Android 15 may not arrive until later in the year, but we already know a few things about what Google has in store for this year's software upgrade The first developer preview has been released, which means people have been crawling through this early code in search of new features, upgrades to existing ones, and tweaks Google has been upgrading

So far, we've seen the ability to cool down notifications, changes to make web pages in apps load faster, and changes to provide partial screen sharing On the other hand, there are also rumors of the return of lock screen widgets, improved visual accessibility, and the possibility of having apps fill the screen from edge to edge

Of course, this is definitely just scratching the surface of what Android 15 could offer Here is what we know so far

The release date for Android 15 is currently a bit of a mystery Usually new software arrives in late summer, but there are examples where this is not the case; Android 12 and Android 14 launched in October, quite close to the launch of the Pixel phones that year

Thus, it is quite possible that Android 15 will launch in late summer, but as always, we may have to wait a few more months Unfortunately, we won't know for sure until that time is much closer

Google's Android 15 development calendar is not much help either, noting that beta releases should begin in mid-March, prior to Platform Stability starting in June However, the final release window is rather vague, stating only that the final release will be made after July to an unspecified number of people This is similar to the release window for Google I/O 2024 in May

We expect, as always, that Android 15 will arrive on Pixel phones first, with other handset makers following at their own pace

The first Android 15 developer preview confirmed which Pixel devices are set to get the Android 15 upgrade later this year The oldest devices scheduled to get the upgrade are the Google Pixel 6 and the Google Pixel 6 Pro However, both devices will stop receiving full Android updates in October, so many additional updates are not expected

Naturally this means that the Google Pixel 6a, Pixel 7 series, and Google Pixel 8 series will also receive the Android 15 upgrade

The Google Pixel 5a will definitely not get Android 15, as it will no longer have access to new Android updates at some point in August So if you still have a Pixel 5a, it may be worth upgrading when the Pixel 8a arrives this summer

As for other Android phones, it depends entirely on what software support the phone's manufacturer promises The oldest Samsung flagship with Android 15 scheduled is the Galaxy S21, with mid-range phones up to the Galaxy A33 and foldables up to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3

The first developer preview of Android 15 will be released in mid-February and is already available Google's plan is for the preview to continue until mid-March, at which point Android 15 should move into the beta phase

It is unclear what kind of update flow can be expected from the Android 15 developer preview and beta Or whether Google will be able to stick to this release schedule for the next few months After all, there are Android 15 issues that Google needs to fix, and these dates could be postponed by an unspecified number of people

Regardless, there should be a small number of Android beta releases until just before the software launches After that, the beta versions of Android's quarterly platform releases should begin to roll out

For now, it is unclear which non-Pixel phones will be eligible for the Android 15 beta, but Google will reveal more details closer to the public beta release

The key to considering Android 15 at this early stage is that we don't even know what the new software will offer The first developer previews have been released and may be packed with additional features never before seen in Android, but there is no guarantee that any of these will make it to the final release

Google may have a plan, but future software is always in flux Some will work, some will not, and the final version will always be addressed accordingly Nevertheless, the closer the release date gets with each update, the more likely it is that the new features will eventually be adopted

One of the main new features Google announced with the first developer preview is partial screen sharing, which allows Android users to share windows from a single app rather than sharing the entire screen

There are also rumors that lock screen widgets will return to Android phones in Android 15 after the option to set lock screen widgets appeared in the Android 14 QPR3 beta Android hub mode like the Pixel Tablet It may be limited to devices that support it, but we would love to see it return Lock screen widgets disappeared with the introduction of Android 5 and later appeared on iOS

Rumor has it that Android 15 could also feature major accessibility changes that would be useful for the visually impaired This includes larger text and icons, additional contrast and bolding effects, and an "easy preset" feature that utilizes three on-screen buttons for further navigation Although unfinished, it is quite similar to iOS's "Assistive Access" (which simplifies the phone interface and uses more visual cues rather than hard-to-read text)

Another feature of the Developer Preview is that web pages in the app may appear to load slightly faster This is thanks to Google pinning the WebView protocol that powers these pages to the phone's memory, ensuring that you don't have to start from scratch every time you use it

If excessive notifications tend to get on your nerves, Android 15 may offer something you'll appreciate A "notification cooldown" is found in the developer preview, which gradually lowers the volume of the continuous notifications the app throws at you That means you won't have to choose between putting your phone on silent or getting annoyed by every last message sent to your group chat

Android 15 may also force app developers to provide edge-to-edge display coverage, which is currently optional The idea is that apps will use all available screen space, including the area normally occupied by the status bar - which already has the ability to disappear if needed

Preview also features a new keyboard vibration toggle, which allows you to disable haptics in the keyboard app as well as some tactile feedback when you lower the display brightness Additionally, as of the Android 14 QPR beta, it appears to be possible to switch Bluetooth devices from the Quick Settings menu - rather than the full Bluetooth menu

Finally, Pixel Fold owners may be able to use the "continue using apps on Fold" feature, which allows users to continue using apps on the cover display whenever the foldable display is closed

Android 15 is likely to include a new feature that will allow users to find devices that have been turned off According to recent reports, the Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, and Pixel 9 all appear to be able to use this feature At this time, it seems that the only limitation on compatible devices is that the battery must have reserve power

There is still a long way to go before Android 15 will be on your phone, which means there is still a lot we don't know right now What little information we do know could change in the coming months However, based on the official details we've gotten so far and rumors of upcoming features, there may be a lot to like about Android 15

Still, we will have to wait for official news to get our hopes up for what is to come Thankfully, we will know what to expect when Google I/O 2024 takes place When this event will take place has yet to be determined, but it is usually the first two weeks of May