The Pixel 9 series launches with Android 14, not the latest Android 15, some features will require updates

The Pixel 9 series launches with Android 14, not the latest Android 15, some features will require updatesIT Home, August 14th - Google has released the Pixel 9 series flagship phones, but surprisingly, they did not come pre-installed with the latest Android 15 system. Users who receive their new phones next week will find that the devices run on Android 14

The Pixel 9 series launches with Android 14, not the latest Android 15, some features will require updates

IT Home, August 14th - Google has released the Pixel 9 series flagship phones, but surprisingly, they did not come pre-installed with the latest Android 15 system. Users who receive their new phones next week will find that the devices run on Android 14. As Google's "son," Pixel phones have traditionally been the best platform for showcasing new Android system features. This change is noteworthy.

Despite this, some of Android 15's new features have been ported to Android 14. For example, the screenshot interface on the Pixel 9 uses the new design from Android 15, with the preview window above a new pill-shaped tray with rounded buttons, and integrates the notification feature from Pixel screenshots. However, some functions such as "Private Space" require underlying support from Android 15, so they are not yet available on the Pixel 9 series. This is the biggest omission from a consumer-facing functionality perspective.

IT Home has noticed that the Pixel 9 series' highly anticipated AI features, like GeminiLive, the floating Gemini interface, and the PixelStudio image generator, are all developed on the Android 14 platform. The new camera features "Addme" and "Reimagine" are also based on Android 14.

Google says that Android 15 will be pushed to the Pixel 9 series via a mechanism called "PixelDrop" (formerly known as "Feature Drop"). This shift is likely due to the Pixel 9 series' release being about two months earlier than last year. Android 15 is currently in Beta 4.2, which is relatively stable for everyday use.

While the Pixel 9 series doesn't launch with Android 15, that doesn't mean users can't experience the latest features. Google has promised that Android 15's new features will come to the Pixel 9 series via OTA updates in the future. For those who can't wait to experience Android 15, this might require some patience.

It's worth noting that the Pixel 9 series has been released two months earlier than usual, which might have resulted in the Android 15 development not keeping pace with the product release schedule. Google chose to prioritize hardware and software stability, so it opted to initially launch with Android 14 and then refine the feature experience through updates.

Overall, while the Pixel 9 series doesn't ship with the latest Android 15, it doesn't mean it's an outdated product. Google is actively pushing the development of Android 15 and will bring more new features to Pixel 9 users in the future. Whether users ultimately accept this arrangement remains to be seen.