In what’s been a somewhat attention-grabbing sequence of occasions, Android 15 truly arrived after Google debuted its flagship lineup of smartphones. Google additionally stunned us by releasing each the Android 15 replace and the October Pixel Function Drop on the similar time.
With that, we will get pleasure from much more options than what we initially anticipated. Though this is not a roundup of the whole lot new in Android 15, we have already achieved that, these are the 9 options that I have been having fun with since receiving the replace.
App Archiving
you could have an issue whenever you see an attention-grabbing app you need to check out, solely to understand that you’ve got already downloaded it. I take care of this extra typically than I would prefer to admit. One other a part of the issue is that I are inclined to run out of house pretty rapidly, however I do not need to delete any apps from my cellphone.
Android 15’s new App Archiving function is one thing that I by no means actually thought I’d have a use for, but it surely’s turn out to be somewhat indispensable. The perfect half is that this function is not restricted to only apps from the Play Retailer. As a substitute, you possibly can 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 favor 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 at any time when logging right into a Passkey-enabled account.
For probably 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. Certain, it is just one much less step than earlier than, however whenever you’re attempting to rapidly signal into one thing, the wasted time provides up.
Manually allow Astrophotography
Not too long ago, I used to be capable of see the Northern Lights for the primary time because of utilizing Astrophotography mode on the Pixel 9 Professional Fold. Nonetheless, one of many frustrations with utilizing this at any time, and never simply attempting to seize a particular occasion, is that the situations wanted to be good to ensure that Astrophotography mode to be activated.
Beforehand, the one choices have 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.
House Controls on the Lock Display
I’ve written various phrases about how I consider the Pixel Pill was launched as a public beta take a look at for a redesigned Nest Hub. Android 15 provides additional credence to that concept, because of the brand new House Controls display saver. When activated, all of my Google House toggles and controls are simply there.
Hopefully it is not a bug, however that is additionally an possibility on my Pixel 9 Professional Fold, which got here as a pleasant shock. One other shock is that I can swap out Google House for my House Assistant dashboard, which provides me much more management over my sensible dwelling. To not point out that you simply’re capable of customise House 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 stunned when the Pixel Fold did not embody the flexibility to pin the Taskbar. That is one thing that Samsung launched again with the Galaxy Z Fold 4,and can also be an possibility with the OnePlus Open. Regardless of that, it is not presently an possibility on the OnePlus Pad 2 for causes that I can not clarify.
Android 15 ought to resolve that drawback as soon as it makes its option 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 “All the time present Taskbar.”
Go from the Huge Display to the Small Display
Though I have been utilizing foldable telephones for the reason that Galaxy Z Fold 2, one function that I consistently overlook about is having the ability to proceed utilizing an app from the interior display on the quilt display. It is a type of issues that may come in useful whenever you need however is not a “defining” function of the consumer expertise.
However, it is also one thing that wasn’t out there with Android 14 on the Pixel Fold, regardless of being an possibility on Samsung’s foldables and the OnePlus Open. On Android 15, it may be enabled below the “Show & contact” settings, and from there, you possibly can select to at all times have apps seem, carry out a swipe-up gesture, or flip this off fully.
Retaining apps collectively
I can not consider it took Google this lengthy to deliver 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.
Nonetheless, 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 House Display.
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 doable to activate Gemini and ask it questions on objects inside the Pixel Screenshots app.
Though it is most likely 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 most likely ought to have been there when the Pixel 9 sequence 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 need 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 decide from the checklist of obtainable headphones. That is nice for after I need to go from utilizing my over-ear headphones at my desk to my Pixel Buds Professional 2.
There’s rather a lot to like in Android 15
These are only a handful of the brand new options that are actually out there with the secure launch of Android 15. There are such a lot of extra that may attraction to others, even when they do not actually resonate with how I exploit my cellphone each day.
For those who simply acquired the replace, I extremely suggest diving into the Settings app. Simply check out all the totally different screens, panels, and toggles, so as to higher really feel for what your cellphone is definitely able to.