Android 15’s new Bluetooth tool could change the way users interact with their phones
Recent beta releases of Android 14 have been a wealth of information about possible features coming to Android 15. We recently learned that the operating system may introduce Private Space for securing sensitive information on a smartphone. Now, new details are emerging about future changes that could change the way users interact with their mobile devices.
News site Android Authority discovered these details in the Android 14 QPR2 patch from early March. Several lines of code refer to something called “Bluetooth Auto-On”. According to the publication, Bluetooth connectivity will be activated automatically if it is turned off. They state that if someone turns it off, a toggle will appear that will allow the phone to turn on Bluetooth the next day. Android 15 will reportedly include text reminding users that turning on the connection is important for certain features; namely Quick Share and Find My Device.
Of course, this is all optional. You can still deactivate Bluetooth at any time and for as long as you want, without having to turn anything on.
Understanding Bluetooth Auto-On doesn’t stop there, as more information has been unearthed from the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) by industry insider Mishaal Rahman. Rahman states that only system apps work with the tool. It will not be compatible with third party software. Moreover, the update may not be exclusive to Android 15. There is a chance that the update will come to older OS versions; however, it does not work on all devices.
Adaptive screens
The second feature is “Adaptive Timeout,” which was discovered in a developer preview for Android 15. Very little is known as the lines of code don’t reveal much.
But they do say that your “screen will turn off early if you’re not using your device.” At first glance, this may seem similar to Screen Timeout, although Rahman claims it is something completely different. Judging from the description, it works similarly to Attention Aware on the iPhone.
Adaptive Timeout would use some kind of statistics, either by detecting your face through the camera or by collecting input through sensors, to know if you are communicating directly with the smartphone. When you stop using the device, the function turns off the display. Screen timeout is just a timer in comparison. The screen stays on until the timer runs out, even if you don’t interact with the phone. It could also be argued that the tool, due to its proactive nature, can extend a device’s battery life and keep your data safe from prying eyes.
What’s interesting about Adaptive Timeout is that it may be a Google Pixel exclusive update. Rahman says he’s found evidence that the tool references a Google namespace, suggesting it won’t be available on the “open-source version of Android.”
As always, take everything you see here with a grain of salt. Things can always change. And be sure to check out Ny Breaking’s list of the best Android phones if you’re looking to upgrade.