GOOGLE has unexpectedly revealed when Android 15 – its biggest software update of the year – will be rolled out to phones.
Dozens of devices are expected to receive the update this autumn – you can find out if your phone is eligible here.
Android 15 is set to bring 12 new features, as well as improvements to existing processes, to devices.
Google, like Apple, typically rolls out it big annual update at the same time as unveiling a new phone.
However, the tech giant has leaned away from tradition this year and instead launched its flagship Pixel 9 lineup early.
The Pixel 9 launched in mid-August, and packs a punch when it comes to the camera. You can read The Sun’s Pixel 9 review here.
But with an early launch, comes no new software to play with.
Pixel 9 owners – and other eligible Android devices – will have to wait until October for Android 15 to be released, according to Google’s release schedule.
Android 15 has been in beta testing since April, and is forecast to be ready to go live in October.
Yet when the Pixel 9 was due to hit shelves, the software update wasn’t yet ready for a global roll out.
Big Android updates, like Android 15, typically have a few bugs that need to be ironed out in the weeks following its launch.
However, Google reportedly wants to avoid that this time around.
Of the total 12 new features arriving in Android 15, there are two camera and photography updates, including:
Low Light Boost – A new auto-exposure mode on Camera 2 and the night mode camera extension.
In-app Camera Controls – New extensions for more control over camera hardware, such as flash strength and intensity, while capturing photos.
Google is also ushering in a big connectivity boost with Satellite Support, after Apple announced Messages via Satellite in June.
Some RCS and SMS apps should be able to send text messages via satellite, whereas it was previously limited to emergency use.
According to Google, Android 15 will make tapping to pay “more seamless and reliable”.
The tech giant has remained tight-lipped on what this will entail exactly.
Google Wallet now requires users to unlock their phone for every contactless payment, regardless of the amount – which some users have found frustrating, as it can slow down travel fare payments.
However, experts at Android Authority hope Android 15 might bring back secure one-tap transactions with new features for secure pre-emptive authentication.
Android 15 also includes six new privacy and security features, such as:
Malicious app blocking – Which stops scammers from using an overlay on an app icon to disguise it as another, more legitimate, application.
Private space – Which lets users create a separate space on their device where they can keep sensitive apps under a passcode, or bio-authentication like Face ID.
Partial screen record & sharing – Means you don’t have to show the contents of your entire screen while screen recording or sharing.
Theft Detection Lock – If the device detects that someone has stolen it and tries to run, bike, or drive away, your phone senses that motion and should immediately lock the screen.
The feature will also automatically lock the device if it detects suspicious activity, like constant attempts to disconnect your phone or various failed log-in attempts.
AI in Play Protect – Artificial intelligence (AI) is being deployed in Google’s Play Protect antivirus feature to scan and flag suspicious behaviour.
Hidden notifications – Messages containing one-time passwords (OTPs), which are used in two-factor authentication, will be hidden from the notifications system, making it harder to intercept them.
Bluetooth quick settings – Will see Bluetooth get its own quick settings tile, so you don’t need to dive into settings.
Automatic Bluetooth – Google will reportedly bring in a feature that automatically turns on Bluetooth a day after it was switched off.
According to Wired, the feature is likely to help with Android’s Find My Device network, which uses Bluetooth to track devices.
