Google requires all devices released with Android 11 to support this feature

Android 11 is clearly a highly anticipated update, not only because of the newly added gadgets, but also on policy changes that are fundamental - a factor that has a huge impact on human experience. used in general, but rarely mentioned.

Back in the period of Android 7.0, Google introduced a feature called "seamless updates," which helped greatly speed up the process of installing partial updates. soft. In particular, seamless updates require device manufacturers running Android to create an "A / B partition setting", which allows the operating system to automatically make a copy of the inactive partitions available. updates in the background, and users only need to reboot the device to switch between them.

Set up A / B partition

In simple terms, this means your device will automatically create a partition containing a second copy of the system and install new updates in it. After that, you'll only need to reboot your device to move to the updated partition to the latest software version, which means that the whole process of installing software updates will be increased. significant speed.

It must be stated that seamless updates are an extremely useful feature, but at the time of launch, Google only considered this to be an optional feature, meaning that manufacturers don't necessarily have to apply it on their products. , because the disadvantage of seamless updates is that it requires an additional internal storage space. Perhaps that's why many OEMs like OnePlus, LG, HTC, Motorola, Google, ASUS or Sony have implemented A / B partition systems that are seamlessly updated for their products, while some names Other big players like Samsung and Huawei don't have, even for the flagship product line like Galaxy S20 just launched.

However, this situation will soon end because Google has just announced on AOSP Gerrit that all devices released with Android 11 will have to support seamless updates, in other words, must have A partition setup. / B virtual on device, no exception.

This requirement has not yet been officially adopted by Google, but will most likely be implemented before Android 11 launches. As planned, all mobile devices from all Android OEMs launched in late 2020 or early 2021 with Android 11 will have to support seamless updates.