Android 15 comes to Pixel devices with new privacy features

With Android 15 software updates, your device knows exactly what to do when it gets stolen.

Android 15 is coming to Google Pixel devices with the latest security updates and changes to the camera, messaging, and passkeys.

One of the safety updates that the new software provides is an AI-powered Theft Detection Lock. The new feature works when a phone detects a possible theft and automatically locks itself.

Users can also use the Remote Lock feature, which allows them to lock their phone from any other device by entering their phone number and passing a security check.

Android 15 also comes with features that prevent thieves from resetting stolen devices. If a person wants to remove a SIM card or turn off the Find My Device feature, they must undergo additional authentication requirements. The phone will lock itself if it detects multiple failed attempts to change the settings.

It might seem that with smartphones now being easily traceable, the number of people who have had their phones stolen might have decreased. However, in the US, 4.1 million phones were stolen or lost in 2022.

The new safety features can be enabled on most Android 10 and newer phones.

The new software update also has a “digital safe” that stores sensitive apps such as banking, social media, and others. This private space can’t be seen among other apps, notifications, or settings. To access this “digital safe,” the user must first undergo verification.

Android 15 software includes changes for users of foldable and tablet devices. With a more customizable layout, users can pin (and unpin) their most used apps to reach them faster.

The new software also allows app pairing for multitasking purposes so that apps can be found and opened together; adjustments to the camera, which is supposed to work better in a low-light setting; and sending and receiving messages through satellite connectivity without an internet connection.

This feature proved reliable in situations like the recent appearance of Hurricane Helene, where iPhone users were able to contact others through satellites after the hurricane damaged critical infrastructure.