Google has unveiled the first developer preview of Android 15, which includes some new features and privacy enhancements. However, this version is not intended for regular use, so you should be patient if you want to test it on your Pixel phone. The public beta version is expected to be available sometime between March and April.
With Android 15, you can have more granular control over the ads that appear on your phone. There is a new “Ads” option under the “Privacy & security” settings, where you can see which apps are using your phone activity to show you ads.
Some apps can offer you personalized ads based on what you do on your phone. Android 15 lets you stop apps from doing this with the Protected Audience API. This does not mean that you will not see any ads on your phone, but it means that your information will not be shared with the selected 3rd party app.
Android 15 introduces partial screen recording, which lets you record or cast only a portion of the app instead of the whole screen. This is handy for users who often need to record their phone screen or share it during a video call.
Another notable enhancement is that Google is enhancing the camera performance for 3rd party apps. Photos taken in low-light conditions will be processed instantly, showing you a clear preview as soon as you press the shutter button. 3rd party apps can also enjoy better preview quality.
The Pixel 5 series will not receive the Android 15 update.
The Android 15 Developer Preview is only compatible with the Pixel 6 series and later models. This means that the Pixel 5 series has reached the end of its software support. Android 15 will support Pixel 6a, Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet. You can download Android 15 for your Pixel device here
