Android 15: A Reflection on Evolution and Expectations
We all have been waiting for a long time, and now Google has finally released Android 15. I just installed it on my Pixel 8 Pro, and it made me realise something maybe even a kind of eye-opener. Let’s talk about it.
Do you remember the last big Android update? Tell me in the comments. For me, the best one ever was Android 5.0 Lollipop. I still remember how excited we were when it came out. My friends and I stayed up till 2 a.m. just to flash the ROMs on our Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, because we didn’t want to wait for the OTA update. Lollipop changed the whole look of Android and gave tech lovers like us a lot to enjoy. But that was 10 years ago, and honestly, it feels like no update since then has brought that same level of excitement, polish, or big change.
Is it because we now get updates more often a good thing, no doubt so the jump between versions feels smaller? Or is it because Android has grown into such a complete and polished system? Whatever the reason, Android 15 feels more like a small patch than a big, exciting update especially when we compare it to the major changes we saw 10 years ago.
That being said, I do like some of the new features in Android 15. The back preview is a nice idea (even though it works sometimes and doesn’t other times), and the Private Space feature is useful it locks apps, which is great if you give your phone to your kid and don’t want them opening your banking or social media apps. I also like the new volume panel it’s clearer and easier to use now. And the return of Adaptive Vibration on Pixel phones is cool too; it changes the vibration based on the surface your phone is on. But let’s be honest none of these features are really big or game-changing.
Also, many users with other phone models won’t even get all these new features, which makes the update feel overhyped and not that big in the end. And since the Pixel 9 series is coming with Android 14 instead of Android 15, Google’s decision doesn’t seem like a big mistake anymore. In simple words, most of Android 15 already feels like it was part of Android 14.
Take App Pairs, for example how many people actually use that every day? Then there’s Pixel Studio, an AI image-making app. It only works on Pixel 9 phones with the Tensor G4 chip, even if you’re using Android 14. Pixel 8 users have the same Android version, but they can’t use it. The same thing goes for the Atomy feature it’s only for Pixel 9, no matter which Android version you have. Some people are saying Pixel Studio might come to Pixel 8 later, but for now, it’s just a rumour.
This split of features between different phone models makes things more confusing. Android versions don’t feel that important anymore. It’s clearly a business move by keeping new features only on newer phones, companies push people to upgrade. But because of that, Android 15 doesn’t feel much different from Android 12, which came out three years ago.
Older phones with Android 10 or even older versions don’t feel outdated anymore. You’ll still see many people using phones like the Galaxy S9 or Huawei P30 Pro. Back in the day, a big Android update would make older phones feel very old. But now, even old devices still work well and feel good to use.
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!
