Rumors Swirl: Android 15 Developer Preview Reportedly Set for Google Pixel Phones on February 15

Speculation abounds as the tech community eagerly anticipates the potential debut of Android 15, with rumors suggesting an imminent arrival. The latest buzz stems from a comment thread on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), hinting at a scheduled release of the Android 15 Developer Preview, possibly slated for Thursday. This revelation has ignited excitement among enthusiasts and developers alike, as they eagerly await their first glimpse into the future of Google’s mobile operating system.

Adding fuel to the speculation fire, discussions have surfaced surrounding the possible nomenclature for the upcoming OS iteration. If the conjecture holds true, Android 15 may bear the moniker “Android V,” aligning with previous internal codenames like “Vanilla Ice Cream.” Such rumors offer a tantalizing glimpse into Google’s branding strategy and hint at potential themes or features associated with the new release.

While concrete details regarding Android 15’s features and enhancements remain shrouded in mystery, recent leaks and insights offer intriguing clues. Notably, a comment made by a user named Misha Kulaha, bearing a Google.com email address, on an AOSP commit page has stirred anticipation. Kulaha’s mention of waiting for “Android V” aligns with previous rumors, further reinforcing the speculation surrounding the potential nomenclature and release timeline.

Furthermore, last week’s rollout of the Android 14 QPR3 Beta 1 update provided additional fodder for speculation. Astute observers noted a departure from the traditional Android logo, replaced by an inverted triangle shape, prompting speculation about a subtle nod to the forthcoming “Android V” release. Such subtle hints and clues serve to fuel anticipation and excitement within the tech community as they await the unveiling of Android 15.

As anticipation reaches a fever pitch, enthusiasts and developers alike eagerly await the official announcement from Google, hoping for insights into the groundbreaking features and enhancements that Android 15 will bring to the table. Until then, the rumor mill continues to churn, with each new detail adding to the excitement surrounding this highly anticipated release.

If the information shared by Kulaha holds out, the Android 15 Developer preview will arrive just a week after the rollout of the last Android 14 quarterly platform release beta update. The timing will also match with Google’s first preview of Android 14 which was released on February 8. Supported Pixel smartphones should be eligible for the update, based on Google’s release history. Other smartphones are likely to get access to Android 15 when the public betas are made available in the coming months.

While not a lot is known about the features Android 15 may pack, an earlier report has suggested that Google is working on adding support for Auracast a feature that follows Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) standard, and allows users to broadcast audio to nearby compatible devices. Another rumoured feature is the reintroduction of lock screen widgets, which will finally allow users to use some functionalities of supported apps without unlocking the phone.