Android 15 is here, at least in the form of a beta. Here’s everything we know about when the update is coming to your phone.
Google has announced and shown off Android 15, which is the next major version of its mobile operating system. The development and release cycle of Android typically has a three-phase strategy, and that applies to Android 15 as well.
The first phase is always the Developer Preview phase, which happened earlier this year. It’s then followed by the more public Beta testing phase, and then the final, stable version comes out for everyone.
If you’re wondering when your current Android smartphone will get the Android 15 update, here are all the details so far.When is Android 15 coming out?
As we mentioned already, the typical Android release cycle has three phases: developer preview, public beta testing, and the final release.
The developer preview began on February 16, 2024. With the developer preview, app developers get a look at the upcoming changes so that they can familiarize themselves with the new software. This lets them plan ahead to add new features to their own apps if desired.
On April 11, we had the first public beta of Android 15. This allows anyone who wants to try out the software ahead of release to test the new features. Beta testers can report issues and bugs to Google, which helps shape the final release of the software. The public beta versions are much more stable and less buggy than the developer preview builds, but remember — this is still early software, so it’s not going to be perfect.
As of August 20, Google has released Android 15 Beta 4.1 for eligible devices for those who are enrolled in Google’s beta testing program. This is available to the public, so you don’t need a special invite or account. Once you’re enrolled in the program, just download the Android 15 beta.
As far as the general public release window for Android 15, it should be sometime in the fall or toward the end of the third quarter of 2024. Going off past records, Android 14 came out in October 2023, and Android 13 launched in August 2022.Google Pixel
The easiest way to get access to the Android 15 beta is to have a Google Pixel device. That’s because Android is developed by Google, and the Pixel lineup is Google’s own hardware, similar to Apple’s iPhone and iOS, so it makes sense that Pixels would get the beta first.
The Android 15 beta is available for the following Pixel devices so far:
Unfortunately, the Pixel 5 and earlier won’t be able to get the Android 15 update. But if you have any of the above Pixel devices, then you’re good to go.Samsung Galaxy
Samsung’s One UI 6 was one of the biggest visual upgrades in many years, but the brand is rumored to be doubling on the visuals and improving animations with One UI 7. A beta rollout is expected some time in the coming weeks, though Samsung has yet to reveal the specifics.
At the moment, Samsung has not announced any concrete plans about which of its devices will be able to get Android 15. But we can make some educated guesses.
First, Samsung offers at least two years of software upgrades, which it recently bumped up to seven for the latest Galaxy S24 lineup. With this in mind, it’s safe to assume that any Samsung device that shipped with Android 13 out of the box will be eligible for the Android 15 update.
Another set of devices that should get Android 15 are any flagships and midrange phones that launched with Android 11 and have four years of major OS upgrades, as that was Samsung’s policy prior to the change to seven years.
Here’s a list of possible Samsung devices that could get Android 15 based on those factors:
Galaxy S Series
Galaxy Z Series
Galaxy A Series
Galaxy A73
Galaxy A55
Galaxy A54
Galaxy A53
Galaxy A35
Galaxy A34
Galaxy A33
Galaxy A25
Galaxy A24
Galaxy A23
Galaxy A15
Galaxy A14
Galaxy Tab Series
Galaxy Tab S9 FE Plus
Galaxy Tab S9 FE
Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
Galaxy Tab S9 Plus
Galaxy Tab S9
Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra
Galaxy Tab S8 Plus
Galaxy Tab S8
There are also Samsung’s Galaxy F and M Series phones.
