Google releases Android 15 Beta 3 as the new OS hits a major milestone

Summary

• Android 15 Beta 3 is now available for eligible Pixel devices, marking a major step towards the official release expected this summer.
• New APIs in Android 15 include improved app force-closing behavior, support for larger memory page sizes, and predictive back animations.
• Notable changes in Android 15 Beta 3 include the introduction of Private space for locking apps behind an extra layer of authentication.

Now that Android 14 QPR3 made its debut as the June Pixel Feature Drop, Google can focus all of its beta development resources on Android 15. Today, the company is moving its next major OS version into the final chapter of development — Android 15 Beta 3 has arrived as the Platform Stability release for the program, finalizing APIs and other app-facing changes so that developers can now ready their wares to properly support Android 15 when it goes public this summer.

Google has announced that Android 15 Beta 3 is now seeding to all eligible Pixel devices enrolled in the beta program, a list that includes the Pixel 6 and newer models. In hitting the Platform Stability milestone, Google has now locked in Android 15’s API Level 35, which, in turn, means that app developers can officially start uploading versions of their apps that target Android 15 on the Play Store as of this release.

Highlights of the new APIs include changes to what happens when you force-close an app — the fact that it’s now stopped indefinitely until you relaunch the app means that widgets will be grayed out after killing an app. Android 15 also now supports devices with a maximum memory page size of up to 16KB — a fourfold increase from the usual 4KB — paving the way for phones with larger amounts of RAM. And with predictive back animations enabled by default, app developers are now better incentivized to add support for the new feature.

But perhaps the biggest app-facing change in this version relates to Google’s introduction of Private space, a feature similar to Samsung’s Secure Folder that allows you to lock certain apps behind an extra layer of authentication. Because this system essentially moves the apps to a modified work profile, developers of certain apps will need to adjust the logic being used around profiles. More importantly, custom launchers will need to be updated to ensure that apps moved to the Private space don’t show up on the home screen or in the app drawer.

Android 15 development is progressing right on schedule

Android 15 Beta 3 is heading to a Pixel near you

Google has already begun seeding today’s release as an OTA update for Pixel 6 and newer models enrolled in its beta program. The company says it may take up to 24 hours to receive the update, which can be found under Settings → System → Software update → System update → Check for updates. Failing that, enrolled phones will be automatically updated within five days.

According to Google’s release notes, there are a handful of user-facing changes in this new version:

What’s new in Beta 3

Android 15 Beta 3 includes some new features and changes to try out:

As Mishaal Rahman first reported, today’s update has a build number of AP31.240517.022 on most models. Security patches have been updated to the June 2024 set, moving the beta program in line with Android 14 QPR3. We haven’t received the OTA on any of our devices as of writing, but will update this page with expected file sizes when we do.

If you’re particularly interested in this update and don’t want to wait, there’s always the manual method — just note that you’ll need a computer and that Google recommends an unlocked bootloader for either method. For that, you’ll need a copy of either the new factory images or the latest OTA file.