Android 15 Beta 3 adds new screensaver, ‘long app names’ to Pixel Launcher, and more

Google has released Android 15 Beta 3 for Pixel devices, marking a significant milestone in the development cycle. This update brings the OS to “Platform Stability,” meaning all APIs (level 35) and app-facing behaviors are now finalized. Developers are encouraged to begin final testing and compatibility checks to ensure their apps are ready for the official Android 15 release.

Pixel Laucher now shows ‘long app names’

Google has introduced a new feature in the Pixel Launcher with the release of Android 15 Beta 3. Users can now choose to display the full names of apps in their app drawer and search results. This addresses the long-standing issue of app names being cut off if they exceed a certain length.

The new toggle, found in the “Apps list settings” section of the Pixel Launcher, allows users to switch between displaying full app names on two lines or the default behavior of truncating them to a single line. While this feature is a welcome addition for many users, it’s worth noting that it might not work for all apps, as extremely long names may still be cut off even with two lines.

New ‘Home Controls’ screensaver for Pixel Tablet

Android 15 Beta 3 has also introduced a handy new feature for Pixel devices: a “Home Controls” screensaver. While primarily designed for the Pixel Tablet, 9to5Google found that it works on phones too.

This new screensaver, accessible via Settings > Display > Screen saver, displays your favorite smart home controls when your device is charging or docked. This provides quick and easy access to smart devices with just a tap, while a clock conveniently sits in the top-right corner.

For Pixel Tablet users, this is a welcome addition to the existing screensaver options and is particularly useful when the tablet is docked on the Charging Speaker Dock. However, some users have noted that the clock could be larger, given the tablet’s ample display size.

On phones, the screensaver activates either while charging or docked and charging. While its long-term role in the Pixel ecosystem remains unclear, it could potentially integrate with or replace the Pixel Stand UI in the future.

Overall, the “Home Controls” screensaver is a handy addition to Android 15, streamlining smart home control for Pixel users. It remains to be seen how this feature will evolve in future updates and whether it will be extended to other Android devices.

Enhanced Passkey sign-in process

Another key highlight of Beta 3 is the streamlined Passkey sign-in process. Users can now sign in with a single step using fingerprint, face recognition, or screen lock for apps targeting Android 15. This enhances security while simplifying user authentication.

Additionally, account details now appear on the same screen as the authentication prompt. And if users accidentally dismiss the prompt, Passkey and other Credential Manager suggestions will be accessible through Gboard’s suggestion row and in username/password dropdown menus.

Redesigned wallpaper editor, volume menu changes, and more

Users, particularly those with the Pixel Fold, will appreciate the revamped wallpaper editor, which now offers a preview for both inner and outer screens. This makes it easier to visualize how a chosen wallpaper will look across different display orientations.

The volume menu has undergone a subtle change, preventing users from minimizing it. This could be a move to streamline the audio control experience, making it more consistent across different scenarios. A new “Adaptive timeout” feature has also been added to automatically turn off the screen when the device isn’t in use. This is likely aimed at improving battery life by reducing unnecessary screen-on time.

In Android 15 Beta 3, the “Device & app notifications” setting in the Notifications section has been renamed to “Notification read, reply & control.” This change provides a clearer indication of the options available within this setting. You’re also getting a more prominent “Circle to Search” off switch and a new shortcut to color contrast preferences in the Display settings. Additionally, Android Safe Browsing is accessible under Settings > Security & privacy, enhancing security by providing live threat protection without compromising user privacy.

Beta 3 also includes subtle UI refinements, such as an updated Android 15 system icon featuring an ice cream cone, a nod to the update’s codename. However, “VanillaIceCream” is gone from the Android version in another minor tweak. Lastly, the screenshot preview has been redesigned, with actions now placed below the preview. This change aims to improve visual clarity, although it may appear slightly odd when there are only two actions available.

Overall, Android 15 Beta 3 brings refinements to the user experience with subtle yet impactful changes. These updates, combined with the major features introduced in previous betas, promise a more polished and user-friendly Android 15 upon its official release.

Below is the full list of issues resolved in Android 15 Beta 3:

Developer-reported issues

• Fixed an issue where disabling polling using the setDiscoveryTechnology method didn’t disable polling.
• Fixed an issue that prevented the system sharesheet from loading in some cases.
• Fixed an issue that caused the system Settings app to crash when accessing screen saver options.
• Fixed an issue that sometimes caused the screen unlock icon to be displayed when notifications were on screen.
• Fixed an issue that prevented mobile network security settings from being changed.

Other resolved issues:

• Fixed an issue with the Android Emulator that caused Simpleperf to crash when running a CPU profile.

Bluetooth resolved issues:

• Resolved an issue where Bluetooth LE scans could persist in the system after an app crash.
• Fixed a bug in Bluetooth LE legacy advertising, where AdvertisingSet.setScanResponseData did not return ADVERTISE_FAILED_DATA_TOO_LARGE when scan response data exceeded the 31-byte limit.
• Fixed a bug that caused LE connection failures on the GATT server by passing the address type from BluetoothGattServer.connect to native.

Android 15 Beta 3 (AP31.240517.022) with the June 2024 security patch is available for the following devices:

• Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6a
• Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7a
• Pixel Tablet
• Pixel Fold
• Pixel 8, Pixel 8 Pro, Pixel 8a
• Android Emulator

Users can install the update via the Android Beta Program or by flashing or sideloading. Those already in the Android 14 QPR beta program on supported devices will receive the Android 15 Beta 3 update automatically since Android 14 will no longer receive beta updates beyond the recent June Pixel Feature Drop.

Feedback can be submitted using the Android Beta Feedback app, available from the app drawer or the Quick Settings Tile, or through the Android Beta community on Reddit.