What you need to know
- A recent discovery in Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3 reveals that Google is working on incorporating “rich ongoing notifications.”
- This new feature bears similarity to Apple’s Dynamic Island or OnePlus’ variant, where “ongoing notifications” would appear next to a user’s clock in the status bar.
- While more detailed information is currently unknown, it is speculated that this feature may make its debut with the release of Android 16.
Google has released its latest Android 15 QPR1 beta for testers, hinting at upcoming features through the code.
In a report by Mishaal Rahman (Android Authority), it is mentioned that Google is working on a new type of notifications called “rich ongoing notifications.” Rahman explains that this entails a new API, but further details are scarce. However, based on the latest Android 15 QPR beta, it seems that this API will enable app developers to customize the color and other aspects of an ongoing notification chip next to the device’s clock.
The position of this chip resembles where current app notification icons or phone call notifications are found on Android devices. Additionally, it seems to only occupy the space between the clock and the phone’s punch-hole selfie camera. While not identical to Apple’s Dynamic Island, there are similarities in its design concept.
The list of apps that will be supported by this “ongoing notification” feature remains unknown. Rahman was able to manipulate the code to showcase a few apps in the status bar. For instance, if a food order is on its way from Uber, the chip may display the app’s logo along with an estimated pickup or delivery time. Another example showed an air travel notification displaying the airline’s logo and boarding time.
Rahman suggests that tapping on this ongoing notification chip could trigger “some form of dialog provided by the app.” This dialogue might contain additional information related to the notification chip’s display or other relevant details. Much remains unknown about this feature, especially since it was only discovered in the Android 15 QPR1 beta. Rahman also predicts that this feature may not be included in the expected December feature drop.
According to Rahman, this feature could potentially be introduced during the launch of Android 16. An example reminiscent of Google’s concept can be seen in OxygenOS 14 by OnePlus, which aimed to provide users with glanceable and up-to-date information for the app occupying that space. Tapping on the chip would expand it into a rounded corner box, without obstructing the selfie camera like Apple’s version.
As for Android 16, Google seems to be gearing up to introduce a new feature called “Modes,” intended to replace the existing DND (do not disturb) functionality. These “modes” will allow users to create different profiles, each with specific device behavior settings. The options seen so far indicate that users can customize an icon, name, and activation trigger for each mode. Once activated, these unique DND variants will be displayed in the status bar alongside the connectivity icons.
Previously spotted in another beta as “Priority Modes,” this change to the DND feature seems to be making its way to Android 16.
Recently, Android 15 QPR1 Beta 3 was made available to enrolled Pixel testers on October 25, featuring numerous fixes for system crashes and screen issues on foldable devices.