Android 11 on TVs: Here’s what to expect
- Google is rolling out Android 11 on Android TV and promising a number of new features.
- Low latency audio, better gamepad support, acceleration and data protection are all part of the upgrade.
- However, it can take months for the update to reach your set.
Google is tracking the mobile version of Android 11 with the corresponding version for Android TV, and there are some significant improvements in the business – albeit sometimes under the surface.
The company has confirmed that the major update is now rolling out. The most obvious additions include Google Play instant apps, quick PIN codes for content purchases, an improved Gboard TV keyboard, and privacy measures like one-time permission requests. You can even set inactivity prompts to ensure your Android TV will go to sleep when you fall asleep.
Many of the other enhancements focus on raw performance. You can expect low latency auto audio and expanded gamepad support, including for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and the Steam Controller. Google also promised that Android 11 will result in an overall speed improvement on TVs through better memory management and other improvements.
See also: The best Android TV boxes
For app makers, more shared code and updated testing should make it easier to get apps onto Android TVs.
Don’t expect the update to show up on your set in the near future. According to Google, Android 11 will reach TV providers in the “coming months” if they develop and publish variants for their own hardware. Some will be faster than others, but you may have to wait until 2021 to see all of the benefits of the new operating system in your living room.
The update comes exactly when it is assumed that Google is preparing a Chromecast dongle based on Android TV, which may revert to the classic Google TV naming scheme. It could appear at the company’s event on September 30th and possibly be one of the first devices to use the Android 11-based platform. In this case, insisting on the latest software might be your best bet.
