Google has unveiled the stable version of Android 14, marking a significant update to the world’s most popular mobile operating system. The release is set to first roll out to Google’s Pixel phones, including the newly launched Pixel 8 series, followed by eligible devices from various Android Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). Here’s What’s New in Android 14
Before delving into the exciting new features of Android 14, it’s worth noting that Google has shifted away from its tradition of naming Android versions after sweet treats. This time around, Android 14 is simply known as Android 14, eschewing catchy dessert-inspired monikers.
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Wide Device Reach
The stable Android 14 rollout starts with the launch of the Pixel 8 series. This update is also destined for Pixel 4a 5G devices and above, including the Pixel Tablet, all simultaneously.
Accessibility Improvements
Google continues to enhance accessibility features with each Android iteration. Android 14 maintains this commitment by introducing several noteworthy features, including an expanded range of font sizes. Users can now scale font sizes up to 200%, compared to Android 13’s 130%. Moreover, the font scaling is non-linear, ensuring that text that’s already large won’t become unwieldy.
Another notable addition for users with hearing impairments is the ability to receive notifications using the camera flash and display. This feature offers flexibility, allowing users to choose between the camera flash, the display flash, or both, and even customize the color of the display flash.
Language and Regional Enhancements
Android 14 pays attention to linguistic and regional preferences, offering better support for gendered languages like French and German through the Grammatical Inflection API. Developers now have more control over per-app language settings, enabling them to customize language lists per region and run A/B experiments.
For users living in different regions, Android 14 makes it possible to adjust various settings to match their preferences, such as temperature units and the first day of the week.
Battery Life Improvements
While Android 14 may not introduce groundbreaking battery-saving features, it brings several under-the-hood changes aimed at enhancing battery life. Google has optimized foreground services and job scheduling APIs to improve efficiency for background activities and large file downloads and uploads. This includes a user-initiated data transfer job designed to simplify managing downloads and uploads with specific constraints.
The update also focuses on the internal broadcast system, aiming for improved efficiency.
Privacy and Security Enhancements
Privacy and security are at the forefront of Android 14. The update blocks older Android apps, specifically those built for Android 5.1 Lollipop APIs and older, to prevent potential security vulnerabilities. While this may impact older apps, they will remain on devices that are upgraded to Android 14, though devices shipping with Android 14 will not support them.
Users now have more control over app permissions for accessing photos and videos, allowing selective sharing of media. Additionally, Android 14 introduces PIN privacy enhancements, including the option to disable animations when entering the PIN and the removal of the “OK” button.
Data Sharing and Security
Android 14 notifies users about changes to app permissions and privacy policies, ensuring transparency when apps alter their terms after installation. Google is also making behind-the-scenes tweaks to improve protection against malware and exploits.
The update enhances passkey support, moving towards a password-less future.
Cross-Device Development
For developers, Android 14 introduces features such as window size classes and sliding pane layout to help apps adapt more effectively to various screen sizes. Google is also providing a preview of its cross-device SDK, making it easier for developers to create apps that run seamlessly across different devices and form factors.
Integrated Health Connect
Android 14 integrates the Health Connect app, acting as a hub for collecting health data from various fitness and health apps. It supports data from prominent brands like Samsung, Fitbit, and Peloton. With Android 14, Health Connect comes pre-installed on devices, simplifying setup and ensuring automatic updates.
Customization Features
Google has expanded customization options in Android 14, allowing users to personalize the lock screen with fonts, widgets, colors, and formats. Users can also add shortcuts to their lock screen for quick access.
Additionally, Android 14 brings support for lossless audio with wired headphones, 10-bit HDR for improved photography, updates to Camera2 and CameraX extensions, and the ability to restrict devices to 2G standards for enterprise and government users.
Furthermore, When connected a Bluetooth device to an Android 14 device, users will be able to select its “audio device type.” Users also can choose between Speaker, Headphones, Car Kit, Hearing Aid, or Other.
Android 14 is set to redefine the Android experience with its extensive list of features and improvements. As the rollout begins, Android enthusiasts can look forward to enhanced accessibility, privacy, security, and cross-device development, making their mobile experience richer and more seamless than ever before.
We’ve rounded up the main features of Android 14. For more, check out the official Google blog
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