Android 11: 9 Most Interesting Features

The first public beta of Android 11 is accessible now. Initially, Google spoke about three Android 11 developer previews, with the first Android 11 beta for non-developers to try out to follow in May. But, due to the coronavirus outbreak, Google had to change many of its plans. This is the first time it's has been made easily accessible to average users.

Chat bubbles

We expected Chat Bubbles to launch with Android 10, but that didn't happen, and the feature is coming in Android 11 now.

You'll be able to open the conversation in a miniature floating bubble by long-pressing a message notification that will be overlapped on top of everything else on your screen, similar to Facebook Messenger's floating heads. You can also move chat bubbles around.

Separate chat notifications

In Android 11's notification shade messages sit separately from other notifications, with useful features that allow replies, reminders and the facility to set shortcuts to threads on the lock screen. This helps to differentiate between chat and other apps notifications.

Easier Controls

One good Android 11 feature is the new Controls panel concealed behind the lock button. This brings quick access to Google Pay cards, and smart home controls directly to the front without going into the Home app to change the brightness of lights.

Dark mode scheduling

Android 10 presented a system-wide Dark Mode, and if you don't want to keep it enabled all the time, Android 11 allows to set Dark Mode to switch on and off automatically at particular times in a day.

Screen recording

Android 11 also allows you to record what's on your screen. The feature can be accessed in the Quick Settings menu, and when you start a recording, you'll find options to pause, stop and Chromecast the record.

Updated quick settings

A small pinch this: the music controls have been moved from the notification panel to the quick settings bar.

Privacy: One-time permission

There have been many tweaks around privacy. In Android 11, new permission will appear which reads Only This Time. Now you will be able to give apps one-time permission to use the mic or camera. If you have not used the app for an very long time, the permissions will get auto-reset.

Motion Sense gesture

In the beginning, this feature will be there only on the Pixel line of devices. The feature let you pause/play with a Motion Sense gesture. When you are listening to music, you could gesture with your device to pause or play the current tune. This will be helpful if you frequently need to pause your music.

Share Menu pinning

If you be likely to share with a select few people, using a select few apps, and yet the Share Menu hardly shows the correct combination of shares.

With Android 11, you'll be at last able to pin apps and shortcuts to the Share Menu. This feature temporarily appeared in the Android 10 build cycle but never found in the final release. Expectantly, this time around the feature will remain.