Android 12 was pushed to AOSP today, presumably after reaching the “stable” milestone, indicating that it’s basically ready to go. There is, however, one major snag: Google has yet to release the update for us. It’s available to developers who want to play around with it, but you can’t download it on your Pixel. This will happen “in the coming weeks,” according to Google. However, there is a trade-off here: other firms’ smartphones may receive it sooner than you think.
This is a strange method for Google to announce a new Android version. Normally, the update will go out to Pixels about the time it hits AOSP, so today’s development is perplexing and, to be honest, doesn’t signify much to those who aren’t developers. If you don’t want to participate in the Android Beta Program, you’ll have to wait a bit longer to get the Android 12 update.
If you haven’t tried Android 12 or followed our coverage, it’s one of the most significant updates in recent memory, bringing the first substantial aesthetic overhaul since Android 5.0 Lollipop and the demise of Holo. While some of the aesthetic changes may differ depending on which manufacturers’ phones get Android 12, Google has pushed out some major new visual improvements for Android 12 on Pixels, including the new Material You and its dynamic theme system.
Although other phones may gain a similar feature in the future, Pixels running Android 12 may alter system colors dynamically to adjust to the background. It’s a lovely effect, and it goes well with the revised, less cluttered notifications/quick settings menu, redesigned widgets, and Google’s updated applications that make use of it.
Android 12 is stunning, but not all of the improvements are aesthetic. Enhancements to client privacy are one of the most significant (but less marketable) features. There are new indications for when the microphone and camera are used, similar to the iOS feature that was released last year, although Google has been working on it for several years. If you choose, you may also deactivate access to the microphone and camera to completely disable them.
In addition, the Privacy Dashboard, a new one-stop-shop in settings for privacy-related features, offers you a quick visual summary of which applications are accessing what, making it easier to spot potentially suspicious activity. This is on top of other improvements, such as the new Private Computer Core in Android 12.
However, not all of the changes are for the better. Even though Google kept the feature back for a year to avoid implementing it any other (supposedly better) way, the new scrolling screenshot implementation is quite problematic. If you were used to accessing the smart home device menu from the power menu, that option is no longer available, but you may still access it through a lock screen shortcut.
If you love keeping track of battery life via helpful metrics, Android 12 on Pixels makes it difficult to do so as well. The battery menu no longer has the cumulative screen-on time option; instead, you can only get battery data for the last 24 hours, which is essentially worthless (and will put a kink in our plans).
Google said it will have additional information regarding the Android 12 upgrade during a developer event on October 27th-28th, and that the update will begin pushing out to Pixels “in the coming weeks.” Maybe Google wants to wait till the Pixel 6 releases the update?
Other manufacturers will have news to give shortly, according to Google, and devices from Samsung, OnePlus, OPPO, Realme, Techno, Vivo, and Xiaomi will receive it later this year.
OnePlus launched the Android 12 Open Beta program today, Realme says it will start on October 9th, and OPPO claims it will launch on October 11th.
