Today Google Announced All the New Features of Android 14

Made by Google 2023 has been officially announced, and with it some exciting new product announcements. We’ve now turned our attention to the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, the Pixel Watch 2, and two new colors for the Pixel Buds Pro. But it’s not just about the hardware: Google has also officially introduced Android 14 to the world and all the new features that come with it.

How Android 14 looks different

With Android 12 and 13, Google introduced a new level of customization to the look and feel of Android with a design language called Material You. Material. You automatically configure all app icons, UI elements, settings, and more to match a specific color scheme, often based on the colors of your wallpaper.

In Android 14, Google takes this feature even further by introducing an updated settings picker. First, you can now set your own shortcuts on the lock screen, giving you quick access to your favorite apps and features. There’s also more robust lock screen and home screen customization, offering curated templates for widgets, colors, fonts, and more.

Google is also introducing AI-powered generative wallpapers in Android 14, using AI-generated text-to-image diffusion models to create custom wallpapers based on your data. This AI-powered wallpaper feature will first appear on the Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8, but should come to older devices in the future. If you prefer a simple look, there’s also a new monochrome theme that minimizes the colors used in the OS.

All the new features of Android 14

Better photos. In terms of photography, Android 14 supports HDR images with Ultra HDR. With HDR support, your photos will look better, with more vibrant colors, darker shadows, and brighter highlights.

Stronger security. For security, Google Health Connect is now built into Settings in Android 14. This change means all your health data is now stored in one place and securely encrypted on your phone. No one, not even Google, will be able to read or access your health data in the future, so you can seamlessly link your favorite health and fitness apps to your personal data.

Data transparency. Android 14 is generally more transparent about how apps use your data. You’ll now be notified when an app shares your location with third parties, allowing you to immediately deny access. Additionally, Android 14 will prompt you to switch from a four-digit PIN to a six-digit one. And once you enter the six-digit PIN correctly, you won’t have to press “enter” to unlock your phone. (God bless.)

Improved accessibility features. Android 14 also improves accessibility. First, there’s an improved Magnifier that lets you zoom in and out, as well as controls that prevent the Magnifier from turning off when switching apps. You can also change the magnifying glass size and font size using the new Quick Settings tiles. Speaking of font size, you can adjust larger font sizes more slowly than smaller ones, which helps prevent text from becoming larger than necessary.

Better integration with hearing aids. This update’s accessibility settings also include a hearing aid-specific setting, a new way to route audio to different outputs, and a shortcut to access hearing aid controls. You’ll also be able to enable “Flash Notifications” in Accessibility and Notifications settings, rather than relying on audio alerts.

Other quality of life improvements. Other Android 14 features include one-touch access to the Google Home app, as well as automatic framing during video calls. You can visit the official Google Android 14 page here .

Which phones support Android 14?

Android 14 is already rolling out to supported Pixel devices, including the Pixel Fold, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 6 Pro, Pixel 6, Pixel 5a 5G, Pixel 5, and Pixel 4a 5G. The new Pixel 8 Pro and Pixel 8 will run Android 14 out of the box.

Later this year, Android 14 will be available on Samsung Galaxy, iQOO, Nothing, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Sharp, Sony, Tecno, vivo and Xiaomi devices.