Android 15 Is Here — What's Actually Changed?

Google's Android 15 rolled out to Pixel devices in late 2024 and has been making its way to other manufacturers since. While not every release is a dramatic overhaul, Android 15 brings a meaningful set of improvements — particularly around privacy, performance, and app behaviour. Here's what matters most for everyday users.

Improved Privacy Controls

Privacy continues to be a central focus for Android. Android 15 introduces several notable enhancements:

Health Connect Updates

Health Connect — Google's unified health data platform — receives expanded data types and improved permission granularity in Android 15. Users can now control exactly which apps access specific health metrics, with clearer explanations of what each permission covers.

Partial Screen Sharing

One of the headline privacy features: you can now share a single app window during screen sharing or recording sessions, rather than your entire display. This is a significant privacy improvement when doing video calls or sharing your screen professionally, as it prevents accidental exposure of notifications, other app content, or personal data visible elsewhere on screen.

Sensitive Notification Protections

Android 15 restricts apps from reading one-time passwords (OTPs) and other sensitive notification content without explicit permission. This closes a vector that some malicious apps previously exploited.

Performance and Battery Improvements

Android 15 refines how the system manages background processes and app hibernation. Apps that haven't been used in an extended period are placed into a deeper hibernation state, freeing up memory and reducing background battery drain. Users with older devices or budget phones may notice the most benefit here.

App startup times are also improved for many apps, thanks to optimisations in the Android Runtime (ART) and better precompilation of app code during device idle time.

Adaptive Refresh Rate Enhancements

For devices with variable refresh rate displays (90Hz, 120Hz, or higher), Android 15 improves how the system dynamically adjusts the refresh rate based on on-screen content. Static screens like reading or viewing a home screen will drop to lower refresh rates automatically, extending battery life without impacting the experience during scrolling or gaming.

Satellite Connectivity Support

Android 15 introduces a framework for satellite-based messaging, similar to features Apple introduced on iOS. Actual availability depends on hardware support and carrier partnerships, but the groundwork is now in the OS for manufacturers to build upon.

Developer-Side Changes That Affect App Behaviour

If you've noticed some apps behaving differently after updating to Android 15, these developer-facing changes may be why:

  • Edge-to-edge display enforcement — Apps are now expected to render content edge-to-edge, with proper inset handling for navigation bars and status bars.
  • Foreground service restrictions — Background tasks and services face tighter controls, which should reduce battery drain from poorly optimised apps.
  • 16KB memory page size support — A technical change that improves performance on newer hardware and future-proofs Android for next-generation chips.

Should You Update?

For most users, yes — Android 15 brings genuine security and privacy improvements that are worth having. The partial screen sharing and OTP protection alone are meaningful security upgrades. Check your device manufacturer's update page for a rollout timeline if you're not on a Pixel device.

As always, back up your device before a major OS update, just as a precaution.