Android 15’s pre-release period has been strange, with extra beta releases and this year’s Pixel phones launching on last year’s version of Android. It seems like all the kinks have been worked out, though: Android 15 is finally finished, just not in the way you may have been hoping for.
That’s not all: Android 14 got a critical security update (potentially its last, at least on many phones), we caught a very early glimpse at what could be Android 16, and Google’s exciting AI-powered Ask Photos feature is starting to roll out to some Google Labs users. Here’s your rundown of the week’s major Google news.
Android 15 is officially finished
After a lengthy beta period, Android 15 made its way into AOSP this week, which means it’s finished — any future changes from this point will target the the QPR1 release planned for December. The update isn’t rolling out to users yet, though; Google’s said Android 15 should make its way to Pixel devices starting in the next few weeks (we’re figuring it’ll be in October), and devices from other manufacturers over the next few months.
The Pixel 9 series launched with Android 14, making them the first Pixel phones to launch with the same Android version as the previous generation (the Pixel 8 debuted with Android 14 last fall). If you want to try Android 15 on your Pixel right now, you can hop on the beta program to try QPR1 Beta 1.1. Note that QPR1 is still in development and hasn’t been folded into AOSP the way Android 15 itself has; as with any beta, you’re likely to hit some bugs.
Android 14 gets a critical security patch
Android 14’s still alive and kicking, even with Android 15 nearing release. There aren’t any significant user-facing changes in the September security patch that’s available now, but it does squash some bugs. Chiefly, it patches a nasty security vulnerability caused by Verizon’s hidden store demo software that’s been pre-loaded on Pixel phones since 2017.
Assuming Android 15 does make its way to Pixel phones next month, the September security patch is the last Android 14 update many Pixel phones will ever see.
The Pixel 9 can’t reverse wireless charge while it’s plugged in
The Pixel 9 series supports reverse wireless charging for topping up accessories or other phones on the go, but it’s got a limitation previous Pixel phones didn’t: you can’t use Power Share on Pixel 9 phones while they’re plugged into wired chargers.
The Pixel 5, 6, 7, and 8 series all support reverse wireless charging, too, and on those phones, you can use Power Share while the phone is plugged in just fine. The change for this generation could be intended to preserve battery health over time, in keeping with an in-development Android 15 feature that’ll let you limit your battery’s charging to 80 percent capacity.
Ask Photos is finally here (for some people)
Source: Google
Amid all the AI-powered odds and ends Google debuted at I/O this year, one in particular caught my attention . Ask Photos lets you talk to Gemini to surface images in your Google Photos library by asking for them in natural language. As the name implies, you can even ask questions that could be answered by your photos (“what’s my license plate number, again?”), and Gemini will scan your image library to get you the info and images you need. Ask Photos is rolling out in early access to some users now, and you can sign up for a waitlist to try it.
There was also a surprise tucked into the Ask Photos rollout: regular old search in Google Photos is getting better, too. English-language users can now search for more specific things (for example, photos containing multiple specific people). The improved search experience is set to roll out to more languages soon.
The Pixel Stand 2 is out of commission
Late last month, it came to light that the Pixel Stand 2, Google’s premium wireless charging stand released in 2021, isn’t compatible with the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. The wireless charging coils in Google’s latest foldables are positioned in such a way that it’s difficult to get contact on the Stand 2.
Earlier this week, Google stopped selling the Pixel Stand 2. The Google Store listing for the charger doesn’t just say it’s out of stock, but that it’s “No longer available.” We haven’t heard anything about a new wireless charger from Google yet, but given the company’s stopped selling its previous model, it stands to reason we might in the near future.
An early, early peek at Android 16?
Poking around the Android 15 source code, Mishaal Rahman was able to get a redesigned quick settings panel operational. The new design, potentially in development for Android 16, looks radically different from what we’re used to now, with quick settings and notifications apparently completely separate. In a video demonstrating the in-progress design, quick settings are accessed by swiping down from the top of the display with two fingers, but I’d be surprised if that was the only way to get there when and if this design does roll out. You can access quick settings by swiping down with two fingers in existing versions of Android, too.