Sony is bringing Android 11 to Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 early
At the end of November, Sony introduced the update schedule for its Xperia phones, with the Xperia 1 II being the first to receive the Android 11 update. Sony’s older Xperia 1 and its Xperia 5 were to follow in February, but with an early rollout, users can still enjoy Android 11 in January.
Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5
In December, Sony started the rollout of Android 11 for its Xperia 1 II: the flagship device of 2020. Older devices – or even newer ones, as applies to the Xperia 5 II – have to wait longer for this update. In the original update schedule, Sony’s Xperia 1 and Xperia 5, announced in 2019, were scheduled for February. However, according to XperiaBlog, the update has gained momentum, and the rollout would have started early.
There are now reports coming in from users of the Sony Xperia 1 and Xperia 5 who see Android 11 on their phones. The update, with version number 55.2.A.0.630, would now be rolled out in Russia and Southeast Asia – so there is a good chance that the update will also reach other countries in the short term. The exact changes Sony is implementing in the update cannot be read in the update notes: it is known that the update weighs 911.2 MB.
Features of Android 11
Sony has, as people are used to from the company, made relatively few changes to the appearance of Android. The same applies to the ‘software functionalities’ of the Android 11. What is striking is that Sony has left the new Photography Pro app, which it previously included with the Android 11 update of its Xperia 1 II, away from the Xperia 1 and Xperia 5. What Sony has also left out of its older Xperia 1 and 5 devices is the renewed look of the ‘standard’ camera app.
Sony’s Xperia 1 was launched at the beginning of 2019
Of course, the Android 11 update for the Xperia 1 and 5 does contain various functions that are standard in Android 11, such as the option to give applications ‘one-time access’ to, for example, your location. Furthermore, Android 11 contains a new power menu and the quick settings of Android have been adjusted so that there is now room for the media control of apps that play media on your phone, such as Spotify. If you want to learn everything about Android 11, you can go to this overview.
Download update
It is still unknown in which countries Sony has launched the update exactly. The update has probably not yet started in the Netherlands and Belgium. As soon as the update is available, you will receive a reminder in the notification panel to download and install it. You can also manually check for the update via the settings menu on your Xperia 1 or Xperia 5. If you have already received the update, please feel free to send us an email (preferably including a screenshot).
The Xperia 5 followed later in the year, the design was much the same
Owners of Sony’s Xperia 5 II, which was released in late 2020, as well as the Xperia 10 II, are scheduled to be released in late January. It is unknown whether Sony will be able to meet this deadline, given that it still has two weeks to start the rollout. If you own an older Sony phone like the Xperia 10 (Plus), or a Sony phone in the L-series, you will unfortunately not receive Android 11.
