When Google announced the Android 11 Developer Preview today, it outlined many of the new features included in the update like better support for 5G and screen formats, privacy improvements, and more. Now that the update is out and folks have installed it onto their Pixels, even more new features are being found.
The system-wide dark theme that launched with Android 10 is getting better in Android 11 because Google will now let you schedule when you want it to be activated (via Droid-Life). You can have dark theme automatically turn on from sunset to sunrise or you can set custom times for it to be activated.
Also included with the Android 11 Developer Preview is native screen recording. Spotted by Droid-Life, there's even a quick settings button for it so you can easily start recording when you want to.
Speaking of capturing your screen, there's a new screenshot preview UI that includes an "Extend" button that hints at scrolling screenshot functionality (via XDA-Developers). That scrolling screenshot feature doesn't actually work quite yet, but it is there. Meanwhile, the new screenshot UI will let you easily edit and share the screenshot you just took.
The Pixel 4 is gaining a new setting with the Android 11 Developer Preview that'll increase touch sensitivity (via Android Police). When enabled, Google says that it'll improve touch when you're using a screen protector on your phone.
Finally, Google has also added a screen refresh rate indicator to the Android 11 Developer Preview (via Android Police). When enabled, you'll see a number indicating the screen's current refresh rate in the upper left corner of the screen. The Pixel 4 shows 60Hz as a red number and 90Hz as a green number.
While some of these features are already available on some Android phones through custom manufacturer UIs, like screen recording on Samsung's One UI 2, it's still good to see Google adding features to Android 11. With these additions, hopefully we'll see useful features like screen recording added to even more phones when they're updated to Android 11 or launch with it in tow.
Google has said that it plans to offer six betas of Android 11 — three Developer Previews and three Beta Releases — with a public launch currently scheduled for Q3 2020.
