6 new features in Android 15 you didn’t know you needed

Android 15 is here, and it’s not a surprising update to Google’s operating system. Still, the more you look, the more you find many additions that make you wonder, “Why didn’t someone add this sooner?” That’s how I felt while exploring the new features in Android 15. None of this is groundbreaking, but there are some features that will benefit anyone looking for a better smartphone. Check out what’s new as we introduce you to our favorite new features in Android 15.

Read reviews

My favorite Android 15 feature isn’t flashy

Minor updates including welcome quality of life adjustments

7 private space

Work and life should be separated

Private Space is a virtual locker where you can store all your personal things. A separate protected section is created in your app drawer where you install apps that only you can access.

As a parent who occasionally hands my child a cell phone, I can see how a private space can be helpful. Things like banking and shopping apps are kept safe there, protected by a PIN when tapped by a curious five-year-old. This is also an effective solution for separating work accounts onto personal devices. If you have a dedicated work phone, you can use Private Space to access your personal apps in a pinch. I think many Android 15 users safely hide dating apps and other apps there.

Private spaces are useful for a variety of use cases. However, there are some caveats, such as private apps cannot run in the background. While this is ideal for privacy on dating apps, it’s annoying not to see notifications of money transfers on payment apps.

related

How to set up and use private spaces on Android 15

Safely separate work and play

6 Battery charging limit up to 80%

Sacrificing battery life for better battery health

One of the factors that affects long-term battery health is the time it takes to fully charge. That’s why I’m happy to see the hard limits I set implemented in Android 15. It may be a bit of an inconvenience, but I like to keep my technology in tip-top condition and am not keen on replacing my phone’s battery. I recommend trying this out unless you are a heavy user.

We also believe that the introduction of the 80% limit in Android 15 will increase awareness of the conditions that accelerate battery degradation. Battery health is still not well understood by the general public, so having features like this available will help you understand how to make your phone last longer. This is a welcome feature, with some phones promising up to seven years of software support.

related

Android 15 charging optimization: What it is and how it works

Explaining the benefits of 80% battery charging limit

5 Theft detection and protection

I hope you never have to use this

Source: Google

According to a BBC report in 2023, a mobile phone is stolen every six minutes in London. Many people have some sort of screen lock set up, but it won’t help if your phone gets pulled out of your hand while it’s unlocked.

I’ve been to several technology events held in large, crowded cities around the world, and I know how quickly thieves can move. We hope you never need to know how well Google’s anti-theft features work. With Android 15, your phone will determine if it has been snatched by detecting unusual movement. We can’t promise you won’t be able to see your phone again, but it will be automatically locked to protect your data and prevent a factory reset. Additionally, you can also lock your phone using your phone number for authentication from another device.

4 adaptive vibration

No one likes a flip phone

I don’t know what the ringtone will sound like. I don’t want to disturb others with beeps, so my phone is on vibrate or on mute. But that tactic doesn’t always work.

That’s why we’re happy to see Adaptive Vibration built into Android 15. This feature was also seen on older Pixel smartphones, but Google should improve it and make it widely available after releasing an update. It uses your phone’s microphone and other sensors to detect whether you need to adjust the intensity of your vibration alerts. You can get attention in noisy places and avoid the embarrassment of your phone rattling on a glass table.

3 Saving app pairs

Benefits for frequent split-screen users

Android 15 adds app pairs that you can save to use anytime, and split screen is a much-anticipated feature. Once saved, these will appear as shortcuts on your home screen and you can tap to open them. This option isn’t only available on large-screen devices like the Google Pixel Fold or Pixel Tablet. It is also included in slab smartphones such as Google Pixel 9 Pro after the Android 15 update.

Not many people use split screen on Android, but I do for work. Typically, I use Google Keep along with another app.

• Google Keep and Clock app for YouTube video timing scripts
• Google Keep and YouTube for taking notes while watching videos from other creators
• Take notes and save links while researching topics with Google Keep and Chrome

2 App archive

Reduce friction and free up storage space

My phone has 128 GB of storage, so I need to delete old apps from time to time. However, uninstalling an app will erase your data, so if you want to install it again, you’ll have to set up that app from scratch.

To solve this, Google added app archives to the Play Store last year. Android 15 has this functionality built into the OS. Archiving an app removes its core data but leaves user data intact. This will free up most of the space that the app was taking up. Downloading again allows you to pick up where you left off.

1 Bonus: SMS via satellite

Big deal…if it works

Source: Verizon

In any other situation this would have been higher on the list, but for now it’s just an honorable mention. Android 15 has built-in support for SMS messaging over satellite, but this feature is not available.

This is different from Satellite SOS on the Pixel 9 series. This new feature, introduced in Android 15, allows you to send regular texts to anyone via satellite, even in non-emergency situations. However, as Android Authority explains, carriers are working on pricing their services. We will continue to pay close attention to this issue.

The theme for Android 15 is iteration

There’s no doubt about that. Android 15 is an iterative update. It’s less about breaking new ground and more about polishing and improving. Given the mature state of Google’s operating system, I’m fine with that. There are very few things missing from Android anymore.

At the same time, there are enough new features in Android 15 that, while minor, are worth checking out, even by the standards of a longtime Android user like me. It won’t feel like you’ve overhauled your phone, but it’s a useful item that can make your Android run smoother and keep your phone safe.