In October 2023, Google made an exciting announcement during its “Made by Google” event – the launch of Android 14, along with the new Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones. This update is now rolling out to compatible devices, bringing a bunch of fresh features to your Android smartphone. In this article, we’ll break down what Android 14 has in store, how to find out if your phone supports it, and the steps to download it onto your device.
What’s New?
Android 14 isn’t about reinventing the wheel; instead, it’s about refining the Android experience and adding some cool new features. Here are the highlights:
1. AI-Generated Wallpapers: Android 14 introduces AI-generated wallpapers that can automatically adapt to your style and preferences, keeping your home screen looking fresh and exciting.
2. Passkeys for Third-Party Apps: Say goodbye to endless password headaches. Android 14 allows third-party apps to use passkeys for more secure and convenient authentication.
3. Monthly Data-Sharing Reminders: Android 14 cares about your data usage. It now sends you monthly reminders to keep you in the know about your data-sharing habits.
4. Camera Improvements: Android 14 boosts your camera experience with support for high-quality Ultra HDR images and better low-light photography. Plus, there’s in-sensor zooming for some third-party apps, so you can zoom in and out without losing image quality.
5. Document Scanner: With the new document scanner service, you can use your phone’s camera to digitize physical documents, like receipts, making it easier to keep track of important paperwork.
6. Accessibility Enhancements: Android 14 makes your phone more user-friendly. It offers larger fonts for visually impaired users, camera flash notifications for those who are hard of hearing, pinch-to-zoom magnification, and additional customization settings for hearing aids.
7. Lock Screen Customization: Customize your lock screen with new clock styles and shortcuts for quicker access to your favourite apps.
8. Privacy and Security: Android 14 is all about keeping your data safe. It notifies you about changes in data-sharing practices for third-party apps and offers stricter app permissions. You can also disable 2G connectivity, encrypt all cellular connections, and enjoy enhanced PIN privacy.
Which Phones Support Android 14?
Not every Android phone gets Android updates in the same way. Google develops the core Android update, which is then customized by smartphone manufacturers with their own interfaces or skins. However, if you’re looking for the pure Android 14 experience, you’ll need a Google device. Here’s a list of Google phones that support Android 14:
- Pixel 4A
- Pixel 5
- Pixel 5A
- Pixel 6
- Pixel 6 Pro
- Pixel 6A
- Pixel 7
- Pixel 7 Pro
- Pixel 7A
- Pixel 8
- Pixel 8 Pro
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel Tablet
Don’t worry if your phone isn’t on the list. Other smartphone manufacturers like Samsung, Nothing, OnePlus, Sony, and more will roll out Android 14-based updates for their devices later this year.
How to Download Android 14 on Your Phone
If you have a compatible Google Pixel phone and you’re eager to get Android 14, here’s how you can do it:
- Open the “Settings” app on your phone.
- Scroll down and tap on “System.”
- Select “System update.”
- Check if Android 14 is available for your device. If it is, you’ll see your update status.
- If it’s available, tap “Download and install” and wait for your phone to download and install the update.
- Once it’s done, your phone will restart, and you’ll be running Android 14.
Please note that if you receive a “not enough space available” notification, you’ll need to free up some storage before you can update to Android 14.
In conclusion, Android 14 brings some exciting improvements to your Android smartphone, making it more convenient, secure, and user-friendly. While it’s currently available for Google Pixel phones, other manufacturers will follow suit, ensuring that the Android 14 experience reaches a wider audience in the near future. So, keep an eye out for the update and enjoy all the new features it brings to your device! If your old smartphone does not support the latest version of the Android OS, you have the option to buy old mobile phones with advanced specifications through the Minto app and upgrade your device.