Recognition: David Imel / Android Authority
- Sony has set when its phones will receive Android 11 updates.
- The Xperia 1 II will be updated first in December, followed by others in January and February.
- It’s not clear if or how Sony will update older phones.
Sony has set out when to get eligible Xperia phones to receive Android 11 updates, and it’s good news if you have a cutting-edge model – if not so much for everyone else.
Unsurprisingly, the Xperia 1 II will be the first phone to get Android 11. An upgrade will be available in December 2020. The Xperia 5 II and Xperia 10 II should receive their updates weeks later, in late January 2021. The original Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 come last and should be revised in February.
Continue reading: Google should need updates for every Android phone for two years
The Sony Xperia user interface is not as customized as others, so many of the features are similar to those of Android 11. Chat management is simplified with a special notification area and always-available chat bubbles. You’ll also find more powerful smart home and music controls, as well as improved privacy and security policies.
There is currently no mention of Android 11 versions for other Sony Xperia phones. That doesn’t necessarily mean other devices are out of date, but you may not want to expect updates to the original Xperia 10, 10 Plus, L3, or L4. And that’s unfortunate – you may have an updated handset stuck on Android 9 even though it’s months old.
Sony is still better at updates than some Android vendors, who can take months or more to deploy new software unless they are restricted by US trade bans. It’s not as fast as competitors like Samsung, however, and this could still be frustrating if you can’t justify the hassle on a high-end device.