Latest Android 15 beta teases Private Space, Predictive Back, and more new features
Google’s next major software revamp edges closer
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
AtGoogle I/O 2024,Google outlined its plans to “reimagine” Androidwith theGoogle Geminilarge language model (LLM), and although we might not see the fruits of that ambition as soon asAndroid 15, a newly released Android 15 betahasgiven us a better idea of what to expect from the company’s next major software revamp.
In a dedicatedblog postannouncing the second Android 15 beta (thefirst came in Aprilaftertwo separate developer previews),Googlenamedrops a host of previously rumored features that we hope will make it into the final Android 15 build.
The most notable new arrival isPrivate Space, which gives Android users the ability to hide sensitive files, apps and even notifications in a separate, password-protected area called – you guessed it – Private Space. By the sounds of things, this feature is a beefed-up version ofSamsung’s Secure Folder, though the latter can only store files, whereas Private Space can keep all sorts of content away from prying eyes (it’s the biggest of several newAndroid 15 beta features dedicated to protecting user privacy).
The second Android 15 beta also includes an updated version of Predictive Back, which gives users the opportunity to preview the result of a gesture navigation actionbeforecommitting to the action itself. In Android 14, Predictive Back is an optional developer feature, but it looks like Android 15 could make gesture previews occur by default when actions including back-to-home, cross-task and cross-activity are triggered.
Google hopes that Android 15 proper will “improve user productivity, minimize battery impact, maximize smooth app performance, protect user privacy and security, and give users a premium device experience.” The below features, in addition to those listed above, are just some of the ways the Android 15 beta builds towards that ambition:
The second Android 15 beta is now available to download on a range of devices from Android partners includingLenovo, Nothing, Oppo, Honor, Xiaomi and, of course, Google itself (i.e. thebest Pixel phones). As for whether youshoulddownload it, however, that’s another story.
Although useful for test driving potential new features, pre-release versions of Android are primarily intended to help developers optimize new and existing apps. In other words, the second Android 15 beta is likely to be buggy as an electric fly zapper at the height of summer. So we’d recommend holding off on downloading it until the full version of Android 15 rolls out later this year (a release date between August and October 2024 seems the most likely).
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
You might also like
Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.
Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
WhatsApp will soon help you spot misinformation – here’s how
Google Messages on Android could soon get a big photo-sharing boost
Your doctor may have an AI assistant taking notes during your next Zoom call
