The first Developer Preview of Android 15 has just been released by Google. Google is moving away from monthly release dates for updates these days, so we might be able to expect that a bit sooner this time around.
Earlier this week, the first developer preview for Android 15 was released on February 15. The event has been postponed to February 16. It’s called “Android V” internally, with “Vanilla Ice Cream” as its codename.
In Android 15, there aren’t many new user-facing features. Recent Android releases have been quite similar to this. Many of the new features are typically kept for Google I/O in May when the first beta is released.
New on Android 15:
Android 15’s first developer preview prioritizes privacy and security, supports creators, and helps developers manage heat and processing power more effectively.
The latest version of Privacy Sandbox will improve user privacy in Android 15, and new APIs will be added to the FileIntegrity Manager to protect files that might compromise a developer app, as Google prioritizes privacy and security in every Android release.
As for creators, Google adds more extensions that allow for precise control of camera hardware, so creators can take advantage of high-end cameras. Developers can also leverage premium hardware features like GPUs and AI processing with this OS before the final consumer release so that they can deliver top-tier app experiences to users.
A new feature has been added to Google’s Android Dynamic Performance Framework. In order to improve the performance of performance-intensive apps and games, developers will be able to optimize thermal, CPU, and GPU management.
This developer preview has few user-facing features, it’s mostly under-the-hood stuff that’s going to help developers make your phone even smoother. In the first beta, which is scheduled for April, we should see some user-facing features.
Android 15 update timeline:
In April, Google will release two developer previews, followed by four betas, with the final release in July. Like in the past, Google isn’t adding a month to the “Final Release” this time. It could be anywhere between August and October.
Android 15 Developer Preview system images are available for Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel Tablet, Pixel Fold, Pixel 8, and Pixel 8 Pro at launch.
