Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream)
Review of the mobile operating system Android 15.
Codename: Vanilla Ice Cream.
Release: September 3, 2024.
API level/NDK release: 35.
Android 15 marks the fifteenth significant update and the 22nd overall iteration of Google’s Android operating system. The first developer preview made its debut in February 2024, with the official release of Android 15 following on September 3, 2024. Notably, Google confirmed on August 27, 2024, that Android 15 would become available on Pixel devices starting in October 2024.
Development History
Internally, Android 15 carries the codename “Vanilla Ice Cream“.
The initial developer preview (DP1) for Android 15 was launched on February 16, 2024. Subsequently, the second developer preview (DP2) was released on March 21, 2024.
New Features
According to the official DP1 release notes, Android 15 introduces several new features, including:
- Privacy Sandbox
- Health Connect
- File Integrity
- Partial Screen Sharing
- In-App Camera Controls
- Dynamic Performance
- Sensitive Notifications
- Notification Cooldown
- Lock Screen Widgets (Reintroduced from Android 4.2, removed in Android 5.0)
In addition to these officially noted features, Android enthusiasts have uncovered additional features in development that may be introduced in later previews. These include the reintroduction of lock screen widgets, battery health monitoring, app archiving, voice activation, private space, app pairs, and enhanced multi-tasking/windowing for desktop mode.
The DP2 release added further features to Android 15, such as improved satellite network compatibility, enhancements to the built-in PDF reader, and support for app archiving, among other updates.
With the release of Beta 1, new functionalities emerged, including the ability for apps to scale edge-to-edge and draw translucent system bars at the top and bottom of the screen, OS-level support for app archiving and unarchiving on third-party app stores, improved Braille support, and end-to-end encryption for contact keys, along with numerous other developer-oriented features.
Beta 2 introduced additional refinements, such as a redesigned authentication panel, enhanced privacy and security settings, a new volume panel, predictive back navigation, and Bluetooth audio improvements.
Beta 3, which brought the platform to a stable state, also introduced a revamped credentials manager and marked the deprecation of WebSQL.
Android 15 is built on the Linux kernel version 6.6.