The wait for the next generation Android experience is finally over. Google has released the official version of Android 15 today, and it is now making its way to compatible phones, starting with the company’s own Pixel smartphone series.
Among the key areas where Android 15 brings the largest set of security and privacy upgrades. To achieve this goal, users will soon be able to create a secure space for all their sensitive applications, locked behind their device’s local password or biometric layer.
This secure environment is called “Private Space”, living as an invisible room of its own in the app drawer. You can now protect apps dealing with health data, banking activities, and sensitive communications in this private corner of your Android phone without any complicated tricks.
Such apps will not appear in the multitasking overview or settings. Notifications from these sensitive apps will not be visible to the public as well. The private app will appear as a custom label of its own at the bottom of the app drawer, but users can choose to hide it as well.
Google is also adding a set of features to protect stolen devices. Among them is Theft Detection Lock, which relies on artificial intelligence and device sensor readings to detect events like theft. Once the system confirms such an attempt, it automatically locks the screen as a safety measure.
Malicious actors often try to evade tracking by disabling systems like Find My or removing the SIM card. In such scenarios, Google will protect these systems behind a layer of identity verification. Similarly, if someone tries to hack a password of an app or setting, the stolen device will lock itself automatically.
Users can also choose to remotely lock their devices. To put a screen lock on your stolen or lost phone, simply use your registered phone number and pass a security check using any device at your disposal.
Once again, Google continues to improve the user interface momentum for foldable devices and large-screen devices. In Android 15, users will finally be able to pin or unpin the taskbar at the bottom of the screen – a huge win for devices like the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
The latest release of Android also works on enhancing camera performance in low light within third-party camera apps, providing more fine-tuned control over flash for the camera user interface. Satellite messaging support, a feature that recently arrived on iPhones, is also coming to Android devices.
With the release of Android 15 today, Android 15 is now available for all Pixel phones starting from Pixel 6/6 Pro/6a and newer, as well as Pixel Tablet. Unfortunately, if you have a phone from another manufacturer, you will need to continue waiting.
