Android
Android steals handy battery saving feature from One UI
Android adopting Samsung’s One UI-like battery-saving feature. Pixel smartphone users receiving a new battery feature with the November 2024 update. It aims to extend the total lifespan of their smartphone batteries.
AndroidAuthority spotted that Google’s November 2024 update brings a handy battery-saving feature to Android 15. Similar to Maximum Battery protection in One UI, the new feature only charges your Android phone to 80% each cycle.
Smartphones usually use a lithium-ion battery that prefers to stop charging at 80%. Users commonly charge their device up to a full 100%, but going to 100% every time will eventually erode the battery’s capacity.
It’s interesting to see Pixel users waiting for a feature that stops their phone from charging beyond 80%. However, it’s worth enabling as the overall lifespan of your phone’s battery will increase as the charging will stop at 80% itself.
Notably, Google hasn’t yet opened a broader rollout of the new battery-saving tool. Some Pixel users confirmed the deployment, while some haven’t yet received it. It seems the rollout would take a bit longer than usual to expand globally.
Battery protection features in One UI 6:
Samsung’s latest One UI 6.1 brings three battery protection features. These functions help Galaxy users extend their phone’s battery life. You may have less juice on the battery, but it’s a beneficial deal for the long term.
- Basic:
- Whenever your battery is charged to 100%, charging will automatically stop until the battery level drops down to 95% before it starts charging again.
- Adaptive:
- Your device will switch to ‘Maximum’ mode while you’re asleep and back to ‘Basic’ mode before you wake up. Your Sleep time is estimated based on your phone usage patterns.
- Maximum:
- Your battery will stop charging when it reaches 80%.
We are in November 2024, Google has started rolling out the first monthly software update based on Android 15. It brings some important fixes and improvements to Pixel devices. It is available for Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, 7 Pro, 7A, 8, 8 Pro, 8a, 9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL, 9 Pro Fold, Pixel Tablet, and Pixel Fold.
The November 2024 Android 15 software update arrives with enhancements for Bluetooth, the camera, display graphics, and user interface performance to provide a better experience.
Moreover, this update includes the latest November 2024 security patch, which provides users with important protections for their devices. Devices from the Pixel 6 through Pixel 8a will receive software version AP3A.241105.007, while the Pixel 9 series will get version AP3A.241105.008.
The update is rolling out gradually, so it may take some hours to days to reach all models. Users of Pixel devices can check manually by visiting Settings >> System >> Software updates.
WHAT’S NEW
You can check the full changelog below:
The November 2024 update includes bug fixes and improvements for Pixel users – see below for details
Bluetooth
- Fix for issue with Bluetooth range under certain conditions*[3]
Camera
- Fix for issue observing camera tilt when zooming between cameras under certain conditions [Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold]
Display & Graphics
- Fix for issue causing white dots to flash under certain conditions [Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold]
- Fix for issue with screen brightness flickering under certain conditions[Pixel 8a]
Sensors
- Fix for issue occasionally preventing Adaptive brightness from activating in certain conditions[Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold]
Touch
- Fix for issue in pressing the keyboard dismiss button in certain conditions [Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold]
User Interface
- General improvements for performance and stability in certain UI transitions and animations [Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a, Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a, Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a, Pixel Fold, Pixel Tablet, Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, Pixel 9 Pro Fold]
Google has recently announced that Android 16, codenamed Baklava, will be released earlier than usual. Instead of the usual Q3 release, it will now come in Q2 2025. The exact date for the Android 16 rollout was unclear at first, but it now appears to be set for June 2025.
According to the information (via Android Authority), Google will start the Android 16 rollout on 3 June 2025. This marks a big change in the Android update schedule, as Android updates typically arrive between August and October.
Google’s Android 16 update will be available on the same day for both the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and Pixel devices. This is a shift from previous releases, which saw AOSP updates arrive first, followed by the Pixel update a few weeks later.
By reportedly launching on June 3, Android 16 will be available ahead of several phone releases. It shows that new devices coming out in July, August, and September will ship with the fresh version of Android.
This earlier launch is part of Google’s strategy to get Android 16 on devices sooner, mainly with new AI features. By rolling out a major update in June, Google aims to push out smaller updates later in the year to help fix bugs and add improvements.
While details about new features are still emerging, Android 16 will focus on improving AI capabilities. Several leaks and rumors show that this major update will introduce Dynamic Island-like rich notifications, Advanced Protection features, Quick Settings tile categories, separate Quick and Notification panels, and more.
With Android 16, Google plans to make several changes, including a shift in its rollout timeline and a break from its usual naming pattern. Android 16 will reportedly be called Baklava, which differs from the usual alphabetical naming tradition. The current Android 15 is named Vanilla Ice Cream.
As Android 16 is set for an earlier release than usual, it will be interesting to see how the change impacts the performance of new devices next year. Notably, Google hasn’t officially confirmed this rollout date yet, so we should take it with a pinch of salt until an official announcement.
Google has released the November 2024 Play System Update for Android devices including phones, Wear OS, Android TV, Google Auto, and PCs. This update makes your device faster, safer, and more reliable.
This update brings changes to the Play Store so that users will now see more relevant content when they install or update apps. This means the Play Store will better recommend apps based on your interests and usage.
In addition to the Google Play Store, the November 2024 Play System update also improves your device’s overall performance. It includes updates to system management services that help with things like device connectivity, network usage, security, and stability.
There are also bug fixes for system management and diagnostics which help keep your phone running smoothly and improve the process of downloading future updates.
In addition to the Play Store and Play System updates, other Google apps are also getting improvements. Apps like Android System Intelligence, Android WebView, and Device Health Services have been updated to provide better performance.
What’s New
Google Play Store v43.5 (2024-11-04)
- [Phone] You’ll find more relevant content when you install and update apps on Google Play.
Google Play system update (2024-11-04)
- [Phone] Updates to system management services that improve device connectivity, network usage, security, stability and updatability.
- [Phone] Bug fixes for System Management and Diagnostics-related services.
October 2024 Google Play System update rolling out to Samsung devices