Android 11 is finally available to most Google Pixel phones, with only 2016’s original missing out.
The Pixel 2, 3, 3a, 4, and 4a can now all receive the over-the-air update worldwide.
Software updates like this are a big draw to owning a Pixel, but OnePlus has said that its latest OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro phones are receiving the Android 11 Oxygen OS beta from today
Xiaomi is rolling out Android 11 to the Mi 10 and Mi 10 Pro also, though Samsung’s phones miss out for now, unsurprisingly.
Oppo also opened a beta for its Color OS version of Android 11 and is said to be announcing the full version for phones like the Find X2 Pro on 14 September.
We went hands-on with Android 11 back in June when the first beta came out and liked the tweaks to the notification system, particularly with how it now orders messages to go at the top and lets you prioritise contacts. Chat bubbles are also available for any texting app via the system settings just like how Facebook Messenger has allowing the floating icons for years.
Other notable changes include new media controls, a smart home menu that sits with Google Pay when long pressing the home button, more granular permission settings, and performance improvements.
Google’s interpretation from Android 10 to 11 is fairly muted, showing that it’s a fairly mature operating system. But it’s totally up to OEMs how they implement the new features into their software, so we could see some big changes. OnePlus has overhauled the look and feel of Android 11 for Oxygen OS to look less like stock Android, dividing enthusiast opinion.
Author: Henry Burrell, Phones Editor
Henry is Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.