Android 15 expected features: Satellite connectivity, partial screen recording and more

Android 15 is the next major Android version on the horizon, and with a couple of developer previews out on the table, a number of features of Android 15 are now out of the bag. Of course, there is always the possibility of Google throwing some more new additions before a final release, which is still months away. However, of all the ones we’ve seen so far, here are the best Android 15 features to look forward to on your smartphone.

Satellite connectivity

Apple has been adding paid support for satellite connectivity to its newer iPhones, but Google is set to add the same on a system level. This means that on Android phones that will support satellite connectivity, Android 15 will offer APIs that will let apps also detect when a device is connected to a satellite.

The same is also true for SMS and RCS apps, which means satellite connectivity will not only be limited to sending SOS messages in emergencies.

Partial screen sharing

Screen sharing has become really popular over the years, with a number of apps like WhatsApp now also natively supporting sharing your entire screen over a video call. However, with Android 15, users will be able to share their entire screen on just one app window, to allow for some privacy.

ALSO READ: How to share your screen on WhatsApp

This is great for those who share their screens frequently, but often need to switch to other apps for personal communication or other use cases.

More in-app camera controls

On select devices, Android 15 will allow for more control over the existing camera hardware. This will allow users to do things like precisely control the intensity of the flash module during low-light photography and boost the brightness of the camera preview.

Protection against notification spam

A new Android 15 feature called ‘Notification Cooldown’ will lower the volume of notifications when you receive too many at once from one single app. While the first one will ring at full volume, subsequent notifications will come with lower-volume alerts. This should help control the feeling of being overwhelmed by too many notification alerts, a serious issue if you have contacts who prefer texting in just a few words at a time.

Universal toggle for keyboard vibration

A handy tool if you use multiple keyboard apps on your Android phone is a unified toggle for keyboard vibrations. Fortunately, that is exactly what Android 15 is adding. The new toggle will let users disable keyboard vibrations universally across all keyboard apps. When you turn it on, though, you will be able to control the haptics of each keyboard app individually.

Sensitive notifications

Android 15 will be smart enough to tell apart SMS messages which come with OTPs in them, and will treat them differently than regular SMS messages. This will prevent apps that have access to your messages from being able to read messages with OTPs for other apps. This could be a big problem if you accidentally get on a malicious app on your phone with access to all messages, as OTPs can now be safeguarded.

High-Quality Webcam mode

While third-party apps have enabled Android phones to be turned into makeshift webcams for years, Android 14 was the first version to natively integrate this feature. However, the ability turned out rather average, and people didn’t get the high quality they would expect.

ALSO READ: How to turn your smartphone into a webcam

That is set to change with Android 15, which adds in a new high-quality webcam mode that will allow the phone to be used like a webcam without losing any quality. Sadly, it seems this particular feature is only restricted to Pixel devices, at least for now.

Better Bluetooth popups

With Android 15, clicking on the Bluetooth Quick Settings tile will open a separate dialogue box that will offer more control over what exact devices you want to phone connected to at the moment. As a result, managing multiple Bluetooth devices, and connecting and disconnecting from them can now be done in a jiffy.

Features for foldable phones

Foldable phones are only set to get more common. With Android 15, a number of features are also coming to foldable phones. These include the ability to restrict your outer display from turning on when you fold the phone, a persistent taskbar for larger screen devices like the OnePlus Open, and the ability to use apps edge-to-edge by default.

These were some of the best features coming with Android 15. Google is expected to officially announce Android 15 during Google I/O, which is set to commence on May 14 this year. That also gives us plenty of time to get a look at some more upcoming features. Stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for more updates.