5 New Features in Android 15

If you’re an Android fan like me, then every update must have you stoked to see what’s new they have in store for us.

I was running my phone on Android 14 since it was first released, and I instantly installed the Android 15 update when it finally hit the market in late 2024. Ever since then, my phone has been running on Android 15, and I’m having the time of my life with it.

While the new AI features are great, they currently need an internet connection since they are all cloud-based. All you have to do is connect it to a reliable internet service and get started!

I would love to see local AI models in the future, which will allow me to use the power of AI, even when I’m offline. However, for now, I have to take full advantage of my fiber internet connection. I’m currently subscribed to one of the high-tier internet plans from Hawaiian Telcom, and with their 1 Gig plan, all of the new baked-in AI features run smooth like butter.

That isn’t all, there is a lot more that you can do with a phone running on Android 15. Here are some of the most salient features of the latest Android version that you might have missed.

Partial Screen Recordings

You don’t have to do entire screen recordings now. Instead, you can go for a partial screen recording.

What this does is that once you start a screen recording on a specific screen or an app, the recording starts, but if you exit the app, it pauses temporarily. Then, when you open the app again, it resumes the screen recording process.

This helps you prevent longer screen recordings that take up more storage in your phone. It also saves you the time that you would have taken to edit out the unnecessary parts in your screen recording.

Satellite Connectivity

Finally, you don’t need a satellite phone if you’re ever stranded in a jungle or even a mountain. You can use your phone running on Android 15 instead. Android 15 finally has satellite connectivity, which allows you to send messages and receive them via satellites orbiting the Earth, as long as your phone supports it.

You can finally say goodbye to poor cell service, and your parents can rest with ease whenever you go on a trekking trip with your friends to the mountains and don’t have reception there. So, if you’re looking to upgrade, get yourself a phone that is Android 15 compatible.

Better Camera Performance

Android outdid itself as it has finally enhanced its camera, helping you make the most out of your phone’s camera.

The software gives you more in-app camera controls and gives you a low-light boost, helping you take stellar images even when there’s less light. The best part is that the pictures still look natural. Android 15 also gives you more HDR headroom for taking vibrant images.

This is great for phones such as OnePlus, which are known for their amazing camera performance. For instance, OnePlus phones come with integrated Hasselblad color calibration and a lot of AI features. Coupled with Android 15’s AI features, your phone turns into an absolute beast.

So, if you have a supported OnePlus phone, you’ll be able to channel your creativity with the latest Android version.

Security Improvements

Android also made a lot of security improvements in Android 15, which gives you more peace of mind as you use your phone.

For instance, Android has introduced a new feature called OTP Protection, in which notifications that you receive containing an OTP (One-Time Password) are hidden to prevent shoulder surfing or screen recording attacks.

This saves you from any possible financial attacks and losses, adding a layer of security to your transactions.

Another feature that Android has introduced is Anti-Theft Protection. In this feature, your phone uses AI to detect whether your phone was snatched at high speed and will automatically lock itself. The anti-lock will also initiate if your phone is off the grid for a long time and if there are a lot of failed authentication requests made on it.

You can also lock your device remotely if you believe you lost your phone somewhere, so that you can prevent unauthorized access to it.

There’s also another feature which is exclusive to Android 15, in which your device can’t be reset once it is stolen, since it is a common tactic by thieves. Your device can’t be reset unless your Google credentials can be accessed. That means you are the only one who can reset your device.

Bluetooth Audio Sharing

I was waiting for this feature for a very long time, and I’m glad it’s finally here. You can now connect multiple headphones and earbuds to one audio source (your phone) via Bluetooth, and everyone can listen to the song together.

That means that you can have someone else connect to your phone’s Bluetooth, and then you can play a song on Spotify for everyone to listen to, and you won’t have to start a Spotify Jam every time. This simplifies the idea of sharing music with your friends.

These were some of the many things that a phone running on Android 15 is capable of doing. You’ll have to discover the rest once you use the software version yourself.