Android 15 is here. There are many ways this year’s update is better than Android 14. As owners of Android phones, from the biggest phones to the smallest, start getting the Android 15 upgrade, we can’t help but do so. Stay tuned for Android 16. In our review of Android 15, it was clear that the best new features weren’t the flashiest. Still, some of my favorite feature additions and changes found in Android 15 may require some work. Let’s take a look at three things that Google added in Android 15 that should change in Android 16.
Read reviews
My favorite Android 15 feature isn’t flashy
Minor updates including welcome quality of life adjustments
3 Android 16 should simplify private spaces
Currently too complex and takes too long to set up
Samsung Secure Folder has been available for a while, and Google’s new Private Space isn’t groundbreaking. Still, it’s nice to see OEM-specific features making their way to Android. Private Spaces is a way to lock and hide apps, but it’s much more than that. You can hide entire sections of your phone, even choosing a different Google account. This makes your private space ideal for work-life balance.
Private space is a little too complicated. Rather than acting like a hidden or locked folder, it’s like setting up a separate profile on your Android device. Choose a Google account for your private space (you can also choose the default account) and reinstall any apps you use. You cannot move apps between the regular Android launcher and your private space. Additionally, if you move from one phone to another or restore from a backup, your private space will be deleted.
I’m not asking Google to remove the current functionality. Perhaps we should provide a simplified private space experience for casual users, and leave current functionality intact for power users. Whatever direction Google takes, we hope Android 16 simplifies private spaces. For now, read our guide to private spaces to learn more about private spaces.
2 Android’s new anti-theft features should be enabled by default
I doubt the average user will be searching the Settings app to enable these options
Source: Google
Above all, the best features of Android 15 are anti-theft and security tools. These features make Android 15 update better than iOS 18. However, key security features (such as theft detection lock, offline device lock, and remote lock) are turned off by default. It’s great that Google allows users to turn these features on or off. Still, it’s not nice to have it hidden behind a few pages in the Settings app.
Android 16 should enable these features by default. Even better, prompt the user to enable or disable it during the setup process.
That’s why I’m calling on Google to enable these anti-theft settings by default. First, by hiding important settings behind menus and pages, users are less likely to bother turning them on. These tools are too useful, and it’s too risky for Android users not to use them because they don’t know they exist.
Additionally, there are few drawbacks to using a theft detection lock, offline device lock, or remote lock. If these are accidentally triggered, you can enter your password or PIN to unlock your device. Your device will not be erased, so these features will not be inconvenient. That’s why we want Android 16 to enable them by default and allow you to disable them with an accessible toggle.
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8 Important Android 15 Security Features to Set Up Now
Stay safe in the digital world: Android 15 has your back
1 Android 16 requires Bluetooth to remain off even if disabled
Android 15’s new behavior is everything we hate about the way iOS handles connections
One of the worst parts of iOS is how the system connects. Turning off Bluetooth or Wi-Fi in Control Center doesn’t turn them off. It just blocks new connections. To turn it off completely, you need to go to the Settings app. New connections are automatically re-enabled after a set period of time. In this respect, Android 15 is closer to iOS 18.
If you turn off Bluetooth, Android automatically turns it back on the next day. In theory, this change in behavior could be useful for people who might forget they turned off Bluetooth. It can be frustrating for people who are familiar with Android and want to turn off the toggle and leave it off.
To be fair, this behavior can and should be changed. We want Android 16 to offer the opposite and make this feature an opt-in rather than an opt-out.
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7 Android 15 settings you need to change right now
Get the most out of Android 15
What else do you expect from Android 16?
Android 15 especially deserves praise for how it limits and prevents sideloading. Unfortunately, it appears that ship has sailed. I doubt Android 16 will reverse this change. Android 16 has some big hopes, including a true Samsung DeX replacement and better support for high-level apps and games. We’ll have to wait and see what Android 16 brings as we’re still in the early stages of the rumor cycle.
