The following large Android replace, Android 14, is predicted to reach later within the yr, and due to a number of developer sneak peeks and betas, we have got a good suggestion of what is coming. However there are possible options within the full launch that we’ve not encountered but, so this is all the pieces we might prefer to see.
Up to now, Android 14 previews and the open beta have launched swipe gestures, assist for the PS5 DualSense controller, extra app customization, and cloning apps for a number of accounts. Although all that is useful, we’re fairly at the hours of darkness as we anticipate Google to unveil extra of the performance that is coming within the subsequent main replace to its telephone software program.
We’ll most likely study extra concerning the replace at Google I/O 2023 in Could, and we anticipate to see it absolutely launched within the fall alongside the Pixel 8 and eight Professional telephones. Within the meantime, we’re left to think about the perfect updates to Android, together with extra performance for next-generation units and applied sciences.
It is clear Google’s rivals are integrating AI into software program, so it will make sense to do the identical with Android, however there are many different alternatives, like integrating units resembling wearables and foldables.
Listed below are our most-wanted upgrades in Android 14.
AI shortcuts
It is no secret Google was just a little blindsided by ChatGPT, which reportedly prompted a “code crimson” on the firm and hastened inner growth of AI instruments. On condition that Microsoft has been integrating its Bing AI into all the pieces from Home windows 11 to its SwiftKey third-party telephone keyboard, we may see much more AI built-in into Android.
There’s a lot that AI may do in Android, resembling rapidly accessing Google’s Bard AI to reply random questions. Nevertheless it may turn out to be one thing of a telephone OS concierge, utilizing the perfect elements of the Google Assistant performance to satisfy consumer wants by way of textual content as an alternative of voice.
Well being wearable integrations?
Google launched Well being Join at Google I/O 2022 as a nexus for private wellness, gathering all of your health and exercise from a number of apps into one place — and sharing that information between the apps, that means your exercises would depend for all apps as an alternative of simply what’s working. Well being Join remains to be in beta, however we wish to see it extra absolutely built-in into Android 14 to formalize it throughout apps.
Health and wellness apps have to decide on to assist Well being Join, and customers should manually obtain it, so having it come built-in into telephones with Android 14 would go a good distance towards adoption. Android code analyst Mishaal Rahman theorized that Google could also be planning such integration.
Handoffs to different units
Android 13 improved handoffs, however what about calls? Android 14 may make it very straightforward so that you can have a name on one Android system and seamlessly hand it over to a different, as instructed by a code string Rahman discovered.
This can be a function Apple’s units have had for years, and it is sensible for Google to combine it amongst units which might be all working Android or Put on OS, from telephones to tablets to wearables to televisions.
Matter setup assist
Google launched its Matter sensible house normal late final yr to make it simpler for units from totally different corporations to hyperlink collectively, and it rolled out compatibility updates to its personal Android and Nest Thermostat units. We’ve not seen many units launch but that assist the platform, and we’re nonetheless ready on current Amazon and Apple units to be up to date with Matter assist. However within the meantime, we’re in search of better ease of use when organising our sensible house units.
Higher Foldable software program
Android 12L was the primary forked model of Android designed to raised use the bigger screens on tablets and foldables and enhance consumer expertise. These upgrades have partially filtered into the primary model of Android, however we wish to see extra usability and options that take better benefit of enormous and versatile screens.
Although rollable telephones will not be coming anytime quickly, we see versatile show prototypes yearly at CES — together with new foldable ideas past the clamshell and “ebook” codecs. It could be nice to see Google making ready for the subsequent wave of telephone designs by really providing a compelling function or utility for them. Because it stands, there is not a lot motive to check out units with versatile and expanded shows.
That might change with the upcoming Pixel Fold, the corporate’s first foldable, and we might like it if Google had some show-stopping software program for its new system — which we hope would elevate the bar for all foldables.
Quicker upgrades for telephone manufacturers
Our perennial need is that the latest model of Android will get to non-Google telephones quicker than final yr. Although Samsung rushes out updates inside a number of months of the latest model’s launch, Motorola and others take issues into the subsequent yr — we might prefer to see that point shortened, particularly for lower-end telephones which might be sometimes up to date later.
We additionally wish to see extra of the Pixel-only options unfold to different Android telephones — and sure, Magic Eraser is usable by Google One storage subscribers, however we want it was natively out there on different units, even when it is not as efficient as it will be on a Tensor-powered Google telephone.
