3 Android 15 features that can make your mobile life much easier
Android 15 It looks like several features will be introduced that will allow users to perform simple tasks and see information at a glance. These include a new screensaver that lets you control your Google Home devices, the return of lock screen widgets for tablets, and changing your default wallet app to Google Wallet.
All three new features are found in the Android 15 Beta, released on April 11, 2024, and is available for download for Pixel devices. However, it’s probably better to wait for the full release to ensure the best stability.
We can expect the full release of Android 15 around the third quarter of 2024, with announcements of some new features of Android 15 on Google I/O 2024held on May 14.
Widgets may return to the lock screens of Android tablets as part of the Android 15 update.
Widgets provide quick access to important app information without opening the app itself, allowing you to see things like notes, emails and calendars at a glance, but these are only available from the home screen of Android devices.
Lock screen widgets were available for both phones and tablets in 2012 as part of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, but were later removed in Android 5.0 Lollipop.
Currently, when your device is locked, you can access only three apps: Google Calendar, Google Clock, and the Google app. However, the possible update means you won’t have to unlock your tablet to access useful widgets like YouTube Music or your photos, contacts and many others, adding an extra layer of customization to your device.
If Previously reportedinitially it was thought that widgets would only go to the Google Pixel tablet. However, the widgets are expected to appear on the lock screen on Android tablets running Android 15, but not on Android phones.
Android Authority discovered the return of widgets after digging through the code for the Android 15 Beta. It found a new ‘common space’ that allows users to add widgets from selected apps. This space can be accessed by swiping in from the right side of the lock screen.
More details refer to a ‘visible hub’, where the widgets are stored. They are not placed directly on the lock screen, but on a page accessible from the lock screen, which is still faster and more convenient than opening the apps directly.
2. Screensaver control of your smart home
The Android 15 update may introduce a new screensaver called ‘Home Controls’, which will allow users to access their home controls directly from the screensaver.
The update adds Home Controls to that list, allowing you to control your compatible Google Home devices while your phone or tablet charges.
This can include Google Nest devices such as cameras, thermostats and doorbells. Once selected and when the screen saver is active, Home Controls displays your favorite controls for enabled devices.
However, the Home Controls screensaver apparently only supports Google Home devices and no other device controls, meaning other smart home apps will have to develop their own dedicated screensavers.
Screensavers have been part of Android phones since Android 9, allowing you to display photos, colors or a simple clock while charging. The addition of Home Control could be useful, and while it will be available on both Android phones and tablets, it will likely see more use on tablets.
Currently, to access Google Home settings, you need to open the Google Home app and activate it using the Google Assistant or by using a shortcut on the lock screen or by selecting the quick settings tile.
While none of these are too difficult, the addition of a screen saver can be a useful time saver if you want quick access to your smart home settings and have an inactive tablet in the dock.
3. Google Wallet as your default wallet app
Finally, Android 15 could introduce the ability to set your favorite default wallet app for making payments and storing wallet information.
Digital wallets allow users to store credit cards, discount and loyalty cards, train tickets, boarding passes and event tickets.
Android is known for letting you set preferred apps as defaults for most phone functions, such as web browsing, file management, media playback, and calendaring. However, for NFC payments, you currently only need to use the Google Wallet app.
This could be about to change with the Android 15 update, which appears to let you choose from a list of apps to use your phone’s NFC feature to make payments and store wallet information. This is unlike Apple users who can currently only use Apple Wallet on their devices.
However, 9to5Google reports that currently only the AMEX app can be selected and it is not working yet. Hopefully we’ll see other wallet apps and banks offer compatible digital wallet apps in the future, giving Android users more options to make payments and store wallet information.
Android 15 caveats
As with all leaked beta features, it’s essential to keep in mind that some, if not all, of the possible additions to Android 15 discussed above are not guaranteed. Code inspections can often be open to interpretation. They could be introduced in a later update like Android 16 or 17, or they could be abandoned entirely.
Those adventurous enough to try out the Android 15 beta should keep in mind that as an early version of the operating system, it is unstable and can lead to glitches and possible crashes. So it is best to backup your device first or wait for the official release.