Android 14 will not be released until late summer, but there are already some cell phones that will definitely receive the update. Here you can find out whether your smartphone is one of them.
Android 13 development is complete. The new mobile OS is currently being diligently distributed to various smartphones and tablets via updates. Meanwhile, Google has started developing Android 14 and released a first developer preview.
The system is rumored to be internally codenamed ”Upside Down Cake”. However, Google has not given any code names for new Android versions for several years. Very little is known about the new features.
You can probably look forward to these innovations
Among other things, Google has already revealed that the new Android should enable direct communication with satellites. Another innovation is the standardization of the ”Predictive Back Gesture”. Already with Android 13 you can return to your home screen with a fixed gesture.
Satellite Communication and Predictive Back Gesture
So far, however, app developers have had to integrate the function manually, which means that it is often not used. With Android 14, the practical feature should become standard for all apps.
Dynamic Island for Android phones?
It would also be conceivable for Google to adapt the Dynamic Island for notifications introduced by Apple with the iPhone 14 Pro. In the past Android updates, Google had always worked on this area and the first app developers have already implemented the Apple innovation for Android cell phones.
New exchange format NTFS under discussion
In addition, Google is rumored to be working on making Android compatible with the NTFS exchange format. This would make it much easier for smartphones to connect to PCs and other devices and exchange data with them. In addition, files could also be stored on more storage media.
Health Connect could become the default app
Android 14 could also be a new addition to the standard apps. The Health Connect app summarizes the data from various health and sports apps in one place for you and thus provides a pleasant overview.
Revised parts function
Clarity is also an important aspect of the sharing function. This should be designed more uniformly for Android 14 and outsourced to a mainline module for faster updates.
Root certificates are decoupled from the system
Another important innovation, especially for older smartphones, is easier access to root certificates. These are important for the use of most browsers and are required for a secure connection to websites. So far, these have been distributed with major updates. From Android 14 you can probably get the certificate directly from the Google Play Store.
Older apps are thrown out
On the other hand, the possibilities of installing apps that were developed for older Android versions should be restricted. Android 14 should block corresponding downloads via Google Play and also from external sources. However, the app blockade only applies to apps that were written for versions older than Android 6.0 and only applies to devices that come with Android 14 ex works.
Other possible innovations
Anyone who needs a webcam could easily use their own smartphone with Android 14. A feature could be added with the update that would allow this to happen. So far there have been some third-party apps, but most of them only work poorly. However, it remains to be seen whether Google will be able to implement this project technically in good time.
In particular, data protection is also the focus of this update. There should be a new data protection section in the settings that gives you an overview of apps and whether or for what purpose your location data is collected. This is primarily intended to make changes in the data security information more recognizable.
If you are not a big fan of the Google Play Store, there is good news for you. Android 14 should offer more options for alternative app stores such as ”F-Droid” or ”APK-Mirror”. A total of three new APIs will be released with Android 14.
Another promising innovation could be the cloning of specific apps. In a developer preview, certain apps such as Gmail, the camera app or Google Maps could be duplicated, allowing them to be used for different purposes. It remains to be seen whether this feature will be included in the final version.
When will Android 14 be released?
Google published a first developer preview on February 8th. Another is to follow in March before public beta testing begins in April. The development of the new cell phone OS is expected to be completed in June. Nevertheless, it could take until August with a publication. Google will probably release the OS together with the Pixel 8.
Even if it is still more than a year until the release of Android 14, there are still some providers who are already promising that certain smartphones will receive an update.
Which smartphones will receive the update to Android 14?
We have collected the models for you for which an update to Android 14 is already certain.
xiaomi
According to the Xiaomi security center or statements by the manufacturer, the following smartphones and tablets are scheduled for an update to the next but one Android version.
Google
Google does not name any specific update plans for its Pixel cell phones, but only states a period of time for how long they will be supplied with updates. As a result, the following phones should receive an update to Android 14.
Samsung
Samsung guarantees four major Android updates for some devices. You can therefore be sure of an Android 14 update for the following models.
The manufacturer has also promised that Android 14 will be distributed much faster than previous versions. Furthermore, Samsung will probably support ”Seamless Updates” for the first time.
Nokia
Nokia has already promised an update to Android 14 for some smartphones:
Lenovo
Lenovo presented new Android tablets at IFA 2022. These following models of these are scheduled to receive an update to Android 14:
- Lenovo P11
- Lenovo P11 Pro
Motorola
The Lenovo subsidiary Motorola is also promising an update to Android 14 for some models – these are in particular:
Other manufacturers
In addition to the well-known manufacturers, there are also some smaller providers who also promise an update to Android 14.
As soon as more details about the innovations of Android 14 are known and the other manufacturers also publish lists of smartphones that are eligible for updates, we will of course update the article.
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