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Google tweaks haptic feedback and status bar icons in Android 15

Pictured: Alap Naik Desai
By Alap Naik Desai
April 10, 2024
Featured image for Google tweaks haptic feedback and status bar icons in Android 15

Google has tweaked icons for Android 15, including the ones for the Android smartphone’s status bar. They are visible in the second “Developer Preview” version of Android 15.

Google is making multiple UI changes in Android 15. Interestingly, the company appears to be experimenting with icons to deploy the most optimum or appealing visual aspects. Some testers even suggest that Google could be borrowing design elements from Samsung.

Android 15 Developer Preview 2 packs new icons for status bar

Google has released two experimental versions of the upcoming Android 15 OS update. This gives testers and developers ample material to analyze.

The search giant rolled out Android 15 Developer Preview 2 late last month. It includes a redesigned volume adjustment panel and a new Private Space, a virtually detached area on a smartphone. A recent report uncovered subtle but noticeable design changes in Android 15.

The Android 15 Developer Preview 2 contains new icons for the status bar. These new icons seem to be the polar opposite of the smooth, flowing design and a completely white or black color scheme Google implemented in Android 14.

Icons visible in Android 14 seem very similar to Android 5.0, also called Lollipop. This design philosophy isn’t surprising primarily because Google remained loyal to the Material Design language, which the company introduced in Android 5.0.

However, the new icons for the status bar in Android 15 bear a very distinct and segmented design. They have a subtler white and grey color scheme, which is a lot easier on the eyes. These icons adhere to the Material You design language, which Google introduced in Android 12. Some reports suggest these icons bear a striking resemblance to Samsung’s One UI 6 icons.

What has changed in Android 15 icons?

According to several testers, Google may have looked at Android versions before Android 5.0 for inspiration. Hence, the new status bar icon designs for the Wi-Fi signal strength, mobile data signal strength, and battery in Android 15 are segmented.

Specifically speaking, Google has ditched the triangle network indicator and opted for signal bars for cellular data and Wi-Fi strength. The battery indicator is now horizontal instead of vertical. This allows Google to place the battery level percentage inside the indicator as opposed to placing it alongside.

Google has also managed to place the lightning bolt (which confirms the device is charging) inside the battery indicator. It is not clear how and where Google will place the double lightning bolt which indicates fast charging.

Besides these visual changes, Google has also added haptic feedback in new areas. Android 15 users could soon experience this while using the Quick Settings panel.

Long-pressing on any Quick Setting tile will now make the phone vibrate as the tile expands to offer detailed, or granular settings. Google has even added a reassuring haptic feedback to the volume slider. This gets activated when a user presses any one of the physical volume keys or slides the virtual slider.