Android 15 vs. Android 14

The switch to Android 15 introduces a series of subtle and potent upgrades, allowing for greater personalisation and performance. To help you understand how they differ from one another, our comparison guide will take you through the changes that separate Android 15 from Android 14.

If you’re on the lookout for an Android 15 handset, our range of contract and SIM-free smartphones has lots of options to choose from.

Is Android 15 better than 14?

As with each operating system update, Android 15 brings numerous enhancements that aim to elevate the user experience, building on the foundations of the previous OS in line with user needs. That’s not to say that Android 14 is obsolete, rather that you won’t get all of the enhancements the change in OS brings.

This is especially important when it comes to security, as changes in OS typically introduce updates that make phones safer to use.

Improved security benefits

Tighter privacy and security are core focuses for any handset, and Google made some key changes with the introduction of Android 15. The first is an updated version of Privacy Sandbox, which reduces tracking as you’re moving between apps and websites.

New theft deterrent features also make it harder to access sensitive information. Find My Device now requires PIN authentication and, thanks to AI, the Theft Detection Lock feature can sense when someone has snatched your phone and automatically lock your device to restrict access.

For added protection of sensitive information, the Private Space feature allows users to keep certain apps, such as banking or dating apps, in a separate, secure location that requires authentication to use, removing the need for third-party apps to do so.

Functionality upgrades

The addition of a Haptics Brightness slider and Universal Keyboard Haptics toggle can be extremely useful for visually-impaired users. When adjusting the screen’s brightness in the Settings menu, the haptic motor within the phone will trigger with increased intensity based on how high the brightness is. This feature is a great way of making sure you’re not wasting battery life on an overly-bright display.

A design revamp to the Volume Panel sees thicker sliders and a settings shortcut added with Android 15. Edge to Edge means applications will now stretch the full width of the display, improving how users can view their content.

With the shift to Android 15, users will also see changes to their widget suggestions. You can categorise your widgets into different sections, such as travel or entertainment, so the apps you need are grouped together for easy access.

More multitasking features

Android 14 works incredibly well with different form factors, but on tablet and foldable phones, Android 15 is a step above. The upgrades include support for pin and unpin modes in the taskbar, so you can customise which apps you see on the home screen according to your needs.

This comes alongside app pairing, which enables users to open multiple apps at the same time so that you can easily drag and drop files, as well as save commonly-visited app combinations in a single icon.

Enhanced camera capabilities

Camera settings are where we see some of the biggest differences between Android 15 and 14. The Low Light Boost feature is an exciting addition for budding photographers that adds auto-exposure and significantly enhances Night Mode images. Not only does it automatically adjust the brightness of photos in low-light conditions, but it also allows for scanning QR codes in low-light and provides an enhanced image preview.

For more control over the camera settings and editing, in-app upgrades have made it easier for users to precisely control the intensity of the flash; less risk of blinding those in front of you when taking a photo.

Intelligent accessibility support

Android 15 also brings some subtle tweaks to other accessibility features, such as an updated version of the Talkback Tool for reading out detailed descriptions of on-screen images. This tool can be paired with braille displays to ensure you always have the opportunity to use your phone effectively.

Greater management of data

Last, but certainly not least, is Android 15’s app archiving feature. If you’ve ever uninstalled an app and felt the annoyance of having to sign in all over again when reinstalling, app archiving solves this by preserving those key details when it’s removed from the phone.

This feature might fly under the radar, but it’s undoubtedly one of the greatest differences between Android 15 and its predecessor, especially if you frequently fill up your storage space.

As you’ve seen, Android 15 adds a range of changes - big and small – to the framework of Android 14 to make it even more useful. If you’re interested in picking up an Android 15 handset, we can help you move your old data across so nothing is left behind.