Here’s Everything You Can Expect in Android 14
Now that Android 14 is officially available on Pixel devices, it’s only a matter of time before it starts rolling out to other Android smartphones as well. While the update follows in the footsteps of Apple’s iOS 17, offering a modest upgrade over last year’s Android 13 , Android 14 brings a ton of great new features and improvements—enough if you’re using an Android phone that supports it. , I strongly recommend updating your system immediately.
Google is bringing AI to Android (mostly in future features)
One of the most important things Google is doing with Android 14 is introducing more artificial intelligence. Google is working hard to make its generative AI systems as powerful as ChatGPT and other platforms, and while it’s not there yet, the company has a lot of faith in AI to help Android 14 stand out from the competition.
Some of the newest AI features include the ability to create unique wallpapers using generative AI, which relies heavily on text-to-image diffusion models to create wallpapers based on your data. It has not yet been released and will first appear on the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. (There’s a demo available on the Google blog and it seems very promising at the moment.)
Another big change is the AI-powered At-Sight Assistant. Google recently shared plans to update its Assistant widget, allowing it to better display information on the home screen, including accurate weather forecasts, dynamic travel updates, and even reminders for upcoming events. The At a Glance widget has been extremely underappreciated by Google in the past, so it’s nice to see them putting more emphasis on it in ongoing updates to the Android ecosystem. (This update isn’t tied to Android 14, but it’s in line with the new AI features Google is pushing, so it seems worth mentioning.)
Google is also relying more on artificial intelligence to power some of its newest camera features, many of which debut on the new Pixel devices.
Use your phone as a webcam, plus improved customization
One of the important features that Android now brings to Android 14 is the ability to use your phone as a webcam in a plug-and-play manner, eliminating the need to have a separate webcam for your computer. The iPhone has had this feature for a long time , but that doesn’t change how useful it should be for Android users in the future. During testing, I found it easy to connect devices, and my Android phone’s camera provided excellent video quality during the calls I tested it on.
Customization is another major feature that Google is expanding in Android 14, including enhanced lock screen personalization options. You can now choose widgets and even control which shortcuts to use on your lock screen. This is something that some versions of Android phones have offered in the past, but this is the first time Android will offer it built into the operating system. It’s a welcome change, and the ability to more fully customize your lock screen is a welcome addition that many users will enjoy using.
Google has also added the option to make your entire theme monochrome, which definitely sets the tone if you want to look classy.
Better security, more privacy
I’m glad Google is focusing on built-in security on the device. Google also touts improved security for its operating system, but now the company is taking steps that put user privacy first, starting with better protection of your health and fitness data.
With Android 14, it’s easier than ever to sync your health and fitness data across multiple apps in one place. Google has also improved the way it processes this data: now no one, not even Google, will have access to the data associated with your personal health and fitness information, which will only be stored on your device. It’s a huge step forward, and honestly, Android 14 is almost worth the upgrade yourself. This feature is made possible by Health Connect, which you can configure in the settings area on your Android 14 device.
Another big security change is how Android 14 handles on-screen pin codes. Previously, Android devices required a four-digit PIN and pressing the Enter button to confirm. Android 14 will now recommend a 6-digit PIN to unlock your phone, which is a much more secure standard. Plus, you no longer have to press Enter, which means unlocking your phone overall will be a little easier. No longer will you think you entered your PIN correctly, only to discover that something is wrong when you press Enter.
Android 14 also provides more detailed and clear information about app data permissions, which is becoming increasingly important as malicious apps continue to appear on the App Store and third-party websites. This is a convenient way to find out why an app needs your data and what data it needs, as well as another key reason to upgrade.
Availability
Finally, with Android 14, Google has made major improvements to Android’s accessibility features, starting with the ability to set different zoom settings across different apps. You can change the size of the magnifier at any time by pinch and zoom in on the app you want to change it for. This is useful if some apps make the text harder to read, or if you just need to read something quickly without wearing reading glasses.
Additionally, Google has updated the way text is scaled when the font size is larger. By making the font larger, you’ll have more readable text, which should help with longer messages or pieces of information that you need to read. Scaling has always been a problem on smartphones, especially when trying to dramatically increase font size, so this nice feature may be especially useful for people with low vision.
Speaking of changing the font size, you won’t have to do that anymore in Android 14 as Google has added the ability to customize the font directly from the quick settings menu. This is another great change for low vision users that I’ve already taken advantage of, simply because some fonts look better when they’re smaller or larger, depending on what I’m trying to read.
Perhaps one of the most controversial additions is the introduction of flash notifications. Flash notifications are exactly what they sound like: whenever you receive a notification, the flash on your device lights up brightly, alerting you to the message or app. This can be useful, especially for those who can’t rely on sound alerts, but can be annoying if you get a ton of notifications. However, it’s surprising that it took Google so long to add this feature.
The big picture
Overall, Android 14 looks like a solid update to Google’s operating system. There are no exciting new features, and many of the coolest ones aren’t available yet. But Google is doing a lot right, and it really shows how the company is moving towards its goal of making Android a complete and fully user-supported operating system.
Bottom line: Update to Android 14 as soon as possible.
Pros:
- Performance is smoother
- Security updates are fantastic
- New customization options are great
Minuses:
- Some cool features don’t have a release window yet.
- Nothing that would make Android feel completely different than it does now.