When will my phone get Android 15? Here’s everything we know
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Christine Romero-Chan and Andy Boxall Updated December 20, 2024 |
Android 15 has been available for a few months on select Android smartphones. This update has been in development since February and went through three phases before finally rolling out, starting with Google’s Pixel phones. If you’re waiting for the latest software, your wait won’t be much longer. If you’re curious about when your current Android smartphone will receive the Android 15 update, here are all the details available so far.
Are you not too excited about Android 15? Well, Android 16 is now official, having recently been announced by Google. However, it’s a long way from ready, given it’s only just opened developer beta access.
The typical Android release cycle consists of three phases: developer preview, public beta testing, and final release.
The developer preview started on February 16, 2024. This phase allows app developers to preview upcoming changes and familiarize themselves with the new software, enabling them to plan and implement new features in their own apps if they choose to do so.
On April 11, we launched the first public beta of Android 15. This version allows anyone interested to test the new features ahead of the official release. Beta testers can report issues and bugs to Google, which helps improve the final version of the software. While the public beta versions are generally more stable and have fewer bugs than the developer preview builds, it’s important to remember that they are still considered early software and may not be perfect.
On October 15, 2024, Google began to roll out Android 15 to select devices. Since Android phones consist of several different manufacturers, major OS upgrades roll out at different times. As Google makes the Pixel hardware, it makes sense that Pixel devices would get Android 15 first.
Since each manufacturer is different, we’ll go over each one individually as far as when they’ll get the final Android 15 release.
The fastest way to get access to Android 15 is to have a Google Pixel device. That’s because Google develops Android, and the Pixel lineup is Google’s own hardware, similar to Apple’s iPhone and iOS, so it makes sense that Pixels would get it first.
Android 15 is available for the following Pixel devices:
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’s One UI 6 introduced one of the most significant visual upgrades in recent years, and the brand is now focused on finalizing One UI 7. Until this new software is released, Samsung phones will not receive Android 15. Unfortunately, we may have to wait until January for this upgrade, coinciding with the expected announcement of the Galaxy S25 series. However, if you’re feeling brave, you can currently install the One UI 7 beta on the Galaxy S24 series.
Samsung has not specified exactly what other devices will be eligible for Android 15. However, we can make some educated guesses. Samsung typically offers at least two years of software upgrades, and for the latest Galaxy S24 series, it has extended this support to seven years. Given this approach, it’s reasonable to assume that any Samsung device that originally shipped with Android 13 will qualify 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 Tab Series
There are also Samsung’s Galaxy F and M Series phones. In short, there are a lot of possible Samsung phones that will receive the Android 15 update. We just listed out some of the more popular and more recent devices, but as long as it falls within the criteria mentioned above, it should get Android 15.
We will hear from Samsung later with a confirmed list of supported devices for Android 15 and update accordingly.
OnePlus announced OxygenOS 15, which is based on Android 15, during an event in October. The new OnePlus 13 will be the first device to launch with this software, debuting in China before rolling out to other regions worldwide on January 7, 2025.
What does OxygenOS 15 have in store? The main focus appears to be making the overall experience faster, smoother, and more reliable. There will be improved animations throughout, including the home screen, to make it feel seamless. More functional changes will include a split notifications and Quick Settings panel (opt-in), Live Alerts that are like OnePlus’ version of Apple’s Dynamic Island, Open Canvas is optimized for split-screen multitasking, Circle to Search, and more.
In addition to the OnePlus 13, several other devices will receive the Android 15 update. These include:
The update will be rolled out in phases, starting with an Open Beta program, followed by a stable release. This process may take several months to complete for all confirmed devices.
As of December 18, the following devices should already have the OxygenOS 15 update, with some only in specific regions:
If your OnePlus device doesn’t already have the OxygenOS 15 update, it should be rolling out soon. For example, OnePlus is currently testing OxygenOS 15 in a closed beta for the OnePlus 10 Pro. We will update the list of confirmed devices once we find out more.
Motorola has released a list of its phones that will be eligible to get the Android 15 update. The list is a bit broad, so your phone is likely covered, especially if you bought it in the past year.
Following an open beta period earlier this year, Nothing has begun to roll out the general release of Nothing OS 3.0 (NOS 3.0) powered by Android 15 as of December 18, 2024. With NOS 3.0, it continues to have Nothing’s unique signature identity but with new features and enhancements to the overall user experience.
Some of these new changes include a new gallery app that includes advanced search, more editing tools like filters, markup, and even suggestions on edits. There are also new Shared Widgets that allow for interaction with friends and family on the fully customizable lock screen, more productivity widgets, and a new AI-powered Smart Drawer for better categorization and organization of your apps in folders.
You can currently get NOS 3.0 on Nothing Phone 2 and Phone 2a through a staggered release through the end of the year. In the beginning of 2025, the NOS 3.0 update will roll out to Nothing Phone 1, Phone 2a Plus, and CMF Phone 1.
Right now, the Android 15 beta is only available for the following devices from Honor:
If you have one of those devices, you can grab the Android 15 beta right now. Similar to OnePlus, there are some known issues, though a few of them have been fixed. As of July 30, it seems that the only real concern is that there continues to be a low probability of the phone restarting in certain scenarios.
Not a deterrent? Go ahead and check the instructions on how to download the Android 15 beta for your Honor Magic 6 Pro or Magic V2 from the Honor Developers page.
In addition, the following phones are expected to receive the Android 15 update:
Xiaomi gave its Android skin a complete overhaul — from visuals to the underlying code — with Android 14. In this process, it transitioned the majority of its devices from the landmark MIUI to the new HyperOS that is also slated to run across other smart devices, including its line of EVs.
Xiaomi has already rolled out Android 15 developer preview builds for its flagship, the Xiaomi 14, alongside the Xiaomi 13T Pro and its premium tablet, Xiaomi Pad 6S Pro (12.4-inch only). To download and install the respective firmware updates, head over to Xiaomi’s support page for Android 15 beta updates.
Although the company has yet to declare which devices (in addition to those above) will receive Android 15 updates, we can speculate based on earlier claims about the number of updates. For the sake of simplicity, we limit these to phones only available globally and not limited to specific regions.
Here is the list of phones from Xiaomi and its sister brands Redmi and Poco:
As previously with MIUI, Xiaomi’s HyperOS updates are not necessarily tied to Android updates. This means that two phones can get the same HyperOS versions with similar features while running different generations. This is good news for cheaper and older phones that are excluded from receiving Android 15 updates, such as the flagship Mi 11 and Mi 10 series.
Realme, OnePlus’ sister brand, is fairly popular in Asia and is slowly creeping up the charts in other parts of the world. Though the interface it runs is called Realme UI, the interface closely resembles OnePlus’ OxygenOS, which itself is drawn largely from parent Oppo’s ColorOS.
Just like OnePlus, Realme also has an Android 15 beta program, but specifically for the Realme 12 Pro Plus but only for users in India. The instructions are listed in a Realme community post if you have an Indian unit.
However, a larger batch of devices in more regions can be expected to roll out following Google’s and Oppo’ release of their respective updates. Based on previous promises, here are all the Realme phones expected to get the Android 15 update:
Like Xiaomi, we have limited the list to devices widely available globally.
Though Google has officially released Android 15, only select devices have the final build, namely Pixel phones. Other manufacturers will be rolling out their own custom user interfaces based on Android 15 on their own schedules, and Samsung is typically the first one in this race, though its One UI 7 interface has faced big delays.
If you don’t have a Pixel, you could still access the Android 15 beta, but it’s important to remember to keep a backup of any crucial data just in case there are any malfunctions in the beta before the final version is released on non-Pixel phones.
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