With every new yr we get a brand new model of Android, and this yr it’s Android 14’s flip. So you’ll be able to count on a significant improve to your telephone, with new options and probably a brand new look, as soon as Android 14 – or Android Upside Down Cake because it’s codenamed – rolls out.

We’ve most likely bought some time to attend till it does formally arrive, however the working system replace has already been introduced, and a Developer Preview of it’s now out there. We’re anticipating that public betas will probably launch quickly too, and with them, we’ll probably study much more about what’s in retailer.

Under, you’ll discover particulars of when Android 14 may launch in each beta and completed types, together with all the opposite data we’ve got about Android 14 thus far; each rumored and confirmed. As quickly as we hear something new we’ll additionally add it to this text, so examine again quickly for updates.

Lower to the chase

• What’s it? The following model of Android
• When is it out? Most likely August or September
• How a lot will it price? Will probably be a free improve

Android 14 launch date

Android 14 was introduced by Google on February 8, 2023, and the primary Developer Preview launched on the identical day, with the second Developer Preview additionally now right here, having landed in early March. These are early – and sure unstable – betas designed particularly for builders, however public betas are on the way in which too.

Google has revealed a timeline for the roll out of Android 14 variations, with the primary public beta anticipated to land someday in April, in order that’s the earliest we’d counsel making an attempt it out, and even then you have to be ready for bugs and unfinished options.

The ultimate beta is deliberate for July, with the precise completed launch not being given a month but within the timeline, however August or September appears probably, as there’s unlikely to be an enormous hole between the ultimate beta and the completed launch.

Plus, August and September have been the commonest launch months for brand new Android variations in recent times – although Android 12 didn’t launch till October of its launch yr.

One other vital date to notice is Might 10, as that’s when the Google IO 2023 developer convention is scheduled to happen. We’ll probably see one of many betas roll on the market, with new options presumably additionally set to be introduced at this occasion.

Android 14 supported telephones

For those who’ve used Android for some time you then’ll understand it isn’t like iOS, the place each telephone made within the final 5 years or so will get the brand new model on day one. With Android, assist is much more unstable, and plenty of telephones are left ready months to obtain their tailor-made replace.

That mentioned, when you’ve got a current Google Pixel telephone, then you’ll positively be getting the replace, and doubtless on day one.

The Pixel 7 sequence, Pixel 6 sequence (together with Pixel 6a), Pixel 5 sequence, and Pixel 4a 5G all assist the Android 14 developer preview, so you’ll be able to just about rely on all of them getting the completed model too. Older Pixels received’t although.

Past that, most different telephones that got here out within the final yr or so will get it, and plenty of telephones which are a few years previous will too, as will some older handsets.

Many Samsung telephones qualify for 4 years of working system upgrades, however that coverage solely applies to current handsets, which might have gotten Android 14 anyway; gadgets just like the Samsung Galaxy S23 sequence, the Samsung Galaxy S22 sequence, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Different current big-name telephones just like the OnePlus 11, OnePlus 10 Professional, Sony Xperia 1 IV, and the Xiaomi 12 will, after all, get Android 14 too. However so will most area of interest smartphones, simply so long as they’re current fashions. Once more although, many of those telephones received’t get the replace on day one.

Android 14 beta

There aren’t any Android 14 public betas but, which signifies that until you’re a developer it’s best to actually wait.

Nevertheless, there’s a Developer Preview, so in case you are a developer – or are comfy placing actually early software program in your telephone – then you’ll be able to attempt Android 14 out now, simply so long as you might have a Google Pixel telephone from the Pixel 4a 5G onwards.

This isn’t only a easy obtain and once more, we wouldn’t advocate doing it. However in the event you’re set on making an attempt Android 14 now, you’ll be able to head to the Android developer web site (opens in new tab) to get it.

Android 14 options

We don’t know all the pieces about Android 14 but, because the preliminary Developer Preview doesn’t have each function included, however based mostly on that preview, together with some leaks, we’re conscious of some key issues. You’ll discover probably the most important anticipated options under.

Satellite tv for pc communication

The iPhone 14 sequence sports activities emergency satellite tv for pc communication for when there’s no cell sign, and Google is constructing assist for this function instantly into Android 14, so quickly it is perhaps widespread on Android telephones too.

After all, Android telephone makers will nonetheless want to decide on to assist this function and equip their handsets with the mandatory {hardware}, however native software program assist could make them extra eager to take action.

Sideload securely

In an effort to avoid wasting individuals from downloading malicious apps, Android 14 will cease customers from sideloading apps aimed toward historic variations of Android.

Apps on the Google Play Retailer already should be aimed toward pretty current variations of Android, however presently there’s nothing to cease customers from going to third-party shops or web sites and getting apps constructed for even the very earliest Android variations.

That’s not safe, as hackers can create apps that concentrate on flaws in these earlier working system variations, so with Android 14, wherever you get your apps from you have to be a bit of safer from these vulnerabilities.

Correct passkey assist

Android 14 appears to be bringing in full assist for passkeys, which may imply the times of passwords are numbered.

Passkeys are a safer various to passwords, and so they work through units of encryption keys. Whereas passkey assist already exists in Android, presently the keys should be saved inside Google’s personal password supervisor system, whereas with Android 14, third-party password managers like Dashlane and LastPass will have the ability to retailer the keys, so that you don’t should be tied to Google’s personal safety.

Regional preferences

One different function being examined for Android 14 – as noticed by XDA Builders (opens in new tab) – is the flexibility to set your most popular temperature items, first day of the week, calendar sort, and quantity system, which is able to then be utilized throughout apps.

Well being Join

Well being Join permits you to sync information between your well being and health apps and gadgets, with the intention to probably see all of this information in a single place. It’s not a brand new app, however – as noticed by XDA Builders (opens in new tab) – with Android 14 it’s seemingly being built-in into the platform, somewhat than being a separate app that you need to obtain.

App cloning

One function Google is testing for Android 14 – through XDA Builders (opens in new tab) – is named ‘cloned apps’, and means that you can create a second occasion of an app, so that you might be logged in with two completely different accounts on the similar time, for apps that don’t natively assist a number of accounts.

We’ve seen this form of function earlier than from some telephone makers, however that is the primary time it’s been part of inventory Android.

Font scaling

The primary Developer Preview of Android 14 contains font scaling as much as 200% to assist low-vision customers. It’s cleverly designed too, because it makes use of a non-linear scaling curve, which signifies that whereas the smallest components may develop by 200%, already giant textual content received’t improve by the identical quantity, in order that it received’t get impractically giant.

View apps put in within the background

Your telephone probably received’t simply embrace the apps you put in on it. There will even be pre-installed apps, a lot of which could possibly be thought-about bloatware.

Worse, producers and carriers will typically add apps to your telephone at a later date, with out your permission or data, and naturally viruses and the like may additionally add apps to your telephone with out your data.

These are described as apps that had been put in within the background, and with Android 14, XDA Builders has discovered (opens in new tab) that you simply’ll have the ability to view a listing of all of those, so you’ll be able to carry on prime of them.

Emoji wallpaper

For those who’re a Pixel person then it seems to be like Android 14 will allow you to create a wallpaper to your telephone, utilizing a mix of as much as 14 completely different emojis of your alternative, together with a alternative of patterns and colours. You possibly can see some examples of this from XDA Builders above.

Auto-confirm PINs

A small function noticed like so many others by XDA Builders (opens in new tab), this time within the second Developer Preview of Android 14, is the flexibility to have right PINs mechanically confirmed.

What which means is that if you enter the ultimate digit of a PIN, it might mechanically settle for it, somewhat than you having to press ‘OK’ or ‘Verify’ or the like. This function will solely work for PINs of not less than six digits.