Android 15 is here, and it’s rolling out to Google Pixel devices first, starting today. Among the updates in the latest OS are security features to help protect your private and personal data against theft and fraud. There are also improvements for larger-screened phones and updates in apps like the camera, messaging, and passkeys.
Among the new features in Android 15, which will be made available for most Android 10+ devices, is Theft Detection Lock, which uses AI to help keep your data safe. If your phone senses that someone has taken it and is trying to run, cycle, or drive away, it will automatically lock the device. You can also run a Remote Lock to quickly lock it so someone can’t access your personal information. The feature uses your phone number as a security check.
To prevent thieves from guessing your passwords and potentially accessing sensitive information, Android 15 adds authentication requirements for settings targeted by thieves, like removing your SIM or turning off Find My Device. It will lock the device if there are multiple failed attempts for apps and settings. This, says Google, will make it more difficult for thieves to reset and sell a stolen device and potentially deter theft before it happens in the first place.
There’s a new Private Space in Android 15 that functions like a digital sage for your most sensitive information, like banking, social, or dating apps. Once locked, the apps inside remain virtually invisible to others. They are hidden from your apps list, recent apps view, notifications, and settings. There’s an additional layer of authentication to keep apps secure in Private Space and you can choose to hide the fact that you even have a Private Space on the phone.
For foldables and tablets, Android 15 allows you to pin and unpin your taskbar on the screen so you can customize the layout, keeping your favourite apps in reach for quicker access. App pairing, meanwhile, provides a quick shortcut to make multitasking easier. For example, you can open Google Drive and Gmail at the same time to easily drag and drop files. Save your most frequently used app combinations and they’ll appear as a single app icon on your foldable or tablet. With a tap, you can quickly retrieve them in split-screen for faster access.
For the camera, Low Light Boost and in-app camera controls now work better in low-light situations, while third-party apps have more camera control, including precise flash control. When it comes to communication, carrier messaging apps can use satellite connectivity to send and receive messages without a mobile or Wi-Fi connection. And for apps that use Passkeys for authentication, you can log in with a single tap.
Other Android phones should get access to Android 15 by the end of this year or in early 2025.