Happy days.
What is the biggest complaint we all have about our smartphones? Not the fact they’re tracking us everywhere or sharing all our data, but the fact their batteries are often rubbish.
Well happy days – the new Android 15 could give your phone a three-hour battery boost.
Sorry iPhone peeps, you might still have to carry a charger around.
Google unveiled plenty of new tech at its annual I/O event last week, including news of Android 15, but it was only later that this particular gem emerged, when Android’s VP of engineering Dave Burke appeared on the Android Faithful podcast and spoke to its co-host Mishall Rahman for Android Authority.
He revealed the new software would switch into doze mode around 50% quicker than Android 14. Doze mode reduces battery use by managing how apps behave when the device isn’t used for a long period of time, ensuring they’re not constantly whirring away.
Mr Burke revealed that, in testing, the Google team had seen an extra three hours’ battery life with the latest tweaks – that’s basically an evening out if your phone is prone to dying straight after work.
Of course, many Android phones already offer a much improved battery life compared to their predecessors, and the new software is no guarantee you’ll get the full three hours of extra scrolling – particularly straight after updating, which can impact battery for a day or two. However, it’s a good sign that the whole system should be more efficient.
The most important question of course is when will it be available?
Google only released Android 14 in October, so it’s unlikely to arrive before this October, but if sticking to the same schedule it could arrive autumn 2024, rolling out alongside the rumoured launch of the Google Pixel 9.
This year’s offerings could also include the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL, expected to have a larger display and better battery performance than its siblings.
Android 15 users will be offered an entirely separate, private space for apps and data they don’t want shown on their main screen, similar to Samsung’s Secure Folder.
This will allow people to hide sensitive apps and information – like photo albums or Chrome – in a separate section within the app drawer that will need extra verification to open, such as a passcode or fingerprint. That means even if family or friends get their hands on your phone, they still won’t be able to view certain content.
Also on the security front, Theft Detection Lock will use AI to spot if your phone has been snatched at high speed and automatically lock the screen – meaning even if thieves do grab your device, they won’t be able to get into it.
The same auto-lock also kicks in if too many incorrect authentication attempts are made.
There will also be an update to passkeys, with the account selection screen and confirmation screen now combined into one.
And one update there could be a real buzz about – users will now be able to set custom vibrations for specific notification channels. This means those who live with their phone on silent (i.e. most of us) will know from a buzz in our pocket whether the latest notification is a WhatsApp, text or email.
