App pairs should’ve been included in every variant of Android years ago, and it’s good to see them here.
And hey, if we’re counting updates, Google did have a pretty big one in store for its own Pixel phones — it just arrived a few months later than Android 15.
From Call Screen improvements to some very cool Android 15 also should’ve represented the final OS launch for the Pixel 6, but this week, got an extension through late 2026.
Has your phone received Android 15 yet?
Either way, let us know in the poll below, and sound off in the comments with your expanded Android 15 thoughts.
Less than two months have passed since Android 15 was released for Google’s Pixel lineup, and those who have used any of the numerous developer preview and beta builds have not been surprised by the lackluster reception. It’s not a bad update, of course, but users were left wondering what was new on their device because of the long testing period, which lasted from February until the first smartphone build was made public in October. Although it is not a recent occurrence for Android, it is undoubtedly a noteworthy one.
Of course, that doesn’t mean it lacks some awesome features. A few quality-of-life enhancements seemed like just enough to warrant pressing the update button as soon as possible, as AP’s Google Editor Taylor Kerns discussed in his review. For instance, private space, which offers a locked folder for your apps and separates user data from the rest of your phone, is a feature that has long been a favorite of Android users. In the coming years, it will seem like a must-have feature, regardless of how serious your private space use case is.
Some enhancements include modifications to Android’s large-screen functionality, which is always welcome, regardless of how frequently Google changes its mind about tablets in the future. It’s good to see app pairs here, as they ought to have been a part of every Android version years ago. App archiving also seems necessary to me, particularly since I travel frequently but not extensively. The ability to archive travel-related apps that I don’t frequently use, like Airbnb, is a fantastic feature.
But in reality, OEMs are benefiting the most from this year’s annual (soon-to-be biannual) update. Samsung has given its smartphones a completely new look and feel with One UI 7, and although the changes are somewhat reminiscent of iOS, they are still quite promising in their early phases. With its emphasis on AI, OxygenOS 15 isn’t quite as impressive, but I’m still impressed that OnePlus was able to free up a few gigabytes of storage.
It just came a few months after Android 15, but if we’re counting updates, Google did have a pretty big one planned for its own Pixel phones. This week saw the release of QPR1, a surprisingly powerful update for both new and old Pixels. Improvements to the Call Screen and some really cool Android 15 should have marked the Pixel 6’s last OS release, but this week it was extended until late 2026. It’s not bad!
So, I’m interested. Are you using a Pixel 9 running the most recent Feature Drop? Has your phone received Android 15 yet? Perhaps the Galaxy S24 Ultra you’re using has the first beta of One UI 7. Or perhaps you are unable to wait for an update from your preferred OEM. In any case, share your expanded Android 15 thoughts in the comments section and in the poll below.
