Let's just say that there are not very many global updates. If you look at the way Android has gone from the clumsy third version to modern eights, nines and tens, it will become clear that there is nothing to radically change and improve there. Rather, these are either some useful little things like a more functional curtain, or cosmetic improvements, or the addition of new features that meet the requirements of the time. For example, adequate support for flexible smartphones like Samsung Galaxy Fold 512 GB / 4G .

Updated multitasking menu


Formally, the menu is the same, but the cards have become larger, and the animation with a swipe swipe is smoother. Added the ability to return back an application that was accidentally closed by a swipe. In the multitasking window, a swipe up from the bottom also closes the application, but a reverse swipe from the top down allows you to return it to its place. Useful if you have a bunch of applications and messengers open and you accidentally closed something without saving.

Popular Android smartphones (all versions)

curtain lord


Since the fifth or sixth version, the notification curtain has been pumped great. For example, last year's innovation became very convenient, allowing you to reply to a message in Telegram or Facebook right in the blind without opening the messenger itself. Then it turned out that the curtain takes on too much and if you correspond all day long, use organizers, write notes, mark the time on a stopwatch and all that, by the end of the evening the curtain becomes like a tape with financial reports from Wall Street. Just clicking on the trash can icon and swiping it all at once does not always work, all those timers, some applications running in the background, connected via Bluetooth accessories still require your attention. In Android 11, we again become the masters of the curtain and wet everything that our heart desires.

Screen recording


This feature was shown in betas of Android 10, but for some reason it did not make it to the final release. In the previews of Android 11, it is again present in a modified form. In principle, its name explains everything. There are third-party apps on Android to record everything on the screen, but a built-in app would be more convenient. This is something akin to being able to record a dialogue over the phone. A useful thing if you, for example, are discussing the details of an important project and do not want to miss anything, talking on the phone with a doctor, etc. Recording video in this case will help you not to miss anything important during calls and video conferences. Or quickly file a bug report for some application and immediately show it to the developer.

Pure Android smartphones

Security and One Time Access


In older versions of Android, it allows apps to permanently use the camera, contacts, geolocation, and more. In Android 11, the user will have more control over permissions. For example, you can allow the camera to access satellite data once in order to geotag a photo. And this is logical, if in some application you need to turn on the camera once to make an avatar and put a geotag, this application clearly does not need constant access to the camera and geodata.

Scoped storage


Another useful access restrictor for applications. Roughly speaking, each application has its own folder and be kind enough to use it, and not fumble around for strangers. This is a fairly logical solution that enhances the security of the system. By the way, this has long been practiced in iOS. But what about apps like browsers or photo editors that need more access? Again, you will be able to flexibly configure all permissions.

Android tablets

Display refresh rate indicator


90Hz and 120Hz refresh rate displays are the new hot trend of 2020. One of the first seeds was sown by OnePlus, but now this chip will go to the masses. And the problems will begin. The fact is that Android freely handles hertz, which is why buyers of the conditional Pixel 4 complained that in games the picture is the same as before. Later it turned out that 90 Hz only worked in the main menu, and for gaming the system jumped back to 60 Hz.

Recommended Applications


In Android 11, the system recommendations of applications have been finalized by tying artificial intelligence to it. The idea is that the bottom row of icons will now become dynamic and situational, and Google will play the role of Alfred, who collects a belt with grenades and shurikens for Batman. Seeing that you like to listen to Joe Rogan's podcasts on the way to work, he will bring the conditional PocketCasts to the most prominent place. For motorists, maps will appear in the first place, and for someone, the news application icon. It's not clear if this will actually be useful, but on paper the idea sounds interesting.

Other useful little things

Below we have collected other useful little things that it makes no sense to paint in detail.

  • The dark theme can now be enabled on a schedule in the same way as the eye protection mode.
  • Screenshots can now be taken not for a selected area of the screen, but for the entire page to the end.
  • Airplane mode no longer cuts off Bluetooth so we can use wireless headphones.
  • In the Share menu, you can bring out your favorite applications through which you most often share links and useful content. For example, Pocket to save interesting articles for later, or Telegram to send a photo to a friend in three clicks.
  • Interlocutors can be prioritized by dividing calls into important and not very important.
  • Android allows you to customize the shape of the icons - there is a circle, a square, a square with rounded corners, a very round square and a drop to choose from.
  • Seeing how manufacturers are tricking with cutouts for the front camera, Google has added support for all forms of cutouts and holes for cameras, various aspect ratios, degrees of rounding of the side faces, and even devices with two displays.
  • From the notification curtain, you can fully control the player.