to Android expert Mishaal Rahman, Google refers to this feature as “Glanceable Hub” internally.
The initial release of Android 15 is packed with numerous new features and improvements, solidifying its status as a major Android version. With many more updates expected to come, Android 15 is poised to become one of the most significant Android updates yet. We also have a few features on our wishlist. If you have any ideas for new features that Google should add, please share them in the comments section below.
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