Google Releases Android 15 Developer Preview 1: Here’s What You Should Know

Google anticipates Android 15 to achieve its Platform Stability milestone by June.

Android 15 is currently in development and Google on Friday released the first Android 15 Developer Preview to give software developers and companies an idea of what to expect from the next version of its open source mobile operating system. According to Google, Android 15 will improve device security while allowing apps to take advantage of flagship hardware including advanced cameras, GPUs, displays, and AI. Other components like Privacy Sandbox, Health Connect, File Integrity are also set to receive upgrades when the update rolls out to users later this year.

In a blog post on Friday, Google revealed that the first Android 15 Developer Preview is now available for Pixel smartphones. These builds are unlikely to contain new user-facing features or changes to the interface — they are intended for developers to test their apps on the latest version of Android that is still in development and are expected to contain bugs.

With Android 15, applications will be able to boost the camera preview’s brightness via new low light enhancements, and control flash intensity precisely thanks to advanced flash strength adjustments, according to Google. It will also enable the use of a smartphone as a virtual MIDI 2.0 device using a composition app to control a synthesizer app.

Privacy Sandbox — Google’s new system to enable developers to show targeted ads that claims to preserve user privacy — is also getting an upgrade with Android 15. Health Connect will also support “new data types across fitness, nutrition, and more”, the company states.

Android 15 also introduces new application programming interfaces (APIs) aimed at enhancing user security by leveraging the Linux kernel’s robust capabilities. Additionally, the upcoming Android version will offer support for partial screen sharing, enabling users to record a single app window instead of capturing the entire screen.

Google plans to release another developer preview in March, followed by the commencement of Android 15 beta releases in April. While users eager to test the new features can participate in the public beta program, it’s advisable to install beta versions on secondary devices. Platform stability is slated to be achieved by June, signaling the cessation of new feature additions or significant alterations to the operating system post that milestone.