Android 10 is the first Android release without a desert name. But this does not prevent Google from adding many new features of Android 10.
This Android 10 guide explains the top 10 new features you can enjoy on your Android phones with Android 10 update. These new features include the dark mode, Live Caption, new navigation gestures, all sensors off, critical update from Google directly, focus mode, emergency button, privacy control, location access controls, and WiFi sharing.
Dark mode: the best Android 10 new feature
The dark mode is not new.
In Android Pie (Android 9), Google added the dark mode (dark theme). But it is only system-wide.
For example, the Settings page in Android Pie is still always white even you enable the dark mode on the phone.
As a new feature of Android 10, Dark mode is now system-wide, and Google leaves no stone unturned.
All system pages, including the Settings page, will use the dark theme once you enable the dark mode on Android 10.
You can enable/disable dark mode from Settings — Display — Display– Dark theme on Android 10.
By default, Google also added a quick setting button for the dark mode as shown below.
Please check this guide on how to use the new dark mode (dark theme) on Android 10.
Live Caption
The Live Caption can automagically caption any videos, podcasts, and audio messages with one tap.
Internet connection is not needed. Everything will be done locally on the phone.
So, many users think the Live Caption is one of the most practical new features in Android 10.
But this feature is not available in Android 10 now. Google said it would be released later, very likely with the release of Pixel 4.
Pixel phones will first get this feature through a firmware update. Other Android phones will get this feature early next year through Google’s udpate.
New Navigation Gestures on Android 10
Android 10 now allows you to eliminate the navigation buttons.
In Android Pie, you still have the Home and Back buttons when using the navigation gestures as explained in detail in this guide.
In Android 10, Home, Back, and Recents (Overview) buttons are all gone if you choose to use the new navigation gestures.
Probably navigation gesture is one of the most controversial new features of Android 10.
Anyway, if you choose to use “full” navigation gestures on Android 10, you need to know these Android 10 navigation gestures (you may check this table and this table for the complete list of Android 10 navigation gestures):
- Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to Home screen.