Android 15 is out and the update is receiving a lot of criticism due to the limited number of new features. Is that correct or is the software a good upgrade after all? You will find out in this Android 15 review.
Dit is de Android 15 review
With a delay of about two weeks (compared to the Android 14 launch), Android 15 was released late this year. The update rolled out on October 15 and was immediately available on Google’s own Pixel smartphones. We have now been using the update for weeks and you can read our findings in this review.
You can read this in the Android 15 review
Protection against theft
By far the most important improvements in Android 15 have to do with security. New are ‘Theft Protection’, ‘Remote Device Protection’ and the ‘Private Area’. Starting with theft protection, where your phone uses sensors on board to find out whether your phone is snatched from your hands. If so, the device locks itself from the thief.
You enable it via the settings app on your smartphone. Go to ‘Google’, ‘All services’ and then ‘Theft protection’. Fortunately, this new function has not yet required any intervention for us. We can imagine that it is a nice security if you travel in countries where theft and crime are more common.
Remote device lock
To ensure that your smartphone is not used by strangers or malicious parties, there is ‘Remote device lock’. You can also find this setting in the Theft Protection menu. Have you enabled this option and installed an active SIM card? Then you can go through Google’s website use your phone number to lock your phone.
It is important that you also have ‘Find my Device’ enabled on your smartphone. This allows you to find the location of your device after you have locked it. Because what good is a locked phone if you don’t know where it is?
Does the thief have your PIN code? Then he can simply unlock your device again. As extra security, you will therefore also be kicked out of your Google account. This function is also nice in case your phone is stolen, but you (hopefully) don’t use it every day.
Private area, private space or just private space?
The third new security feature in Android 15 is the Private section. You can also call the function private space, because Google also uses both names interchangeably. In English it’s called ‘Private Space’ everywhere, so let’s just leave it at that.
The function requires some preparation, which we discuss in more detail in our extensive tip article. Once set up, you will find the private space at the bottom of your app drawer. As far as we are concerned, that is an inconvenient place, because anyone who has installed many apps has to scroll a lot to get there. However, this does make the private area better hidden.
You link a separate Google account to the private space. This will give you additional versions of apps linked to that account. The Play Store, Google Calendar and Gmail are therefore completely empty and ‘fresh’ again.
Do you download other apps? Then they can only be opened if the private space is unlocked. Useful for private apps, such as your bank account or a dating app.
Productivity especially on foldables and tablets
In terms of productivity, Android 15 also has a number of new features, with the following three being our favorites: app pairs, taskbar and ‘tent mode’. App pairing is especially useful for those who like to multitask on their smartphone. While using two apps at the same time, you can now save them as an app pair. Great, because putting two apps next to each other is quite a hassle. Do you often use the same two apps? Then this is a handy extra.
However, app pairs are especially useful on foldables or tablets, due to the larger screens. The other productivity features in Android 15 also target these larger devices. For example, the taskbar now floats over apps, which means you can pop it up at any time. We find this especially useful for quickly switching between apps.
My personal favorite is the self-proclaimed tent mode. In Android 14, the ability to watch videos on the outer screen of the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold while the phone was half-unfolded on its side was missing.
This is a convenient way to watch videos horizontally, without having to rest the phone against anything. Now that option is available, but it is only useful for a small group of Android 15 users with a foldable.
Other improvements
For the rest, Android 15 consists of fairly modest improvements. A cool one is the extensive volume menu. This one has a different design with larger volume controls. The switches for ‘Spatial audio’ and ‘Live subtitles’ are also easier to find.
‘Adaptive Vibration’ changes the intensity of smartphone vibrations based on your environment. If you have your phone in your pocket, it will vibrate relatively softly. However, are you in a loud environment? Then it vibrates harder, so that you always notice your notifications. We are fans of this and it works great.
Feature Drop is almost nicer than Android 15
And so far the really noteworthy Android 15 upgrades; remarkably little. Yet they are not the only new features, because what perhaps overshadows the software the most is Google’s own Feature Drop. It contains more new features, exclusive to Pixel smartphones.
There is an improved astrophotography mode that produces beautiful results, your phone captures better colors during underwater photography and you can choose which audio you want to hear under a video. We would also have liked these features in Android 15 for other manufacturers.
Conclusion Android 15 review
Major Android updates haven’t been that special for years and Android 15 is the ultimate example of this. Apart from the new number, little seems to have changed at first glance. If you dig deeper, you will discover that there are only a small number of new features, most of which you probably don’t use every day.
Android no longer seems to be the source of new features, but mainly a platform on which other manufacturers can build features. And they do it well. Just look at Samsung’s Good Lock app, OnePlus’ new “Dynamic Island” and all the different AI features that manufacturers are introducing.
But, if a new ‘major’ version update to Android brings so little change, we need to reconsider the value of such an update as Android users. Because what does it mean that your phone gets seven major Android updates, if the updates offer as little new as Android 15?
Android 15 is not easy to assess. The update does what it is supposed to do and is better secured behind the scenes, but there is no real innovation. You now have to contact the manufacturers for that. And we are curious to see what they will come up with in the coming year.
When will I get Android 15?
As mentioned, Google Pixel users can be the first to get started with Android 15. Other manufacturers are busy adapting the software, including their own new features and improvements. Want to know when your phone will get the Android 15 update? Then take a look at our big Android 15 update overview.
You will automatically receive a notification when the latest version is available. Or go to your Pixel’s settings and tap “System” at the bottom. Then select ‘Software updates’ to check whether you can update.
Read more about Android 15:
Source: www.androidplanet.nl
