Android 15 is coming to Pixels in the ‘coming weeks’ – with Google revealing 4 new Android features you can try while you wait
Google has announced that the final version of Android 15 has been rolled out to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). That’s where developers and manufacturers can grab the code and modify their apps and Android releases accordingly.
It’s an important step towards a public release, but we’re not quite there yet. Google says Pixel phones like the Google Pixel 9 will get the update “in the coming weeks” (likely October), while phones from other manufacturers (like the Samsung Galaxy S24) will get Android 15 “in the coming months.”
Google’s announcement highlights several new features we heard about in May at Google I/O 2024: a private space for your most important apps, better support for multitasking on large displays, better battery life, and improved low-light camera performance, letting you see what’s in the frame before you snap a photo.
Now it’s up to Google, Samsung, OnePlus and the rest to add their own tweaks and flourishes to Android 15 before it’s pushed out to users. For Pixel phone and tablet users, that could include new screensavers and avatar options.
While the wait for Android 15 continues, Google has has also pushed out four new Android updates. Google hasn’t specified which versions of Android these are for, so we’re assuming they’ll work on most modern Android phones and tablets.
1. Earthquake warnings expand across US
Google has been experimenting with using Android phones as earthquake detectors for years, but now the feature is being expanded to the entire US, meaning many more people could get an important warning about seismic activity. Google has a dedicated blog post about the function, which explains more about how it works.
2. Audio descriptions powered by Gemini AI
Of course, AI is involved, too: Android includes a TalkBack screen reader to describe images for people with visual impairments, and those descriptions are now powered by Gemini AI. That should mean more detailed information about what’s on screen, whether it’s images in a chat thread, on a shopping website, or in a phone’s camera roll.
3. Search for music with Circle to Search
As previously rumored, Circle to Search is gaining the ability to identify songs. When it’s available on your phone, you’ll be able to activate Circle to Search by long-pressing the home button or navigation bar, then tapping the music button to identify a song – whether the song is playing somewhere around you or in an app that’s currently open on your phone’s screen.
4. Chrome can read web pages aloud
This is something we’ve tested before, but it’s now officially available to everyone: in Chrome for Android, you can tap the three dots in the top-right corner of a browser tab, then choose Listen to this page to have it read to you. You even get some simple, podcast-like playback controls (including speed control) and a choice of voices.
