Android 8.1 is out for a few weeks now; the Google has not stopped adding new features in its software releases. In this update, they manage to combine speed labels for public (open) Wi-Fi networks.
Android 8.1 public Wi-Fi networks feature
This feature has started rolling out today. Once you get it, you will see an estimation of how fast each nearby public Wi-Fi network is. The levels are
- Very Fast – 20 Mbps
- Fast – 5 Mbps
- Ok – 1-5 Mbps
- Slow 0-1 Mbps
It’s not exactly a speed test rating, but it should make the job of deciding between networks a bit easier.
Public Wi-Fi can be spotty. For the first time, #AndroidOreo 8.1 lets you take out the guesswork & see the speed of networks before you hit connect. Rolling out now: https://t.co/lSzvCFgNk7 pic.twitter.com/60EmoPxUX4
— Android (@Android) January 22, 2018
These labels should help you decide which network you should connect to, and save a lot of hassel and time.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t work for password-protected networks. If for any reason you don’t like the speed labels you can disable them. Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Wi-Fi > Wi-Fi preferences > Advanced > Network rating provider and choosing None instead of Google.
