Google’s next major version of the Android operating system is here — if you have a Pixel phone, that is.
On Tuesday, Google launched Android 15, making it available for Pixel devices (precisely, Pixel 6 and later).
Some major new features focus on privacy and security. Crime Detection Key, for example, is an interesting feature that uses AI intelligence to detect when someone has grabbed your phone and is running (biking, driving) away from it. In such cases, the phone will lock itself, keeping you safe from data theft. Remote Lock is another security feature, which allows you to remotely lock your phone from any other phone by using your phone number and passing a security check.
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If someone steals your phone and runs away with it, the phone will now lock itself automatically.
Credit: Google
Another new feature is called private area (for some reason, Google calls some, but not all of these features). It allows you to lock certain apps in a special, “almost” invisible, hidden folder in your apps list, recent apps view, notifications, and settings. To access these applications, you will need to authenticate with a fingerprint scan, for example. Additionally, you can completely hide the presence of a private area on your phone, which should come in handy if someone forces you to share anything contained within.
It is very secretive, (almost) invisible.
Credit: Google
Other new improvements include one-tap login when using Passkeys, app pairing to folders and tablets, allowing you to quickly launch two apps at once, and the ability to quickly pin and unpin your taskbar to the screen.
Android releases 3 new anti-theft tools — use them if your phone is stolen
While Android 15 is rolling out to Pixels first, it will take some time until it starts showing up on other Android phones. The good news is that some of these features, including the Crime Detection Key and Remote Control Key, will come to devices running older versions of Android (version 10 and later).