Android 11 was launched in early September last year and began rolling out to older smartphones while newer smartphones were shipping with Google’s latest mobile OS straight out of the box
Android 11 brings new privacy and security features including improved handling of app permissions for the camera, microphone, and location, scoped storage, and auto-reset permissions for apps you haven’t used in a while, Nearby Share, ability to pin apps in the share menu and scheduled dark mode, powerful media controls, seamless updates, Multitasking pane, improved autofill, suggested apps, biometric authentication, among a host of other useful features.
Here’s the state of Android 11 in Kenya so far with a list of the best Android 11 devices you can buy in Kenya right now!
OPPO
OPPO has been quietly rolling out Android 11 to its devices in the country since the year began.
OPPO has been updating its devices in the country with ColorOS 11 update that introduces a customizable dark mode that offers users the ability to choose between Enhanced, Medium, and Gentle. You can now make your own backgrounds, ringtones, and Always-On Display styles. OPPO partnered up with OPPO for the three-finger nifty gesture for instant translations. There’s a new Super Power Saving Mode that extends the battery life. There’s a new Battery Guard feature that ensures your phone isn’t plugged in even after it’s fully charged when you plug it at night.
ColorOS 11 also introduces FlexDrop, floating windows for better multitasking, mindfulness with OPPO Relax 2.0, Private System lets you create a copy of your current system that is protected by password or fingerprint.
Other features ColorOS 11 include performance improvements in AI App Preloading, Hyper Boost 3.0, the support for third-party camera apps to access video HDR.
OPPO smartphones
OPPO Reno5 F is the latest smartphone from OPPO to ship with Android 11 and ColorOS 11 straight out of the box.
OPPO Reno5 F is the entry-level device in the OPPO Reno5 line that includes the OPPO Reno5 and the OPPO Reno 5 Pro.
The OPPO Reno5 F is equally capable and even more affordable than its older sibling, the Reno 5.
With the OPPO Reno5 F, you are getting a sleek and attention-grabbing smartphone with incredible performance, powerful specs, refined software, crisp camera shots, high-quality display and excellent battery performance too.
OPPO Reno5 F Review: The Awesome Middle Child
Watch our unboxing and first impressions review above.
In early January, OPPO A93 got updated to Android 11 via OPPO’s ColorOS 11 update.
In early February, OPPO Reno 3 series got updated to Android via the same ColorOS 11 update.
In early March, OPPO Reno4 got its update too.
OPPO Reno5 launched running Android 11 and ColorOS 11 out of the box.
We are expecting OPPO to roll out the Android 11/ColorOS 11 update to the OPPO Reno 2F and OPPO Reno 10x Zoom in the coming weeks.
realme
realme is a relatively new entrant in the Kenyan market and they’ve been making strides since last year.
They’ll soon be rolling out Android 11-powered Realme UI 2.0 to the realme 7i, realme 6, realme C15, realme C12 in the country. They are already in the beta program.
vivo
Vivo takes a lot of pride in being first in terms of smartphone innovation with regards to hardware. They were the first smartphone compnay to launch with Android 11 out of the box a few hours ahead of Google’s Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a 5G launch late last year with the vivo V20.
Locally, vivo was the first company to launch a new device with Android 11 already baked in – vivo V20 was launched in early January in Kenya.
The vivo V19 and vivo V17 Pro are set to get updated to Android 11 and FuntouchOS 11 in the country.
Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO
Xiaomi devices are slated to get Android 11 via MIUI 12 update. You can buy these devices online or at official Xiaomi Mi stores countrywide.
Xiaomi: Mi 10, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10 Youth Edition, Mi Note 10, Mi Note 10 Pro, Mi Note 10 Lite, Mi 9, Mi 9 Pro 5G, Mi 9 SE, Mi 9 Lite, Mi 9T, Mi 9T Pro, Mi A3
Redmi: Redmi K30, Redmi K30 Pro, Redmi K30 5G, Redmi K30i 5G, Redmi K20, Redmi Note 9, Redmi Note 9 Pro, Redmi Note 9 Pro Max, Redmi 10X Pro, Redmi 10X 5G, Redmi 9, Redmi 9C, Redmi 9A
POCO: POCO F2 Pro, POCO X2, POCO M2 Pro
OnePlus
OnePlus quickly updates its devices to the latest Android OS through OxygenOS 11. OnePlus 8T shipped with Android 11 and OxygenOS 11 straight out of the box when it launched.
Here are other OnePlus devices this update is rolling out to:
- OnePlus 8 series: OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro
- OnePlus Nord
- OnePlus 7 series: OnePlus 7, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T, OnePlus 7T Pro, OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, OnePlus 7T Pro McLaren Edition
Nokia
Nokia’s Android One Program ensures its devices get the latest Android OS.
These devices are slated to get Android 11 update:
Huawei
Huawei devices will get Android 11 update through EMUI 11 update.
- Huawei P40 series: Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro, Huawei P40 Pro+, Huawei P40 Lite(Huawei Nova 7i), Huawei P40 Lite 5G
- Huawei P30 series: Huawei P30 Pro, Huawei P30 Pro New Edition
- Huawei Mate 30 series: Huawei Mate 30, Huawei Mate 30 5G, Huawei Mate 30 Pro, Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G, Huawei Mate 30 RS Porsche design,
- Huawei Mate 20 series: Huawei Mate 20, Huawei Mate 20 Pro, Huawei Mate 20 X (5G), Huawei Mate 20 X (4G), Huawei Mate 20 Porsche RS
- Huawei Nova series: Huawei Nova 6, Huawei Nova 6(5G), Huawei Nova 5T, Huawei Nova 5 Pro, Huawei Nova 5Z, Huawei Nova 5i, Huawei Nova 5i Pro
Samsung
Samsung S21 series launched early this year with Android 11 and OneUI 3.1 already installed.
In the midrange segment, the rumoured Samsung Galaxy A52 and A72 are slated for launch sometime next week[March 17th] and will ship with Android 11 and OneUI 3.1 straight out of the box.
Here are other Samsung devices that have either gotten the Android 11 through OneUI 3 update or will be getting it in the coming months.
- Note 20 series
- Note 10 series
- S20 series
- S10 series including the S10e and te S10 Lite
- Z series: Galaxy Z Fold 2, the Z Flip and last year’s Galaxy Fold
- A series: Galaxy A71, Galaxy A71 5G, Galaxy A51, Galaxy A51 5G, Galaxy A50s, Galaxy A90
Transsion Brands – Infinix, TECNO and itel
We hope Infinix and TECNO will launch new devices in the coming months with Android 11 or Android 11 Go Edition and their respective updated UIs as stipulated by Google.
It will be disappointing to see new smartphones from both companies running on Android 10 as Android 11 will be turning 7 months old.
Last year, Infinix and TECNO launched really amazing entry and budget midrange smartphones like the Infinix Note 8, Infinix Zero 8, Infinix Hot 10 and TECNO Camon 16, Camon 16s and Spark 5 Pro – so the bar is high for 2021 devices.
THIS ARTICLE ISN’T CONCLUSIVE AND WE’LL KEEP UPDATING WITH NEW INFORMATION SO KEEP REFRESHING.
Best budget and midrange smartphones you can buy right now in Kenya: Under 20K and Between 20K and 40K.
