Everything we know about Android 13 and what we hope to see

 

We're already wondering what the next version of Android will bring after the introduction of Android 12 in 2021 and the subsequent releases of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

Android has always included a major feature with every major version since its inception in 2008. However, with Android 13, codenamed Tiramisu, Google may have the opportunity to fine-tune what's already in millions of Android phones around the world.

We've gone through our Pixel, OnePlus, and other Android phones to come up with a list of five additions we'd want to see in Android 13 later this year, regardless of how big or little they are.

But first, we'll go through when we think it'll be released and which Android phones are likely to be supported. We'll also go through the features we already know about, because the developer preview is out now and includes a few Android 13 features.

Rumors about the Android 13 release date

In February, a new Android version is routinely released for developers, and the first developer preview of Android 13 was released on February 10th, followed by a second preview.

These early releases provide developers with a preview of what will be available in the autumn of that year, helping them to plan ahead for future versions of their programs.

A roadmap for Android 13 has also been released by Google, which you can see above. From this, it appears that the first true beta will arrive in April, followed by a stable release in June, which will most likely coincide with Google I/O, which will begin on May 11, and a delivery date in September. Though October is also a possibility, considering that was when Android 12 was released.

Phones that work with Android 13

Android is known for making it difficult to upgrade your phone to the most recent version. Part of it is due to the many manufacturers' approaches to designing Android to fit a certain brand, such as Samsung.

However, Google releases a new Pixel phone every year, and these generally come with the most recent version of Android. To begin with, it wouldn't be surprising to see a Pixel 7 or a Pixel Fold running Android 13 in October.

Features of Android 13

We don't know much about Android 13 yet, but the initial developer preview showed several features, followed by a second developer peek that revealed much more.

Developers have recently discovered hints that Android 13 may permit the simultaneous use of two numbers (and two carriers) on a single eSIM — a feature that Google trademarked in 2020.

Meanwhile, third-party app icons will now work with Google's dynamic theming (which changes the color of icons to match your background). For the time being, this is only a Pixel feature, but Google's efforts to encourage other manufacturers to implement dynamic theming should eventually help most phones.

This edition also prioritizes privacy, with the addition of a photo picker function that allows you to share images with applications without giving them access to your whole media collection.

Similarly, a new 'Nearby device permission for Wi-Fi' will allow apps to find and connect to nearby Wi-Fi devices without requiring location rights.

Furthermore, with Android 13, users will be able to select the default language for each app individually. As an example, you may set one app to English and the other to Spanish.

In terms of the second developer preview, contains a new Foreground Services Task Manager for monitoring and shutting foreground programs.

It also comes with the option to dim backgrounds, revamped media controls, and new user profile features including a profile picker button on the status bar and a full-screen profile switcher, which is presumably targeted for bigger screens. Additionally, an app will now have to ask for your permission to send you alerts the first time you open it.

While not a confirmed feature, evidence of the option to modify the flashlight brightness has been discovered in Android 13 code, however, it appears that this will be confined to phones that ship with Android 13 rather than those that are upgraded to it.

Google has also disclosed that app archiving is in the works, a feature that would allow you to archive applications to free up roughly 60% of the space they take up without completely erasing them. This will erase sections of them but leave the icon on your phone, allowing you to swiftly restore them the next time you need them.

Although Google hasn't confirmed that app archiving will be included in Android 13, it has stated that it would be available later this year, implying that Android 13 will be available soon.

Because Android 13 is still a ways off, we've compiled a list of features we'd want to see in the next version of the operating system.

1. UI Fixes

While Material You gives Android a fresh design, it is not without flaws. When a feature is activated, certain buttons might be misleading to users. Toggling Mobile Data, Wi-Fi, and Hotspot require pressing this symbol again if you navigate to 'Internet' in the Notification Center. It's a bit confusing, and there's no way to divide these three options into their own toggle.

In addition, the colors in Android 12 lack contrast, making everything appear pale in comparison to the brightness of iOS. However, according to Android Police, it appears like Google is already aware of this since new brilliant colors for Android 13 have surfaced.

Giving the user interface more rich hues might improve Android's overall appeal. However, the Material You design we're seeing now is effectively version 1.0 of the operating system's new appearance. Since iOS's flat design has been refined since 2013, we should expect Android to experience aesthetic advancements for years to come.

2. All apps, not just a few, have scrolling screenshots

This functionality was added in Android 12 for select apps, allowing you to snap a screenshot of a web page and have Android stitch the material together into one image.

While this is a helpful feature, it necessitates the inclusion of a 'View-based UI' in the app; otherwise, users would be unable to browse between screenshots.

Instead, regardless of the present need, Android 13 should make this available to all apps. Users shouldn't have to check whether specific Android capabilities, such as scrolling screenshots, are also accessible in particular apps.

3. Hand Off from iOS

This may already be coming to Android 13, according to Android Police, mimicking a feature that allows you to transfer what you're listening to on your iPhone to a HomePod speaker, for example.

You may send the media you're watching or listening to a device in your home or office, which is tentatively dubbed 'TTT' or Tap to Transfer.

With a slew of Android-powered televisions and smart speakers on the market, this might be a good method to transfer media from your phone more easily.

4. The 'Open by Default' function should be fixed.

Before Android 12, when you opened a file, you'd see a dialog box asking if you wanted to open it in an app just once or every time.

It was only a plain message box, but it served a useful purpose. Instead, with Android 12, an 'Open with Default' option emerges, removing the option of just running an app once.

Users have complained about this change since it needs them to delve deep into the Settings app to make the filetype forget to open in a certain app. Let's go back to the old way of doing things with Android 13. All we want is for you to do that.