Android 12 is here: All the details
about downloading, compatibility, new features and more
Android 12 was released on 04 Oct 2021, but only to certain
devices. Here's what to know.
Google
officially rolled out the stable build of Android 12 to AOSP on October 4,
2021.
Android users can now
download Android 12 on Pixel 3 and up. The new OS arrived after Google's Pixel event. Android 12
is the OS's biggest design
change in years. With Android 12, you can expect to see customizable
color palettes, updated notifications and faster, battery-saving performance.
The new OS was released alongside Google's
Pixel 6 and Pixel
6 Pro phones, which are powered by Google's
own Tensor chips.
Here's
everything we know about Android 12.
Will Android 12 improve performance?
Performance.
With Android 12, we've made significant and deep investments in performance -
from foundational performance that makes the system and apps faster and
smoother, to a new standard for high-performing devices that helps developers
deliver richer experiences on those devices.
What's the difference between Android
11 and Android 12?
The biggest differences between Android 12 and Android 11,
including security updates and new notifications. ... If you don't own a
Pixel and can't wait for Google's new OS to make its way to your device, you
can download and install the Android 12 developer preview now.
Will Android 12 improve performance?
Performance. With Android 12, we've made significant and
deep investments in performance - from foundational performance that makes the
system and apps faster and smoother, to a new standard for high-performing
devices that helps developers deliver richer experiences on those devices
Which phones will get Android 12
first?
As is standard, the first phones to get the official
software are Pixel phones:
Pixel 3 and 3 XL.
Pixel 3a and 3a XL.
Pixel 4 and 4 XL.
Pixel 4a and 4a (5G)
Pixel 5.
What is Android 12 called?
|
Name |
Internal codenam |
Version number(s) |
Initial stable |
Api level |
|
Snow Cone |
12 |
October 4, 2021 |
31 |
You can download Android 12
now
Google released
Android 12 during its October Pixel event on Tuesday. Android users can
download for free, as long as you're using
a Pixel phone -- Pixel 3 and newer.
How can I download Android
12?
As is usually the
case with major Android
updates, exactly how and when you'll get the update depends on who makes
your device, like Google, Samsung, OnePlus or Xiaomi. But generally, once the
update starts rolling out, you'll go to System > Advanced > System update > Check for
update.
Is my device compatible with
Android 12?
With the vast
number of Android phones available, it's difficult to list all the ones that
will support the update to Android 12. But generally, you can expect the Google
Pixel 3 and later to be compatible with Android 12, along with newer phones
from Samsung, Huawei, LG, Nokia, Motorola, OnePlus, Oppo and other
manufacturers. The website GetDroidTips has collected an extensive
list of devices it expects will be compatible with Android 12.
Android 12: 7 new features
we're excited about
Android 12 is a
major update to the OS with a
number of new features. Here's some of what we've seen so far:
Redesigned
notifications
Google is
changing up the design of notifications to make them more modern and
functional. When you tap on a notification, it will take you directly to the
app or action you want to take, instead of going through an intermediary
service to start that action. This should make everything run faster.
Customized
color themes for Pixel phones
On Google Pixel phones, when
you choose your wallpaper, a feature called color extraction will update the
whole system, including your lock screen, widgets and notifications, with
custom complementary colors.
Double-tap
options
Another new feature lets you tap the
back of your Android phone a set number of times to trigger the action of your
choosing. Once you enable it in settings under Gestures, you'll see a list of
actions you can set, like taking a screenshot, playing and pausing media or
launching Google Assistant.
One-handed
mode
Android 12
appears to include a few design changes that make it easier to operate Android
phones with one hand and your thumb. XDA Developers noted that the
updated settings UI moves the Search bar to the bottom of the display for
easier one-handed access. It also uncovered a new feature called "silky
home" that makes the entire interface more suitable for one-handed
use.
App
privacy features
With Android 12,
Google is adding several new privacy features to apps to give you more
transparency and control. A privacy dashboard helps you prevent apps from
collecting unwanted information, and turn off your camera and microphone across
all apps. (Here's how to use
Android 12's new app privacy features.)
However, it's
worth noting that these policies are less strict than those in Apple's recent
iOS 14 software releases, which includes app "nutrition labels" that tell people what
personal data their apps are collecting, and the new change in iOS 14.5 that requires developers to ask for
permission to gather your data and track you across apps and
websites.
Face-based
autorotate
Today, you can
turn your phone portrait or landscape and the screen will adjust with you. With
Android 12, on Pixel phones, it appears you'll be able to choose to autorotate
based on the way your head is turned -- for example, if you're lying down,
according to 9to5Google.
Trash
and recycle bin management
Android has a
hidden Recycle Bin/Trash feature that Google may allow you to manage with
Android 12, according to XDA Developers. It looks like you'll be able to
see how much storage space your trashed items take up, and clear the trash as
needed.
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