Google announces Android 15: Check top features, availability

Android 15 launch: Google has officially launched its Android 15 mobile operating system. This mobile OS succeeds Android 14 that arrived last year and it comes with a host of privacy focussed features including new theft protection features and a private space for sensitive apps.

In addition to these, Google is also introducing improvements to foldable display smartphones with the launch of Android 15. "These updates include security features that help keep your sensitive health, financial and personal information protected from theft and fraud," Google wrote in a blog announcing the development.

As far as availability is concerned, Google has said that it has started rolling out Android 15 update to its Pixel devices. Android 15 update will arrive on smartphones by Samsung, Xiaomi, Realme and more as per launch schedule of their respective OS skins.

Android 15 update: Top features

Here are the top features offered by Android 15:

-- As mentioned before, Android 15 brings a host of new privacy features. First of these features is Theft Detection Lock. This feature uses on-device AI models to detect if someone has snatched a user's phone and is trying to run, bike or drive away. When it does detect such an activity, it automatically locks the user's device.

-- Another such feature is Remote Lock, which can be used to lock a smartphone from any device using a user's phone number and a simple security check.

-- Offline Device Lock feature locks the screen if a thief tries to take the stolen smartphone offline to extract data or avoid a remote wipe.

-- Android 15 also brings a new feature called Private Space that can create a separate private space on device to organise sensitive apps. Google says that when the private space is locked, apps remain virtually invisible to others and are hidden from your apps list, recent apps view, notifications and settings.

-- Coming to the foldables and tablets, users can now pin and unpin the taskbar on the screen. This feature will enable users to keep their most used apps in reach for quicker access.

-- Android 15 also brings a new App Pairing feature to enable multi-tasking. "can also save your most frequently used app combinations and they’ll appear as a single app icon on your foldable or tablet. With just a tap, you can quickly retrieve them in split-screen for faster access," Google added.