Android 15 DP 2 Released With Improved Foldable Cover Screen Support, Official Satellite Connectivity Features

Android 15 will allow apps to determine when the screen is being recorded, enabling them to protect sensitive information from being captured.

Written by David Delima | Updated: 22 March 2024 17:52 IST

Photo Credit: Google

Android 15 will succeed Google's Android 14 operating system in the second half of 2024

Highlights

Google has rolled out its second Android 15 Developer Preview
Apps will have access to improved NFC functionality on Android 15
Android 15 Developer Preview 2 adds system support for Auracast controls

Android 15 Developer Preview 2 was released by Google on Thursday, allowing developers to try out an early version of the company's next major operating system update for Android smartphones. The second preview comes with several improvements to existing features as well as new features that take advantage of modern smartphone hardware, including satellite connectivity and foldable screens. Apps will also gain new abilities, such as detecting when the screen is being recorded. Most of these features are expected to be a part of the first open beta scheduled to arrive next month.

One of the most notable new features arriving with Android 15 will be satellite connectivity. While manufacturers could always build in support for these features, the arrival of official support means that the user interface for this feature should feel more cohesive across different satellite networks — including new UI elements such as a status bar icon and interactive notifications, while apps can also detect when a handset is connected to a satellite and offer messaging services.

Near field communication (NFC) support has been improved on devices running on Android 15, allowing smartphones to 'observe' or listen to NFC readers without responding to them. Meanwhile, Google will allow apps running on Android 15 to determine when the screen is being recorded, enabling them to prevent potentially sensitive information from being shown on the screen at the same time — apps like Google Pay currently offer this functionality when screen recording is enabled on iOS.

Android 15 to Reportedly Better Protect 2FA Notifications for Data Safety

Foldable smartphones — especially clamshell-style handsets like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra — currently offer manufacturer-optimised support for running apps (or widgets) on the smaller external cover screen. With Android 15, application developers can declare a property that will enable the use of these apps on foldable phones' cover screens, despite their small size, according to Google.

With newly added support for the CTA-2075 loudness standard, Android 15 will enable loudness consistency across different content types — this means that you won't be constantly reaching for the volume buttons to adjust the volume of your phone. The Settings app has also been updated with a section called Audio sharing which will let you manage your Auracast (a new Bluetooth 'broadcasting' feature) sessions.

Google will also allow developers to set a specific HDR headroom level, allowing their apps to balance HDR and SDR content, instead of the parts of screen showing the former overpowering the parts displaying SDR content. You will also be able to configure the app archiving feature via the Settings app, choosing to archive or restore apps directly via the Settings app.

All of these features are currently available on the latest version of Android 15 DP 2, and are expected to make their way to the public beta releases that are scheduled to begin rolling out in April. Some of these features could be further improved, augmented, or removed in upcoming releases. A clearer idea of the Android 15 features is likely to emerge when the software reaches platform stability starting in June, according to the company's schedule.

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Vibrant displays, folding display is durable
Compact design when folded
Top-tier performance
Fast wireless charging for a foldable
Water-resistant design
Good quality primary camera

Bad
Cover screen functionality is limited
Battery barely lasts a day
Relatively slow wired charging
No macro camera

Read detailed Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review

Display (Primary) 6.70-inch

Processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

Front Camera 10-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 10-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB, 512GB

Battery Capacity 3700mAh

OS Android 13

More Samsung mobiles Samsung mobiles price in India

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Premium and compact design, IP52 rating
Vibrant pOLED folding display
Large and functional cover display
Good for gaming
Fluid software
Good daylight camera performance

Bad
Heats up with camera use
Slow wireless charging
Recorded video quality is average

Read detailed Motorola Razr 40 Ultra review

Display (Primary) 6.90-inch

Front Camera 32-megapixel

Rear Camera 12-megapixel + 13-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 256GB

Battery Capacity 3800mAh

OS Android 13

Resolution 1080x2640 pixels

More Motorola mobiles Motorola mobiles price in India

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Further reading: Android 15, Android 15 DP 2, Android 15 Developer Preview, Android 15 Developer Preview 2, Android Beta, Android 15 features, Satellite connectivity, Android, Google

David Delima

Email David Delima

As a writer on technology with Gadgets 360, David Delima is interested in open-source technology, cybersecurity, consumer privacy, and loves to read and write about how the Internet works. David can be contacted via email at DavidD@ndtv.com, on Twitter at @DxDavey, and Mastodon at mstdn.social/@delima. More