Last month, Google quietly revealed that Android 15 would be arriving in October as part of the release notes for the Android Beta Exit update – which was available to those who tested the OS ahead of launch. Now, a new report has revealed exactly when Android 15 could release for Pixel devices: October 15.
This comes via android headers Android 15’s release date for Pixel 6 and later phones will come 42 days after the operating system’s source code was posted to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP). If accurate, it would mark the longest delay between the release of the AOSP and the update being pushed out to users, surpassing Android 12’s 15-day delay.
The hope is that this longer wait will mean Android 15 will be far less buggy and more stable when it eventually releases, compared to previous versions.
While the date is pretty consistent – an Android 15 release date on the 15th of the month – it’s still worth taking with a grain of salt, as we recommend with all unofficial leaks. Android Headlines didn’t reveal how it discovered the October 15th date, and as the company itself admits, the date could be pushed back if Google’s bug fixes don’t go as planned.
It’s also worth pointing out that October 15 is being reported as the Pixel launch date for Android 15. Samsung, OnePlus, and other Android OS device makers will still be prepping their own versions of Android 15 to roll out to their phones. However, given the long delay since its release on AOSP, there’s a good chance that these non-Google rollouts will follow more quickly behind the Pixel launch compared to previous years.
It will be worth the wait, but still. Based on the betas so far, there have been some really cool features shown off, such as…
A battery life boost
Android OS updates also include subtle tweaks and optimizations that can have a significant impact on how your phone works. One such upgrade was revealed by VP of Engineering for the Android Platform Dave Burke at the Android loyalty podcast earlier this year; he explained that devices running Android 15 can enter power-saving sleep mode about 50% faster than devices running Android 14.
The result of this is that Google has seen up to three extra hours between charges. Not every user will see such a big increase in battery life, but even an hour – or just half an hour – between charges can be a huge help to users – especially as a free update.
Android 15 is supposed to usher in the return of lock screen widgets (we haven’t seen them since the days of Android 4) and the possible addition of a Common Space that would allow multiple users to share access to apps on the lock screen.
The downside is that we don’t expect the selection of apps supporting this feature at launch to be the most widespread – potentially limited to tools like Google Calendar and Google Clock – though the delay between the AOSP release and the Pixel’s launch may mean that a few other services are ready to support lock screen widgets at launch.
Private space
Android 15 takes a page out of Samsung’s book with its Secure Folder feature and adds a native version called Private Space. It’s a folder for apps that require a password, PIN, or biometrics to open. Any apps in this folder will be completely hidden from anyone who can’t open the folder.
Twins Upgrades
Google’s Gemini AI is also getting some Android 15 improvements. Ask Photos makes it easier to find old snaps using more natural language, and even uses it to answer questions based on photos you’ve taken.
Then there’s a new Gemini overlay that can answer questions about what it sees on your screen. While Gemini Nano will be an on-device version of Gemini that doesn’t have to share your information with a cloud, making it more private.