6 Audio Upgrades to Look Forward to in Android 15

Google offers a little bit of everything in the upcoming Android 15 update.

Android 15 is just around the corner. And, it isn’t just about visuals – it’s got some serious audio upgrades in store.

From sharing tunes with friends to protecting your ears, these updates aim to change how you experience sound on your device.

Here are the six most exciting audio-related features coming to your Android device.

1. Audio Sharing to Multiple Headphones

Remember those awkward moments of huddling around a single device to share tunes? Well, those days are about to become a distant memory.

Android 15 is set to introduce an enhanced Auracast feature, making it easier than ever to broadcast audio to multiple Bluetooth LE Audio devices simultaneously.

The bonus is, setting it up will be easy. Just flip the ‘Share audio’ toggle within the ‘Connected Devices’ settings, and you’re ready to create a personal listening party.

To top it off, a ‘Play a test sound’ option ensures all connected devices are in sync, playing a short ringtone to confirm proper connection. You can even customize your broadcast with a name and password, and generate a QR code for easy connection.

However, keep in mind that Auracast is a one-way broadcast. So, connected devices can’t control the media playback of the source device.

2. Smart Loudness Controls for Consistent Audio Levels

Sudden volume changes when switching between apps or media types can be jarring. But, Android 15’s new loudness controls aim to solve this problem by providing a more uniform listening experience.

These controls include:

• Volume Normalization: Automatically adjusts audio playback to a consistent level across different sources.
• Custom Loudness Profiles: Saves personalized settings based on content type or preferences.
• Enhanced Loudness Management: Handles audio peaks and troughs to avoid distortion at higher volumes.
• Hardware Integration: Better utilization of built-in loudness features in audio hardware like headphones and speakers.

3. Virtual MIDI 2.0 Support for Mobile Music Production

For the musicians and producers among us, Android 15 is expanding its MIDI capabilities by introducing support for virtual MIDI 2.0 devices.

This builds upon the MIDI 2.0 via USB support introduced in Android 13. Only this time, it’s more focused on apps.

Key features include:

• Universal MIDI Packets (UMP) Support: More efficient and detailed musical data communication.
• Virtual MIDI Connectivity: Composition apps can now control synthesizer apps as virtual MIDI 2.0 devices, streamlining the mobile music production workflow.
• Enhanced Expressiveness: Higher resolution for control messages and better timing accuracy for more nuanced musical interactions.

This update opens up a world of possibilities for mobile music creation. It’s particularly beneficial for music producers who rely on mobile devices for their creative work, as it can potentially reduce their reliance on additional hardware.

4. Redesigned and Collapsible Volume Panel

Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference. And the new volume panel is a good example of that.

Here, Android 15 brings a sleek, functional redesign to the volume panel that can make it easier to control your device’s audio.

The new design features:

• Thicker, pill-shaped sliders for easier manipulation.
• Quick mute and max volume options by tapping the extremes of each slider.
• A collapsible panel to keep things compact when not in use.
• A persistent media output shortcut for quick access to audio routing options.
• Playful animations that add a touch of personality to volume adjustments.

5. Intelligent Headphone Volume Monitoring for Hearing Protection

Building on features introduced in Android 14, the new update takes a more sophisticated approach to monitoring headphone volume levels.

But don’t confuse this with the currently available safe volume feature.

The current feature we have simply warns users when they try to raise the volume above a fixed level. This new system, on the other hand, takes into account both the volume and duration of exposure in compliance with the EU regulatory requirements.

Basically, it considers the actual audio content and analyzes the frequency and intensity of the sound signal to provide a more accurate assessment of potential hearing damage.

Here’s what it can do:

• Monitors sound doses over time, rather than relying on a fixed volume limit.
• Uses “computed sound doses” (CSDs) to estimate the potential harm of audio signals.
• Provides warnings at different CSD levels, from momentary exposure to weekly limits.
• Automatically lowers volume to safer levels when limits are exceeded.

6. Easier Playback Control With WearOS

For those rocking both Android phones and WearOS smartwatches, Android 15 will introduce a new permission called MEDIA_ROUTING_CONTROL. This allows Wear OS companion apps to change media output devices for audio playing on your phone.

Meaning, you’ll be able to:

• Control which device plays audio or video from your phone apps using your smartwatch.
• Access a list of available output devices like headphones and speakers right from your wrist.
• Seamlessly switch between output devices without needing to pull out your phone.

When to Expect Android 15

Google is still currently fine-tuning Android 15 (codenamed Vanilla Ice Cream), with several test versions already in developers’ hands. So, the exact launch date remains under wraps.

However, Android 15’s release is anticipated to coincide with the Pixel 9 series launch, preliminarily set for August 13, 2024.