Android 13, the newest version of the Android mobile operating system, has finally arrived bringing with it a slew of new features including more personalization, improved security, and overall better user experience.
Here are some of the top features to expect as your device updates to Android 13:
Personalized to you
Android 13 comes with an evolved look and styles with the new Material You design. With this, you can customize non-Google apps to match your phone’s wallpaper theme and colors, allowing you to truly own your home screen based on your own style and preferences.
A new top feature request feature is also available. This allows multilingual Android users assign specific language to individual apps (i.e. Facebook in Filipino or YouTube in Dutch) while keeping the device’s system in one language.
Feeling the music and grooving to that beat? Android 13 features an updated media player that adapts its look and feel on the music you’re listening to. The new media player spotlights album artwork and its playback bar dances as you progress through a song. The best part is you don’t have to listen via the media player itself, the new features work even for media played through Chrome.
Your wellbeing continues to be a priority for Android, and the key for better wellbeing is getting enough sleep! To guide you and help you get the best quality sleep, Android 13 allows you to further customize Bedtime mode with wallpaper dimming and dark theme. These screen options help your eyes adjust to the dark when you’re about to go to bed – and get back to sleep if you wake up and check your phone in the middle of the night.
Keeping you safe and secure
Your safety and the security of all your devices are non-negotiables which is why for Android 13, you can select only the specific photos and videos you want your apps to access. Gone are the days when you had to share your entire media library with your apps.
Android will also be clearing automatically your clipboard history after a period of time, preventing unwanted access to clipboard–especially if you’ve copied sensitive data like your email address, phone numbers, or login credentials.
The new version also helps keep your notifications under control and makes sure you only get the alerts you ask for. The apps you download will now need your explicit permission to send notifications, rather than being allowed to send notifications by default.
Helping your devices work better together
Level up your listening experience with the new Spatial Audio. On supported headphones, Spatial Audio shifts the source of the sound to adapt with how you turn your head, giving you a more immersive listening experience on your Android phone or tablet.
Android 13 also adopts Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) Audio, which provides lower latency than classic audio. This means you’ll hear audio that’s better in sync with the sound’s source, reducing delay–you can even broadcast that audio to multiple devices at the same time.
Multitasking on your tablet is even easier with Android 13. With the newly updated taskbar on tablets, you can see all your apps at a glance and easily drag and drop any app in your library into split-screen mode.
Android tablets will register your palm and stylus pen as separate touches. So whether you’re writing or drawing on your tablet, you’ll experience fewer accidental stray marks that come from simply resting your hand on the screen.
These are only some features that come with the new Android 13. Other new features include HDR video support on third-party camera apps, updated media output switcher, braille displays for Talkback and so many more are set to make your devices more you and for you.
Learn more about Android 13 here.
