Android 15 Beta 1 Released With New Security and Privacy Features for Eligible Google Pixel Phones

Android 15 Beta 1 is available on most recent Google Pixel smartphones except the Pixel 5a, which will remain on Android 14 this year.

Written by David Delima | Updated: 12 April 2024 11:51 IST

Android 15 Beta 1 Released With New Security and Privacy Features for Eligible Google Pixel Phones

Photo Credit: Google

Android 14 (pictured) will be succeeded by Google's upcoming Android 15 update this year

Highlights

Android 15 Beta 1 is compatible with the Pixel 6 and newer models
The first Android 15 beta comes with new network security features
Android 15 is expected to arrive on eligible Pixel phones in H2 2024

Android 15 Beta 1 is now available to download on eligible Google Pixel smartphones for users and developers who want to try out the upcoming version of Android. Google's next mobile operating system (OS) update is expected to bring new features and functionality, when it is released later this year. While the search giant is expected to unveil new Android 15 features at Google I/O in May, the first beta version gives us a look at new privacy and security features coming to the OS later this year.

According to details shared by Google on the Android Beta subreddit on Thursday, the first beta release of Android 15 is now available to download on the Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet. Users who installed the developer preview will automatically get an update to Android 15 Beta 1, just like users who have Android 14 QPR3 beta on their devices.

In its post on Reddit, the company said that it would have more details to share at its annual developer conference next month, but 9to5Google has already unearthed new features that were added since the last Android 15 developer preview. After installing Android 15 Beta 1, users will see a new section called Cellular network security under Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy called that allows users to require encryption when connecting to cellular networks, or receive notifications when connecting to insecure networks.

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Meanwhile, a new Send device name toggle has appeared under the Privacy menu found in each Wi-Fi network details section. It appears under the MAC address randomisation setting and the description suggests that disabling the feature will stop sharing the phone's name with the Wi-Fi network.

Two more additions appear to have been made on Android 15 Beta 1. Users can set a default wallet app (eg. Samsung Wallet or Google Wallet) under the Default apps section. Meanwhile, Pixel phone users who update to Android 15 Beta 1 will also gain access to new Pixel Weather widgets that can be added to the home screen.

While Android 15 Beta 1 is likely to be more stable than the developer previews that were previously released by the company, it is advisable to install pre-release software on secondary devices and not your 'daily driver' phone. It's also worth checking Google's official Android 15 Beta 1 release notes to see what bugs have been fixed and all known issues before installing the latest beta version on your Pixel phone.

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Google Pixel 8

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Smaller form factor makes it more comfortable to hold
Excellent and bright display
Cameras are still the best
Packed with AI features

Bad
Battery life is still not the best
Expensive
Tends to heat up under heavy load

Read detailed Google Pixel 8 review

Display 6.20-inch

Processor Google Tensor G3

Front Camera 11-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB

Battery Capacity 4575mAh

OS Android 14

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

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Google Pixel 8 Pro

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Premium design, IP68 rating
Fun AI-infused software experience
Good quality cameras
Quality video recording
Impressive image editing software
Long-term commitment to software updates

Bad
Gets warm under load
Buggy camera app
Not made for gaming
Average battery life
Relatively slow wired charging

Read detailed Google Pixel 8 Pro review

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Google Tensor G3

Front Camera 11-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 64-megapixel + 48-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB

Battery Capacity 5050mAh

OS Android 14

Resolution 1344x2992 pixels

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Google Pixel 7a

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Good performance
High refresh rate display
IP67 rating
Wireless charging
Good overall camera performance

Bad
One-day battery life
Limited storage
Heats up with camera usage
No bundled charger, slow charging speed

Read detailed Google Pixel 7a review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Google Tensor G2

Front Camera 10.8-megapixel

Rear Camera 64-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 4385mAh

OS Android 13

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

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Google Pixel 7

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Sharp, 90Hz display
Good quality cameras
Good gaming performance
Bloatware-free software, timely updates
Good battery life
IP68 rating

Bad
Video recording could be better
Gets warm under load
No bundled charger
Relatively slow charging

Read detailed Google Pixel 7 review

Display 6.30-inch

Processor Google Tensor G2

Front Camera 10.8-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB

OS Android 13

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

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Google Pixel 7 Pro

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
Sharp, 120Hz display
Good quality cameras
Good gaming performance
Bloatware-free software, timely updates
Premium design, IP68 rating

Bad
Gets warm under load
No bundled charger
Underwhelming battery life
Relatively slow charging

Read detailed Google Pixel 7 Pro review

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Google Tensor G2

Front Camera 10.8-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 48-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 128GB

OS Android 13

Resolution 1440x3120 pixels

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Google Pixel 6a

REVIEW
KEY SPECS
NEWS

Design
Display
Software
Performance
Battery Life
Camera
Value for Money

Good
IP67-rated design
Impressive cameras for photos
Vibrant OLED display
Stock Android 13 software

Bad
Plastic back is prone to scratches
60Hz display does not feel fluid
Cannot handle heavy gaming
Recorded video needs work
Relatively slow charging, no wireless charging
Battery life could be better

Read detailed Google Pixel 6a review

Display 6.10-inch

Processor Google Tensor

Front Camera 8-megapixel

Rear Camera 12.2-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 6GB

Storage 128GB

Battery Capacity 4410mAh

OS Android 13

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

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Google Pixel 6

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.40-inch

Processor Google Tensor

Front Camera 8-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel

RAM 8GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB

Battery Capacity 4614mAh

OS Android 12

Resolution 1080x2400 pixels

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Google Pixel 6 Pro

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 6.70-inch

Processor Google Tensor

Front Camera 11.1-megapixel

Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 12-megapixel + 48-megapixel

RAM 8GB, 12GB

Storage 128GB, 256GB

Battery Capacity 5003mAh

OS Android 12

Resolution 1440x3120 pixels

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Google Pixel Fold

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display (Primary) 7.60-inch

Processor Google Tensor G2

Front Camera 9.5-megapixel + 8-megapixel

Rear Camera 48-megapixel + 10.8-megapixel + 10.8-megapixel

RAM 12GB

Storage 256GB

Battery Capacity 4821mAh

OS Android 13

Resolution 2208x1840 pixels

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Google Pixel Tablet

KEY SPECS
NEWS

Display 10.95-inch

Processor Google Tensor G2, Titan M2 security coprocessor

Front Camera 8-megapixel

Resolution 2560x1600 pixels

RAM 8GB

OS Android 13

Storage 128GB

Rear Camera 8-megapixel

More Google Tablets

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Further reading: Android 15 Beta 1, Android 15 Beta 1 features, Android 15 Beta 1 download, Android 15, 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