What’s New in Android 13 – A Quick Rundown
Google let us in on a handful of cool things coming with Android 13 during the 2022 Google I/O keynote. Below you’ll find the low‑down directly from the folks that build the operating system.
Refresh the Look with Material You
- New Material You theme again – it just feels fresher.
- Updated media controls that match the new visual feel.
- Per‑app language settings so your preferred language can stay consistent across whatever app you’re using.
- A bunch of fresh privacy and security goodies we’ll spotlight in a moment.
Messaging Gets a Security Boost
Google’s Messages app keeps using RCS (the evolution of SMS/MMS), but now it also extends end‑to‑end encryption to group chats. Until now, only one‑on‑one conversations were encrypted.
Wallet on Steroids
Google Wallet, nested inside the Google Pay app, is evolving into a full‑blown digital vault:
- Credit & debit cards, of course.
- Digital student IDs, car keys, and even vaccination cards, all stored right on your device and never off‑loaded.
- Google’s working with US states to add digital driver licenses next – all slated for a later‑in‑the‑year rollout.
Wearables Get More Power
Three big additions this year:
- Emergency SOS on Wear OS – grab help right from your watch.
- Expanded Earthquake Warning to cover more high‑risk regions globally (the current coverage already spans 25 countries).
- General cross‑device improvements let you run apps seamlessly from your phone to a Chromebook.
Optimised for Big Screens
Android 13 is getting smarter about larger displays: foldables, tablets, and more.
- A taskbar that runs horizontally along the bottom.
- Drag‑and‑drop interactions between Google apps (think moving a photo from Messages to Photos).
- Enhanced support for 20+ Google apps on tablet form‑factor—YouTube Music, Maps, Messages, you name it.
Cross‑Device Party
Phone Hub expands so you can view and control more apps on your Chromebook without juggling extra installs, while Fast Pair now works across phones, laptops, TVs, and smart accessories like headphones.
Smart Home on a Common Language
Google is embracing Matter, the open‑industry standard for Smart Home gadgets, slated for fall 2022. This means easier interoperability for everything from smart bulbs to appliances.
Smarter Photo Access
A cool feature we didn’t hear about at the keynote: Photo Picker. Apps can now request and receive just specific pictures or videos rather than the entire gallery.
Beta is Live
Android 13’s beta is already rolling out to users via Google. Keep an eye out for early access patches!
Published initially by Hardware Zone; updated for your reading pleasure.
