Android 11 is the last version of Google’s Android operating system that’s available for smartphones. It’s the 2020 iteration and you can download it on a variety of smartphones.
Although Google has released Android12, certain phones may not receive the update until 2022.
There are many smartphones available that have Android 11 pre-installed. However, the update is still being rolled out to older phones around the globe. You may be waiting for the update for a while depending on which phone you have.
Every month, more phones receive the Android 11 update. This brings new features and tools for Android phone owners around the globe.
Below you can see the compatible smartphones with Android 11. More companies are adding to this list all the time.
Below is a list of all available Android 11 features. While there are some interesting ones, such as improved smart home and media control, and built-in screen recording, nothing is as important as Android10‘s dark mode.
As with all Android builds, Android 11 also has a cool hidden Easter Egg. We’ve got a guide on how to access it and use it.
Android 11 may not be available for low-end phones. That’s why Google created the Android 11 Go Edition, a lightweight version that runs on smartphones with less than 2GB RAM. This version of Android 11 is expected to be available in the near future.
You can run Android apps and games on your computer or MAC even if you aren’t an Android user.
Let’s get to the point
- What is it? The most recent Android operating system
- When was it launched? September 8, 2020
- What is the cost of this update? Android 11 is a free upgrade
Android 11 Release Date
Google released Android 11 on September 8, 2020. We were anticipating this date due to leaks from Google, but Google didn’t create much hype for the new operating systems.
The release of Android 11 was on Pixel phones on September 8, but you would have to wait if your handset came from another company than Google.
Manufacturers who have custom forks for Android will need to create their own versions and then roll them out on their smartphones. This could be fast for the newer flagships but it might take a while if you have an older or mid-range smartphone.
Many new smartphones are compatible with Android 11 and some even come pre-installed. However, it is possible to wait depending on the country and device you have.
Android 11 compatible phones
Although we have listed most of the globally available smartphones that can receive Android 11, there are a few that may not be available or have not been announced. Please note, the rollout is done in a continent-by-continent or country-by-country basis, so if you have a compatible Android 11 phone but can’t download the update, just be patient.
- Google Pixel 2/ 2XL/ 3/3 XL/ 3a/3a/XL/ 4//4 XL/ 4a/4a 5G/ 5
- Note 10 / Note Plus / Note Lite / Note 20 / Note Plus / Note Ultra / S21 / S21 Plus / S21 UltraF
- Android Galaxy A32/A51/A52/A72
- Note 10 / Note 10 Plus / Note 10 Lite / Note 20 / Note 20 Ultra Samsung Galaxy There are 6 products.
- Its models include the OnePlus 8 Pro, 8T, 9, and 9 Pro
- Sony Xperia 1I / 5 II / 10 II
- Xiaomi Mi 10 / Mi 10 Pro / Mi 10T / Mi 10T Pro / Mi Note 10 / Mi 11 / Mi 11 Ultra / Mi 11 Lite 5G
- Xiaomi Pocophone F1/ F2 PRO/ X3Pro
- Xiaomi Redmi 10 / Pro
- Nokia 1.4 / 3.4 / 8.3 5G / X20
- LG Velvet
- Lenovo Legion Phone Duel 2
- Nubia Red magic 6
- Asus ROG phone 5
Android 11 features
Here are the top features that Google has shown off in Android 11:
Built-in screen recording
Android 11 adds a feature that many custom Android forks have: a built-in screen record. You can create a video from what’s on the screen using easily-accessible controls in your phone, similar to screenshots.
You can record the sound of your smartphone or use the microphone to tell what you are doing. This feature is great for creating short-form videos like TikToks or tutorial videos in that helpless tech-savvy family members make the most out of their smartphones.
Similar to this, Android 11’s sharing functions have been expanded to other apps. You can copy and paste images, text, and videos from one app to another and then send them directly.
Tab for new conversations
You can swipe down from the top of Android 10 to bring down your notification bars – but in Android 11 that’s divided into two sections: your notifications and your ‘conversations.
These conversations are chat notifications from chat apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Twitter. They’re not important notifications, but they’re worth your attention.
You can see who is contacting you and respond immediately. You can now pin conversations to “Bubbles” – this is what you may have seen for Facebook Messenger. A floating icon appears above all other apps to indicate that you have a new message.
You can now get messages from other apps to appear in bubbles. Also, you can pin them there so that the chat is always available.
Gboard, the default Android keyboard will now automatically fill out forms with relevant information. This is similar to Chrome’s current functionality. It should help you save time if your information is frequently being filled out.
Smart home control and Android 11 media
Media and smart home controls
People who have a lot of smart home devices will see a lot of improvements with the new Android 11 update.
You can access all IoT (Internet of Things), devices connected to your phone, and NFC bank cards from one menu.
Talking about home, the new Bedtime Mode can be set to run at night. This turns off Do Not Disturb and turns the screen black-and-white to protect your eyesight.
You can also use new media controls. It is now much easier to play music from other devices, such as Bluetooth speakers and other gadgets.
Android Auto works wirelessly in your car. This saves you the hassle of trying to connect wires. You don’t even have to connect your headphones if you turn on Airplane mode.
Accessibility improvements
Google’s Voice Access mode has been improved in Android 11 but there’s not much information.
The hands-free mode has been made ‘faster’ and easier to use. A bigger change is that it works offline so you don’t have to be online to use it. These improvements should make Android 11 more accessible and allow people to stay connected, regardless of their disability.
The braille keyboard is a cool new mode that allows you to write braille messages directly from your computer without the need for additional software.
The Lookout app allows you to scan food labels and documents. This means that people with limited vision can still read and see what’s inside their food.
New prediction tools
Android 11 is able to predict your patterns and habits, which will reduce the amount of work you have to do on your phone.
Smart folders are one example. Android 11 can automatically organize your apps into similar folders such as games or productivity tools.
App suggestions can also be tweaked to suggest apps according to your routine. For example, if your Fitbit app is used every morning to monitor your sleep habits, your phone will automatically bring that app to the Home screen each morning.
Finally, the Smart Reply feature that is already available on Android phones has been tweaked. This mode allows you to reply quickly to messages by using one tap.
Privacy and security
Android 11 brings changes to permissions. You can now grant permissions to an app, such as your camera or location. This replaces the previous options of ‘all of the time’ or ‘only while you use the app.
Your phone will also automatically revoke permissions to apps if they haven’t been used in a while. This means that an app won’t track you if it isn’t downloaded.
Other useful features
There are some new features in Android 11 that don’t fall under the categories above.
One of these is faster 5G detection. If you have an Android 11 phone Android 11 apps can recognize it more easily and will run faster.
Android 11 now detects hinge angles on foldable smartphones so that apps can run better when the phone isn’t flat.
Picture-in-picture mode allows you to watch videos while doing other things. It’s also easier to adjust the size of your window so that it fits better with what you’re doing.
You can now send data from your smartphone to your computer via the new “Nearby Share” mode.
You can also see older notifications within settings in case you have accidentally swiped or ignored them.
Android 11 Easter egg
Our Android 11 guide’s final part will focus on the Easter egg. New versions of Android always include one of these eggs, and users discovered this one almost as quickly as the beta.
Similar to the Android 7 Easter egg, this Easter egg gives you a pet cat that you can care for. Though it may seem odd, it’s quite enjoyable. You can find out more by following our guide below.
First, open the Settings app. Next, click About Phone and then Android Version. Click repeatedly where it says “Android Version: 11”. When you have done this correctly, the Android 11 logo will appear, which is a green dial.
This dial should be turned clockwise from the default position to 11. This will not work immediately. You need to rotate the dial clockwise from its default position to 11.
Some users have reported that it works after three attempts. If it doesn’t, keep trying. A tiny cat will appear at the bottom of your screen when it works.
You can now head to the smart home automation menu described above. If you missed that section, simply long-press the power button at the side of the phone.
You will find several options for interaction with your cat here. However, if you have already mapped controls to the menu, these options won’t appear. Instead, add new controls and then click ‘See Other Applications’ to locate the cat tools.
You can change the name of your cat. Over time, more cats may be added.
Why isn’t Android 11 available on phones yet?
This could be a manufacturer or cellular provider’s decision to limit the number of Android updates that your phone receives. It can vary, but it is a problem that Google has been dealing with since 2008 when Android was first released.
To check if your phone can be updated to Android 11, the best way to do so is to visit the manufacturer’s site or to ask at your local cellular network’s shop.
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