With every new yr we get a brand new model of Android, and this yr it’s Android 14’s flip. So you’ll be able to count on a significant improve to your telephone, with new options and probably a brand new look, as soon as Android 14 – or Android Upside Down Cake because it’s codenamed – rolls out.
We’ve bought just a few months to attend till it does formally arrive, however the working system replace has already been introduced, and a Developer Preview of it’s now obtainable, with a public beta (opens in new tab) following shortly afterward. Google typically holds its playing cards near its chest till IO this week. That is the place we’ll be taught much more about what’s in retailer.
Under, you’ll discover particulars of when Android 14 will launch in each beta and completed varieties, together with all the opposite info now we have about Android 14 up to now; each rumored and confirmed. As quickly as we hear something new we’ll additionally add it to this text, so test again quickly for updates.
Minimize to the chase
- What’s it? The following model of Android
- When is it out? Most likely August or September
- How a lot will it value? Will probably be a free improve
Android 14 launch date
Android 14 was introduced by Google on February 8, 2023, and the primary Developer Preview launched on the identical day, with the second Developer Preview additionally now right here, having landed in early March.
Google additionally shared a timeline for the rollout of Android 14 variations, with the primary public beta touchdown within the second week of April. One other launch is due for Might after IO, and that model was the earliest we’d recommend attempting it out, and even then you ought to be ready for bugs and unfinished options.
The ultimate beta is deliberate for July, with the precise completed launch not being given a month but within the timeline, however August or September appears possible, as there’s unlikely to be an enormous hole between the ultimate beta and the completed launch.
Plus, August and September have been the commonest launch months for brand new Android variations in recent times – although Android 12 didn’t launch till October of its launch yr.
One other vital date to notice is Might 10, as that’s when the Google IO 2023 developer convention is scheduled to happen. We’ll possible see one of many betas roll out after, with new options probably additionally set to be introduced at this occasion.
Android 14 supported telephones
For those who’ve used Android for some time then you definitely’ll understand it isn’t like iOS, the place each telephone made within the final 5 years or so will get the brand new model on day one. With Android, assist is much more unstable, and lots of telephones are left ready months to obtain their tailor-made replace.
That mentioned, when you’ve got a latest Google Pixel telephone, then you’ll positively be getting the replace, and doubtless on day one.
The Pixel 7 collection, Pixel 6 collection (together with Pixel 6a), Pixel 5 collection, and Pixel 4a 5G all assist the Android 14 developer preview, so you’ll be able to just about depend on all of them getting the completed model too. Older Pixels gained’t although. This contains the Pixel 4a which got here out simply two months earlier than the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G.
Past that, most different telephones that got here out within the final yr or so will get it, and lots of telephones which can be a few years outdated will too, as will some older handsets.
Many Samsung telephones qualify for 4 years of working system upgrades, however that coverage solely applies to latest handsets, which might have gotten Android 14 anyway; units just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 collection, the Samsung Galaxy S22 collection, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.
Different latest big-name telephones just like the OnePlus 11, OnePlus 10 Professional, Sony Xperia 1 IV, and the Xiaomi 12 will, in fact, get Android 14 too. However so will most area of interest smartphones, simply so long as they’re latest fashions. Once more although, many of those telephones gained’t get the replace on day one.
The Nothing Cellphone can even be getting Android 14 and taking part within the Android 14 Beta. Regardless of being a small model that will ordinarily be anticipated to be horrible with updates, it is an fanatic one, and the CEO Carl Pei has his finger on the heartbeat of its largest supporters. “Google has been an early supporter of Nothing and each groups are devoted to working carefully in implementing suggestions to ship one of the best person expertise,” Pei mentioned (opens in new tab).
We count on Google to roll out a extra full listing of telephones within the following weeks as soon as it is completed with Google IO.
Android 14 beta
Alongside the Developer Preview, Google has additionally launched the primary Beta builds for the Android 14 preview. Not all of the headline options are going to be right here (and we do not even know what the headline options are going to be), so we might nonetheless suggest holding on to Android 13 till no less than Google IO has come and gone.
As for attempting Android 14, it relies on whether or not you need to get the Developer preview or a public preview. We might suggest the latter. For those who’re set on attempting Android 14 as a developer, you’ll be able to head to the Android developer site (opens in new tab) to get it. Do you have to need to seize it as a member of the general public, you’ll be able to head to the Android beta (opens in new tab) web site for that.
Android 14 options
We don’t know every little thing about Android 14 but, as neither the preliminary Developer Preview nor Beta launch doesn’t have each ultimate function included, however based mostly on that preview, together with some leaks, we’re conscious of some key issues. You’ll discover probably the most important anticipated options beneath.
Satellite tv for pc communication
The iPhone 14 collection sports activities emergency satellite tv for pc communication for when there’s no cell sign, and Google is constructing assist for this function straight into Android 14, so quickly it may be frequent on Android telephones too.
In fact, Android telephone makers will nonetheless want to decide on to assist this function and equip their handsets with the required {hardware}, however native software program assist could make them extra eager to take action.
Sideload securely
In an effort to avoid wasting folks from downloading malicious apps, Android 14 will cease customers from sideloading apps geared toward historical variations of Android.
Apps on the Google Play Retailer already should be geared toward pretty latest variations of Android, however at the moment there’s nothing to cease customers from going to third-party shops or web sites and getting apps constructed for even the very earliest Android variations.
That’s not safe, as hackers can create apps that concentrate on flaws in these earlier working system variations, so with Android 14, wherever you get your apps from you ought to be slightly safer from these vulnerabilities.
Locked-down accessibility companies
Google now says that apps uploaded to the Play Retailer which purpose to make use of accessibility companies will now be restricted from utilizing them until they’re in truth reporting their intention. This implies they must genuinely serve customers who require these superior accessibility companies. Google’s Talkback app, for instance, permits customers to have their display screen contents learn out. That person case would qualify as a real accessibility want.
This additionally implies that an app cannot declare to make use of a shortcut or instrument meant to mitigate the consequences of disabilities to trick customers into transferring cash to another person’s account. On the similar time, this implies customization or performance hacks that relied on accessibility companies can now not work. As that is roughly the a hundredth time Google’s tried to lock down its accessibility companies for security and safety causes, we are able to solely assume their builders are nicely ready at this level.
Correct passkey assist
Android 14 appears to be bringing in full assist for passkeys, which may imply the times of passwords are numbered.
Passkeys are a safer different to passwords, they usually work through units of encryption keys. Whereas passkey assist already exists in Android, at the moment the keys should be saved inside Google’s personal password supervisor system, whereas with Android 14, third-party password managers like Dashlane and LastPass will have the ability to retailer the keys, so that you don’t should be tied to Google’s personal safety.
Regional preferences
One different function being examined for Android 14 – as noticed by XDA Developers (opens in new tab) – is the flexibility to set your most popular temperature items, first day of the week, calendar sort, and quantity system, which is able to then be utilized throughout apps.
Well being Join
Well being Join allows you to sync information between your well being and health apps and units, to be able to probably see all of this information in a single place. It’s not a brand new app, however – as noticed by XDA Developers (opens in new tab) – with Android 14 it’s seemingly being built-in into the platform, quite than being a separate app that it’s a must to obtain.
App cloning
One function Google is testing for Android 14 – via XDA Developers (opens in new tab) – is named ‘cloned apps’, and permits you to create a second occasion of an app, so that you might be logged in with two completely different accounts on the similar time, for apps that don’t natively assist a number of accounts.
We’ve seen this type of function earlier than from some telephone makers, however that is the primary time it’s been part of inventory Android.
Font scaling
The primary Developer Preview of Android 14 contains font scaling as much as 200% to assist low-vision customers. It’s cleverly designed too, because it makes use of a non-linear scaling curve, which implies that whereas the smallest components would possibly develop by 200%, already massive textual content gained’t enhance by the identical quantity, in order that it gained’t get impractically massive.
View apps put in within the background
Your telephone possible gained’t simply embody the apps you put in on it. There can even be pre-installed apps, a lot of which may very well be thought-about bloatware.
Worse, producers and carriers will typically add apps to your telephone at a later date, with out your permission or data, and naturally viruses and the like may additionally add apps to your telephone with out your data.
These are described as apps that have been put in within the background, and with Android 14, XDA Developers has found (opens in new tab) that you simply’ll have the ability to view a listing of all of those, so you’ll be able to carry on prime of them.
Emoji wallpaper
For those who’re a Pixel person then it appears to be like like Android 14 will allow you to create a wallpaper on your telephone, utilizing a mixture of as much as 14 completely different emojis of your selection, together with a selection of patterns and colours. You may see some examples of this from XDA Builders above.
Enhanced reside wallpapers
Very similar to emoji wallpapers, there are additionally potential reside wallpaper enhancements coming to Android 14. The sleuths at XDA Developers (opens in new tab)observe that Google has deliberate to increase assist for reside wallpapers in order that they’d work like common wallpapers. Which means that you’d have the ability to set a separate reside wallpaper on your homescreen and your lockscreen.
Dwell wallpapers are a cool function that Android (and iPhone) customers have had for years and with the ability to set them independently of one another would improve personalization.
Auto-confirm PINs
A small function noticed like so many others by XDA Developers (opens in new tab), this time within the second Developer Preview of Android 14, is the flexibility to have right PINs robotically confirmed.
What meaning is that whenever you enter the ultimate digit of a PIN, it could robotically settle for it, quite than you having to press ‘OK’ or ‘Affirm’ or the like. This function will solely work for PINs of no less than six digits.
Now Taking part in statistics and summaries web page
Google launched Now Taking part in to Pixel telephones as a cool function that allowed you to primarily Shazam what was enjoying round you on a regular basis. It even labored offline and is private (opens in new tab) on Pixels from the Pixel 4 and onward. Since its introduction, Now Taking part in had been left alone for years with out altering, that is now not the case with Android 14 in accordance with a report from 9to5Google (opens in new tab).
With Android 14, Now Taking part in is rumored to be up to date to incorporate a function that tracks stats. In different phrases, you may know the way a lot you hear songs within the background. In different phrases, you’d see statistics and summaries. It is not life-changing, however it actually is sweet to have.
Information Abstract:
- Android 14: newest information, rumors and every little thing we all know up to now
- Test all information and articles from the newest TECH updates.
- Please Subscribe us at Google News.