Android 11 continues to advance Google's vision for Android. Google has made some tweaks to Android 11 that refine the platform, rather than making major changes. With Android 11, privacy is a major focus. Google introduced one-time permissions that give you granular control over the data you share. There are many new features that you can be excited about. The power button menu has been given a major overhaul. Conversations view highlights your messages and gives it a polished look. The best Android phones in 2021 are powered by Android 11. Manufacturers are better at rolling out updates to 2020 smartphones. Here's all you need to know about Android 11 and when your phone will get the update. Google will soon release Android 12, with a bold new design in Material You and many other features. Let's see what we can expect from Android 12 in the next months. VPN Deals: Monthly plans starting at $1 and a lifetime license for $16, plus additional features
Is Android 11 available on my phone?
After months of Betas and Developer Previews, Google released the final version of Android 11 on September 8, 2020. As usual, the update was made available to Pixel phones on day 1. Android 11 was also made available for selected handsets from OnePlus, Xiaomi and OPPO on the same day. Although this is a significant step forward in Android updates, there are still many things to do. Samsung has rolled-out One UI 3.1 based upon Android 11 to its flagships, mid-range and premium devices. However, the likes Motorola, Nokia and Sony have slowed down the rollout. This is a frustrating situation, but we are making it as simple as possible by keeping track of all Android 11 updates and any other information we find. What is the status of Android 11 on non-Pixel smartphones?
Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central
The Android 11 update rollout was different than previous releases, as noted above. Pixels were not the only ones to receive the new software. Other handsets made by select manufacturers were also given Android 11 in some way. Let's start with Samsung. The company is promoting its Android 11 update under the One UI 3.0/3.1 brand. While most of the core design principles are still in place, there's a lot new to see. Samsung is promoting new features such as a better lock screen, customizable always-on displays, accessibility tools, and many other improvements. Samsung has delivered the Android 11 update for most of its 2020 smartphones and is working on its 2019 phones. Samsung is the leader in updates and has done an outstanding job rolling out Android 11 on most of its phones. It has released the One UI 3.1 build, which debuted on the Galaxy S21 Series by default. OxygenOS 11 is the Android 11 build available for OnePlus phones. OnePlus's major design shift was OxygenOS 11. The company abandoned its stock Android aesthetic to embrace design elements in Samsung's One UI interface. OnePlus released the OxygenOS 11 stable version with the 8T. The Android 11 update is now available on the OnePlus 8 series and 7 series. It will also be available for the Nord and 6/6T. OnePlus is currently working on OxygenOS 12 based upon Android 12. The manufacturer uses ColorOS as its foundation. Nokia also began its Android 11 update rollout. The Nokia 8.3 5G will receive the stable update on February 8. HMD has been slow in this area in the past, and it won't change in 2021. HMD is clearly behind the curve when it comes to updating. Although a few devices have been updated with the Android 11 update, HMD has not. There's also Xiaomi. The stable MIUI 12 update, based on Android 11, has been rolled out to many of Xiaomi's 2020 and 2019 devices, including its Mi 10 series, Redmi Note 9 and numerous devices that fall under the Redmi brand. Xiaomi now offers the MIUI 12.5 update for its smartphones. Motorola has started rolling out the Android 11 update for the foldable Razr 5G on April 15. LG has begun rolling out the Android 11 update to the foldable Razr 5G, with the Velvet and V60 receiving stable builds. LG has announced that it will continue to make smartphones, but it will still deliver the Android 12 update and Android 13 updates. ColorOS, the custom Android interface that is used on OPPO phones, is also available. ColorOS 11 is now available for OPPO smartphones and offers many exciting new features. Other than the standard Android 11 features, there are some highlights such as a customizable dark mode and a power-saver to prolong battery life. There is also OPPO Relax 2.0, which aims to help users relax and fall asleep at night. What can I do to learn more about Android 11
Source: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central
Below we'll be diving into the most important features of Android 11. But before we get to that, let's address the big question: Is Android 11 good? According to our Android 11 review, the short answer is yes. While some may find Android 11 boring, or even less interesting than Android 10, the truth is that Android does not need major overhauls every single year like it used to. Android 11 improves on the core Android experience. The conversation improvements are fantastic for streamlining notifications and more powerful permissions. We love the new power button menu which adds tons of functionality. We aren't a fan of the multitasking window or the suggested apps feature on the home screen, but these are easily overlooked and won't be available on other devices than Pixels and Android One. Android 11 has a lot of positive changes that Google made. The result is software that is more useful and more enjoyable to use. How does the Android 11 chat bubble work?
Source: Joe Maring/Android Central
Android 11 isn't a single major overhaul. It's a mixture of small tweaks and major changes. Some of these focus on improving your messaging experience. Google offers a lot in this area. Chat bubbles are the first on our list. Chat bubbles are similar to the Messenger app for Android that Facebook offers over years. They hide all your conversations in small bubbles at the sides of your screen. You can drag the bubbles around and tap on them to reveal that conversation. Although the Bubbles API is accessible for all messaging apps it has not seen much growth. Android 11 also introduces a conversation section in the notification shade. This section allows you to instantly access any ongoing conversations. This makes it easier to distinguish your messages from other notifications, so you don't miss any important messages. Android 11 allows you to send images to the notification shade while replying to messages. What's new in Android 11 with permissions?
Source: Joe Maring/Android Central
One of the highlights of Android 10 was its better handling of permissions. Android 10 allowed users to have more control over which apps they could access and how. Android 11 continues this trend with an amazing new feature. You can now grant permission for sensitive features such as your microphone, camera, and location to an app that asks you to. You can grant the app permission for the time you are using it, but you can revoke that permission as soon as the app is closed. If the app requests permission to use this permission again, you must grant it access again. It is not a good idea to give apps access to your phone's data. We are thrilled that Google has given users more control of their data. Charmaine D’Silva, the privacy specialist at Google and Product Manager for permissions, was our guest. We were able to gain a better understanding of the origins of some of these features and their importance. The interview is worth reading if you have the time. Is Android 11 equipped with a screen recorder?
Source: Andrew Martonik / Android Central
Since the last Android release, we have waited patiently for Google to include a screen recorder. Although it's not something you will use daily (or ever for some), the fact that this basic function isn’t built into Android is annoying. Android 11 finally makes this a reality. The feature is included in the Android 11 version. It also comes with a clean interface and toggles to record audio and show touches. Here's how to record your Android screen. This is all we have to say except that we are glad to finally be able to put the feature request to rest. Are Android 11 compatible for folding phones?
Source: Nick Sutrich / Android Central
Displays have been the subject of significant change in the Android market. Android must keep up with the latest innovations in smartphone screens. Companies are continually making improvements to make them more exciting. With the Galaxy Z Flip 3 (and Z Fold 3), Samsung is keen to make folding phones a mainstream category. Foldables now come with Android 11, and the latest additions from Google last year include the "hinge angle sensors" that allow apps to detect the hinges of folding phones. Developers can modify their apps to adapt to the hinge and create unique experiences (like the way Google Duo changes its interface when you fold the Z Flip 3 half-fold). Another major upgrade is faster refresh rates. Smartphones can now be shipped with screens that refresh at 90Hz and 120Hz. Android 11 gives developers the ability to better take advantage of these powerful displays. The developer can choose the refresh rate at which their services should run. If the developer decides that their app looks better at 90Hz or 60Hz they can change the refresh rate of the display to reflect that choice. What is the 5G compatibility of Android 11?
Source: Android Central
5G is finally making its way to people. More people are connecting to the next generation wireless data. Android 11 introduces the "Dynamic Meterdness" API to ease the transition. Although it may not seem like much, this API allows phones to fully take advantage of 5G's power. The API will detect if you have unlimited 5G coverage and provide you with the best quality video and graphics. This API allows you to take full advantage 5G's potential. Which phone should I buy to get the best Android 11 experience possible?
The Pixel 5 is the perfect phone, whether you want to be the first to receive Android 11 or to experience it as Google intended, This is the latest flagship Pixel, and it's hard to miss if you love metal more than plastic or glass. The Pixel 5 is about providing a high-quality Android experience at a low price. It succeeds in this regard tremendously. The Pixel 5 has a lot of features, including a stunning camera, OLED display, great performance, long battery life and much more. Although the design is simple, it's easy to use one-handed. The 2021 Samsung flagship portfolio is worth looking at, with the Galaxy S21 Ultra featuring a huge 120Hz AMOLED panel and high-end hardware. There are also standout cameras. When will Android 12 be released?
