We’ve had some time delving deep into the Android 11 Previews and Android 11 Betas over the past few months. Now that the full release is here we’re going to dive even deeper and share every new feature and change we’ve found in Android 11 — one of the most anticipated releases of the world’s most popular mobile OS.
While there are more than just cosmetic changes abound in Android 11, we’ll just be focusing on the end-user facing updates — including some easily accessible Developer Options. There are plenty of under-the-hood improvements that will undoubtedly enhance your overall experience, but they can be much harder to pinpoint or define how they benefit your day-to-day experience.
Of course, some of these new additions and enhancements include the design, interface, and operation of what is, in reality, a refinement of last years Android 10 overhaul.
Android 11 signifies the maturation of the entire Google mobile or smartphone OS platform. Wholesale changes are not necessarily needed at this stage, which is especially important as smartphone owners and buyers are holding on to their devices for longer than ever.
As mentioned, we’ve covered many of the new features that have been slowly introduced and refined over the Android 11 — and the associated Beta program. If you’ve already been updating your device since the very first beta, then there likely won’t be any surprises right out of the gate but there may be some tweaks and enhancements you simply weren’t aware of.
The early phases of the Developer and Beta program saw some new features that have since been added to Android 10 courtesy of recent Pixel Feature Drops. Features that you are likely enjoying already. So with that in mind, we’ve focused on completely new Android 11 options. Here is every new user-facing feature, alteration, design change, or tweak in Android 11.
UI Changes
- Power menu wallet UI tweaks
- Power menu smart home controls
- Notification media controls
- Lockscreen media player
- .
- Sound controls pop-up
- Conversations notification group
- Notification history
- Android gesture controls tutorial
- Android 11 Easter Egg
Always-on display clock style customizations
Usability Changes
- 4GB file limit for video recordings removed
- Bubbles for notifications
- Gesture sensitivity adjustments
- Recents panel has screenshot/select buttons
- Wireless debugging quick settings tile and option
- Screen refresh rate within Developer options
- Built-in Screen recorder
- Airplane mode Bluetooth connection awareness
- Bluetooth codec support information within Developer Options
- Updated Screenshot UI
- .
- Pixel Launcher dock app predictions
- Enhanced app permission controls
- App permissions reset after preset period
- .
- Resizable Picture-in-Picture windows
- You can grab and resize any floating videos when on your homescreen by tapping, holding,
- Power menu tweaks
- Swipe away media controls
- Media output switcher
- Wi-Fi auto connection improvements
- Multi-language emergency alerts
- DND support for emergency alerts
- Voice Access enhancements
- Enhanced media playback location controls
- Media resumption controls
- Previously playing media can be resumed from the Quick Settings panel or disabled entirely
- Keyboard autofill
- Auto filling passwords and account details are now possible in Android 11 directly from your keyboard. It currently works with Gboard with more developers able to implement the feature
- Android Auto wireless
- Android 11 now lets you connect wirelessly to compatible cars with Android Auto. No cables mean
- Disable Always-on display at night
- Warning if device misaligned on wireless chargers
Cosmetic upgrades
- Updated icon shapes within Pixel Themes
- Notification shade spacing tweaks
- Android 11 emoji
- “Force 90Hz” renamed within Developer Options
- Now playing gains new “View History” icon/button
- Media control ripple animation/effect
- Zoom effect when swiping up into app drawer/down for notification shade
- New colorful Settings app menu icons
- Renamed Volume menu
- Share sheet tweaks
That is every new “user-facing” feature and change that you’ll likely see or encounter in the full release of Android 11 for Google Pixel phones. Although there are plenty of under-the-hood improvements and enhancements that make Android 11 a worthy upgrade. However, we’re sure that some of you might have been hoping for a huge overhaul like we saw when Android 10 dropped last year.
If you haven’t already installed it, we have a handy guide showing you just how to get the latest version on your Pixel here.
If you have been enrolled in the previous Android 11 beta program, already know the new features inside out, and have used them to death, then let us know your favorites down in the comments section below. Also conversely, what do you want to see from Android 12 now that the full-fat Red Velvet Cake has been served with plenty of icing on top. Let us know down there too.
- Android 11 Developer Preview 1 hands-on: Top new features [Video]
- Android 11 Developer Preview 2 hands-on: Top new features [Video]
- Android 11 Developer Preview 3 hands-on: Top new features [Video]
- Android 11 Beta 1 hands-on: Top new features [Video]
- Android 11 Beta 2 hands-on: Top new features [Video]
- Android 11 Beta 3 hands-on: Top new features [Video]
Author: Damien Wilde
Source: 9TO5Google
