Android 11 R beta 1 is now official. Yesterday, Google started shipping the official Android 11 beta to a variety of Pixel phones including Pixel 2, 2 XL, 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, and 4 XL.
Users of these devices can download a copy of Android 11 by enrolling your Pixel device to Google’s Android Beta Pixel program at https://www.google.com/android/beta.
If flashing ROMs gets you excited then go ahead and download the factory images provided by Google.
For developers running Android 11 Developer Preview build, it easier to jump onboard as the update will be rolled out via OTA.
Android 11 R beta 1 is packed with nifty additions as we have already covered in a series of posts before.
However, in summary, here’s what you get;
- New Media Controls: In Android 11, Google has changed the location of Media controls from the notification panel to Quick Settings.
- Conversations: The notification panel is revamped and categorizes the contents into three; conversations, alert notifications, and silent notifications (from muted apps). You can also give priority to certain conversations
- Chat bubbles: In simple terms, Chat bubble works like Facebook Messenger’s Chat Heads
- Screenshots: Snap a screenshot and it will now appear on the lower-left corner. Tapping on it will let you crop and resize the way you want.
- Airplane Mode doesn’t shut down Bluetooth while listening to Audio
- Native screen recording: Android can finally screen record without a third-party app.
- Dynamic app dock: Android 11 auto-generates app suggestions in the bottom home screen dock
- Revamped power button menu: On top of the legacy power off and restart options, the power button includes a menu to control smart home devices.
Apart from this, Google has also added some other small changes inside.
Android 11 Rollout
Now that Android 11 R Beta 1 is available in line with the rollout schedules, Google plans to release the second beta in July. After that Beta 3 will follow in August and then a final release is expected to be in Q3.