What’s New in Android 15 — Bigger Privacy, Smarter Security & Multitasking

Android 15 is here, and it brings a powerful mix of privacy, security, and productivity improvements — especially for foldables, tablets, and Pixel users. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest new features and why they matter.

1. Theft Detection Lock: Smarter Anti-Theft Protection

One of the standout features in Android 15 is the Theft Detection Lock, which uses AI to sense when your phone is being stolen (for example, if someone snatches it and starts running), and can automatically lock the device.

There’s also a Remote Lock option, letting you lock your device remotely by verifying your phone number — a handy fallback if your device goes missing.

To make things even tougher for thieves, Android 15 adds authentication requirements for sensitive functions like SIM removal or turning off “Find My Device.” After repeated failed attempts, the system locks down further to block data access.

2. Private Space: A Hidden Safe for Sensitive Apps

With Android 15’s Private Space, you can create a separate, hidden area on your phone to store apps like banking, social media, or dating apps.

• These apps become invisible on the main app list, in recent apps, notifications, and even in settings — all unless you authenticate again.
• You can even hide the existence of Private Space altogether, making it extremely discreet.

3. Better Multitasking on Foldables & Tablets

Android 15 improves productivity on large-screen devices:

• You can pin or unpin the taskbar, giving you more control over what’s always visible.
• There’s app pairing: you can save combinations of two apps (for example, Gmail + Drive) as a single shortcut. Tap once, and both apps open side-by-side in split-screen mode.

This makes Android 15 more suited for power users who work across apps simultaneously.

4. Camera, Messaging & Security Enhancements

Android 15 also brings several improvements under the hood:

• Low Light Boost & enhanced in-app camera controls: Get better photo quality in dim environments, plus more precise control over flash in third-party apps.
• Satellite Messaging: Carrier messaging apps can now send messages even when there’s no mobile or Wi-Fi connection — via satellite.
• Passkeys: If an app uses passkeys, you can now authenticate with just a tap, making login quicker and more secure.

5. Under the Hood for Developers

For developers, Android 15 introduces many new APIs and performance tools:

• The Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) gives apps more control over how they use power and thermal resources — especially useful for games and heavy apps.
• New security APIs: For example, you can use Credential Manager with biometric prompts to simplify sign-in flows.
• There’s also a new E2eeContactKeysManager to store public keys for end-to-end encryption securely at the OS level.

Why Android 15 Matters

Android 15 is more than just a routine OS update — it shows how Google is doubling down on user privacy, security, and productivity. Features like Theft Detection Lock and Private Space are designed to protect your personal data in real-world threat scenarios. Meanwhile, foldable and tablet users get meaningful multitasking improvements, making Android more powerful on larger devices.

For developers, the new performance and security APIs open up fresh possibilities for building safer, more efficient apps.

Read more on Google’s official blog — What’s new in Android 15.

And if you want a deeper dive into all the technical APIs and developer-focused changes, check out this Android Developers guide on Android 15 Features & APIs.