5 Features Wed Like To See In Android 15
- The first developer preview of Android 15 is coming soon, and will arrive sometime in February 2024.
- In addition to other minor UI features, Android 15 could make good use of cloned apps and a Dex-style desktop mode.
- It would be nice if Google added features like screen off gestures, Bard on Gboard, and other AI assistant features.
The last two major Android releases have brought major changes to the operating system, giving it a new look and a variety of new internal and external features. Comprehensive and ongoing UI changes since Android 12, new privacy features, and many other useful settings have improved the user experience. We're confident Android will continue this trend in 2024. Here are five features we want to see in Android 15.
The Android chip had so much potential that Apple eventually copied it. But Google doesn't care enough to improve these features so Apple makes the most of these features. The Cupertino giant lets you create widgets, interact with them, and even add widgets to your lock screen.
I love Apple's implementation or even lock screen widgets for NothingOS 2.5, and it's about time Google brought lock screen widgets to Android. But how and what can Google implement from existing or new tools?
First, Android 15 could benefit from a battery lock screen feature , as Google is investing heavily in the device's ecosystem. If you didn't already know, the Battery widget displays the percentage of remaining battery power on all your connected Google devices. A weather widget with an up-to-date aesthetic will also look great, along with other widgets like the new Gmail widget for iOS, Google Keep, Fitbit, and more.
Another widget I like to put on my home screen is the YouTube Music widget. It looks great and can replace the media player UI on the lock screen as Android allows you to disable the media player on the lock screen. The YouTube Music widget takes up quite a bit of space on your home screen and is best used as a lock screen widget to replace the default media player interface.
2. Cloning applications
You saw this coming, right? I don't use the app cloning feature much, but I know a lot of people would jump at the chance to run two Snapchat or WhatsApp accounts on their phone. Google has been blocking this feature for a long time, and this is not a good thing because new interfaces like Nothing OS are the first to implement it. Other popular Android skins like MIUI (now HyperOS) and One UI have had this feature for years.
For those who don't know, the Clone App feature allows users to use more than one app. For example, users can run two WhatsApp applications with separate accounts if necessary. The same goes for other apps, so you don't have to log out every time you want to switch accounts.
This feature was previously spotted in the Android 14 beta and developer preview, but we never heard of any further developments. However, Google is planning to release a new feature called Private Space to compete with Samsung's Secure Folder and may introduce a clone app feature as part of the same feature in Android 15, so we're looking forward to that.
3. Desktop mode
One of the most important and least discussed features of the Pixel 8 series is the USB Type-C port. Unlike previous generation Pixel phones and most Android phones, this port is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port which can output images to the screen. While this may not seem like a big deal at first, you will be surprised at how much you can do with the same.
First of all, you can connect accessories like the Xreal Air (test report) and have a large additional screen in front of you. Most importantly, you can connect your Pixel phone to the display using just a Type-C cable, turning your phone into a computer. However, simple screen mirroring isn't great, so Google should consider adding a desktop Pixel mode when the phone detects display output, similar to Samsung's DeX mode.
What it looks like: Google has spent a lot of money on research and development over the last few years, from the launch of Android 12L to the Android UI for today's tablets, and we wouldn't be surprised if it looked the same. Although we would prefer it to look like ChromeOS. It's too early to predict, but if you have any ideas, leave them in the comments.
4. Gesture to turn off the screen
The screen off gesture is not a completely new concept in the world of Android, as OnePlus was one of the first manufacturers to implement the same on its devices. The idea is to be able to assign certain functions to gestures that work even when the screen is off .
These features may include the ability to play/pause/skip music, open apps like the camera, turn the flashlight on/off, scan QR codes, and more.
At least for me and those who still use wired headphones or don't want to rely on touch controls on their TWS headphones, this would be a nice feature as you wouldn't have to press and wait for the screen to activate. Then click Next in the launcher.
5. Cool on Gboard
Google will soon start rolling out Assistant with Bard (renamed Bard or, as a recent leak suggests, Gemini) on Pixel devices. If there's one thing that can improve your user experience in Android 15, it's Gboard Bard integration.
We know there are writing assistants out there, but why dictate or write it yourself when you can ask AI to do the hard work for you?
Google has also added suggestions to Gboard, and with the addition of Bard, they should be able to better understand context and provide relevant suggestions to users. Bard will be able to handle it - from creating your own stickers and emojis to suggestions and summarizing messages.