In what’s been a somewhat fascinating collection of occasions, Android 15 truly arrived after Google debuted its flagship lineup of smartphones. Google additionally shocked us by releasing each the Android 15 replace and the October Pixel Characteristic Drop on the similar time.
With that, we are able to take pleasure in much more options than what we initially anticipated. Though this is not a roundup of every part new in Android 15, we have already accomplished that, these are the 9 options that I have been having fun with since receiving the replace.
App Archiving
You already know you have got an issue if you see an fascinating app you wish to check out, solely to appreciate that you’ve already downloaded it. I cope with this extra usually than I would prefer to admit. One other a part of the issue is that I are likely to run out of house pretty shortly, however I do not wish to delete any apps from my cellphone.
Android 15’s new App Archiving characteristic is one thing that I by no means actually thought I might have a use for, nevertheless it’s develop into somewhat indispensable. One of the best half is that this characteristic is not restricted to only apps from the Play Retailer. As a substitute, you’ll be able to archive nearly any app in your cellphone, no matter whether or not it was downloaded from the Play Retailer or from a third-party repository like F-Droid.
One-tap Passkey
I have not had the best expertise with Passkeys, as I nonetheless desire counting on two-factor authentication with codes being generated by my password supervisor. A part of the issue has been the less-than-seamless expertise every time logging right into a Passkey-enabled account.
For essentially the most half, Android 15 has solved a little bit of this for me, as signing in with a Passkey now solely requires a single faucet. Positive, it is just one much less step than earlier than, however if you’re making an attempt to shortly signal into one thing, the wasted time provides up.
Manually allow Astrophotography
Not too long ago, I used to be in a position to see the Northern Lights for the primary time due to utilizing Astrophotography mode on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Nevertheless, one of many frustrations with utilizing this at any time, and never simply making an attempt to seize a particular occasion, is that the situations wanted to be excellent to ensure that Astrophotography mode to be activated.
Beforehand, the one choices had been to both flip it off or set it to “Auto,” which was high quality when your Pixel determined to allow you to use it. Fortunately, that is not an issue with Android 15, as now you can manually allow it.
Residence Controls on the Lock Display screen
I’ve written various phrases about how I imagine the Pixel Pill was launched as a public beta check for a redesigned Nest Hub. Android 15 provides additional credence to that concept, due to the brand new Residence Controls display saver. When activated, all of my Google Residence toggles and controls are simply there.
Hopefully it isn’t a bug, however that is additionally an choice on my Pixel 9 Professional Fold, which got here as a pleasant shock. One other shock is that I can swap out Google Residence for my Residence Assistant dashboard, which supplies me much more management over my sensible dwelling. To not point out that you just’re in a position to customise Residence Assistant to your liking, and are not restricted to only controlling your “favorites.”
Pin the Taskbar
As somebody who loves tablets and foldable telephones, I used to be somewhat shocked when the Pixel Fold did not embrace the power to pin the Taskbar. That is one thing that Samsung launched again with the Galaxy Z Fold 4,and can be an choice with the OnePlus Open. Regardless of that, it isn’t presently an choice on the OnePlus Pad 2 for causes that I can not clarify.
Android 15 ought to clear up that downside as soon as it makes its method to extra tablets and foldables. On both the Pixel Pill or Google’s foldable telephones, slowly swipe as much as make the taskbar seem, long-press it, then faucet the toggle to “At all times present Taskbar.”
Go from the Huge Display screen to the Small Display screen
Though I have been utilizing foldable telephones because the Galaxy Z Fold 2, one characteristic that I continuously overlook about is having the ability to proceed utilizing an app from the interior display on the duvet display. It is a kind of issues that may come in useful if you need however is not a “defining” characteristic of the person expertise.
Nonetheless, it is also one thing that wasn’t obtainable with Android 14 on the Pixel Fold, regardless of being an choice on Samsung’s foldables and the OnePlus Open. On Android 15, it may be enabled beneath the “Show & contact” settings, and from there, you’ll be able to select to all the time have apps seem, carry out a swipe-up gesture, or flip this off solely.
Holding apps collectively
I can not imagine it took Google this lengthy to convey App Pairs to its Pixel units, however I am certain glad it is right here. Utilizing two apps side-by-side is already extremely useful, because it lets me use one thing like Chrome on one half and Preserve or Obsidian on the opposite.
Nevertheless, it was somewhat annoying not having the ability to save that mixture and use it later. As soon as Android 15 is put in in your foldable or Android pill, open two apps side-by-side, then swipe as much as reveal the app switcher. From there, faucet the Save app pair button, and a brand new icon will seem in your Residence Display screen.
Extra Gemini enhancements
As Google continues to enhance Gemini, one factor that I have been hoping for is deeper integration between apps. The most recent replace does simply that, because it’s now attainable to activate Gemini and ask it questions on objects inside the Pixel Screenshots app.
Though it is in all probability not one thing that I am going to use regularly, I am simply pleased to see extra performance being added to Gemini. Even when it is one thing that in all probability ought to have been there when the Pixel 9 collection launched.
Rapidly swap between Bluetooth units
As somebody who owns nearly as many Bluetooth headphones as smartphones, switching between them has been fairly a ache. Beforehand, I would have to leap into the Settings app, head into the Bluetooth menu, after which choose the headphones that I wish to swap to.
Android 15 makes life simpler, on this regard, courtesy of the up to date Fast Settings tile. Now, I can simply faucet the toggle and choose from the checklist of obtainable headphones. That is nice for after I wish to go from utilizing my over-ear headphones at my desk to my Pixel Buds Professional 2.
There’s loads to like in Android 15
These are only a handful of the brand new options that at the moment are obtainable with the secure launch of Android 15. There are such a lot of extra which may attraction to others, even when they do not actually resonate with how I exploit my cellphone each day.
If you happen to simply obtained the replace, I extremely suggest diving into the Settings app. Simply check out the entire totally different screens, panels, and toggles, so that you could higher really feel for what your cellphone is definitely able to.