Wi-fi hotspots are great because they let you save your precious mobile data, but often you connect to a free wi-fi hotspot find that it’s slower than a sloth on a lazy Sunday.
Google’s aware of this issue and is addressing it in the Android Oreo 8.1 software update.
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
Google says that connection speed will show under the names of public wi-fi networks and advises that speed can change with signal strength:
- Slow: If you can use Wi-Fi calling, you can make phone calls and send texts.
- OK: You can read webpages, use social media, and stream music.
- Fast: You can stream most videos.
- Very Fast: You can stream very high-quality videos.
If you don’t want to see network speed, open your device’s Settings app
NB: This feature will only be available in Android Oreo 8.1.
If you’re not sure which Android version is on your phone, click here to find out how to figure it out.