Android 15: A Reflection on Evolution and Expectations
We’ve all been eagerly waiting for what feels like an eternity, and now Google has finally dropped Android 15. Having just installed it on my Pixel 8 Pro, I’ve come to a bit of a realization perhaps even an enlightenment of sorts. Let’s dive into that.
Do you remember the last huge Android update? Let me know in the comments, because for me, the best one of all time has to be Android 5.0 Lollipop. I still remember the hype when it came out, and my friends and I stayed up until 2 a.m. flashing the ROMs on our Nexus 4 and Nexus 5 devices, all because we didn’t want to wait for the OTA update to roll out. Lollipop overhauled Android’s aesthetics and gave us plenty of reasons to be excited, at least for tech enthusiasts like us. But that was 10 years ago, and since then, it feels like we haven’t seen an update that matches the refinement, excitement, and change of that era.
Is that because we now get more updates an undeniably good thing so the leaps between versions feel smaller? Or is it because Android has matured into such a comprehensive and complete operating system? Regardless, Android 15 feels more like a small patch than a groundbreaking update compared to the great leaps from a decade ago.
That said, I can appreciate some of the new features in Android 15, like the back preview (though it sometimes works, and sometimes doesn’t), and the Private Space feature that locks apps. This is especially handy if you hand your phone to your kid and don’t want them snooping through your banking or social media apps. I also like the new volume panel adjusting things is clearer and easier. The return of Adaptive Vibration on Pixel devices, which adjusts based on the surface your phone is on, is also cool. But let’s be real none of this is groundbreaking.
Moreover, some users with different phone models won’t even get all these features, making the update feel like massive hype followed by a relatively small release. With Pixel 9 series devices only shipping with Android 14, Google’s move doesn’t seem like such a misstep anymore. Essentially, Android 15 already existed under the Android 14 name.
Take, for example, App Pairs how many people really use that daily? And then you’ve got Pixel Studio, an app that uses AI to generate images. It only works on Pixel 9 devices running the Tensor G4 processor, even if you’re on Android 14. Users with the Pixel 8 series running the same Android version can’t access it. The same goes for the Atomy feature it’s restricted to the Pixel 9, regardless of the OS version. I’ve seen reports suggesting that Pixel Studio might come to the Pixel 8, but right now, that’s just a rumor.
This fragmentation of features between hardware models complicates things further, with Android versions feeling less relevant. It’s a business move keeping features locked to newer phones gives people more reasons to upgrade but it makes Android versions feel less significant. Android 15 doesn’t feel that different from Android 12, which is now three years old.
Older phones running Android 10 or even earlier versions don’t feel that obsolete anymore, and you’ll still find plenty of people rocking devices like the Galaxy S9 or Huawei P30 Pro. Unlike back in the day when a major Android update would make older phones feel ancient, today’s devices hold up well over time.
You might be wondering why I’m running Android 15 on my Pixel 8 Pro instead of the newer Pixel 9. That’s because my Pixel 9 is with a colleague right now, so I’m stuck with the Pixel 8 Pro, which is still a fantastic phone. But the bigger changes in Android updates seem to come from different software skins like One UI, Pixel Experience, and OxygenOS rather than from the core OS itself.
For example, I love Samsung’s One UI. It feels like the most complete Android skin out there, even though I know some people prefer stock Android. The variety in skins from different manufacturers like Samsung, OnePlus, and Google adds a unique flavor to their devices. It’s not like the base version of Android is full of features, and these manufacturers just tweak it they’re adding significant individuality with each skin.
That’s why going from a Pixel 9 Pro to a Galaxy S24 Ultra, even though they both run Android 14, feels like a completely different experience. And perhaps this similarity between Android 14 and 15 is why smartphones feel so similar year after year. It’s not just the hardware that’s reached a peak the software is evolving at a slower pace.
So, what updates would excite me? A desktop like mode, like Samsung DeX, implemented across all Android devices would be a big deal. Most Android smartphones are powerful enough to act as mini-PCs, and features like that could make better use of the 12-16 GB of RAM we’re seeing in some phones. A Google version of AirDrop, perhaps in collaboration with Microsoft, could also be a game-changer. It wouldn’t be easy to implement, given the competitive landscape, but it’s a feature I’d use constantly.
I also love a good UI overhaul. If Android came out with a major aesthetic change, I’d be excited to upgrade just for that. Currently, I think Pixel’s aesthetic is really solid better than OxygenOS, which is starting to feel a bit stale to me.
I’m not sure I’ll ever get that Lollipop level excitement for an Android update again, and that’s okay. Android has grown up, and so have I. Instead of lamenting the lack of innovation, we should probably celebrate just how polished and robust this OS has become.
What do you think about Android 15? Have the past few updates been as underwhelming for you, or is there a specific feature that excites you? I’d love to hear your thoughts, especially if you have any ideas for future OS features that would make you eager to upgrade.
Cheers!
