UPDATE: Google will be launching Android 12 for its Pixel phones on October 4th which means this could also be the official launch of Android 12. According to an internal document, Google will publish Android 12 source code on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) Gerrit early next month and if this follows history – could also be the public launch date of Android 12.
UPDATE 2: OPPO is scheduled to launch Android 12 based ColorOS 12 on September 16th.
Google is gearing up to launch Android 12 – the successor to Android 11 from last year. The tech giant is keeping the tradition of choosing numbers instead of dessert names as the sequel to Android 12 will also be Android 13.
It’s worth noting that internally, the team is still keeping the dessert names with Quince Tart for Android 10, Red Velvet Cake for Android 11, Snow Cone for Android 12 and Tiramisu for Android 13.
Google has been sharing developer previews and Beta releases of Android 12 since it was announced early this year.
Android 12 brings the biggest UX change to the world’s popular mobile operating system.
One of the biggest upgrade Android 12 features is Material You design language that will be spread on Android and Google’s services. Material You brings a lot of focus on colour customization and lets users select their own contrast, element sizes, line widths and colour swatches and more.
Android 12 also brings with it wallpaper-based UX theming which allows the OS to automatically select a set of correlative colour palettes from the system UI inspired by the colours used in the device’s current wallpaper. This colour gets applied across the phone including the lock screen, adaptive widgets, quick settings and notification panel.
Some of Google’s apps have already started following Material You’s dynamic theming on Android 12 such as Google Contacts, Google Messages, Google App’s Discover Feed and Gboard.
Other third-party apps have also followed too including Tasker, Sleep as Android, and SwiftWalls. We’ll see more apps adopt Material You theming once Android 12 is launched for the public.
Like Android 11, Google’s improves on Android’s privacy with the Privacy Dashboard that will come with Android 12 and show users a timeline of when apps access your location, microphone, and camera. You will also get new indicators when the microphone or camera are in use in the quick settings with toggles to turn them off.
For location privacy, Android 12 will let you share an approximate location instead of a precise location.
Android 12 also brings App Hibernation feature that lets users put apps into a hibernation state if they’re not actively using it. When an app goes into hibernation, its storage use is optimized and permissions removed.
Private Compute Core is another Android 12 privacy-focused feature that keeps users information private for several AI-driven features including Smart Reply, Live Caption and Now Playing.
Other features include:
- smoother audio transitions
- the ability to unlock your car from your phone
- device performance class
- clipboard access alerts
- AV1 codec for video recording
- the ability to use alternative app stores and get respective app updates
- location free Bluetooth scanning
- Bluetooth LE Audio API
- blocking third-party-apps from replacing the share sheet
- concurrent peer-to-peer and internet connections
- updated wifi user interface, revamped power menu
- new shortcuts for wallet and device controls
- quick tao gesture
- slimmer volume control
- consolidated battery optimization settings
- streamlined media player design
- new chip indicator in the status bar for an ongoing call
- background changing conversation widget
- new x-axis transition animation for Settings, scrolling screenshots
- better and faster autorotate
- themed icons
- the ability to quickly copy links for the recent apps overview
- the ability to disable swipe to income Google assistant
- the ability to see trash storage use under Storage settings
- redesigned closing experience for Bubbles and PIP windows
- revamped setup experience
- new Game Dashboard that shows key utilities for gamers including FPS meter, Do Not Disturb, screen recorder and screen capture shortcut
- consolidtaed one-handed mode and swipe for notifications gesture
- rearranged notification settings
- new and updated emojis
- new install hints to help speed up installing important apps on new Android apps
- ability to manage the hidden recyle bin
- saving screenshots in pictures instead of DCIM
- new Google Live Translate among a hots of other features.
What Smartphone Manufacturers Are Doing for Their UIs as Android 12 Launch Nears
Google Pixel 6 devices, which are now powered by the company’s own Tensor processor, will be the first to roll out with Android 12 already baked in. But here’s what other OEMs are up to with their Android 12-inspired user interfaces.
OPPO ColorOS 12
OPPO is currently beta testing ColorOS 12. ColorOS 12 which succeeds ColorOS 11 is based on Android 12. OPPO was the first smartphone maker to launch the Android 12 Developer Preview after it was announced at the Google I/O Developer Conference 2021 with its flagship – the OPPO Find X3 Pro.
ColorOS 12 is set to bring features from Android 12 including new quick tiles, new widgets, improved one-handed mode, notification settings, visual overhaul, new app pairs for split-screen, privacy improvements and more.
OPPO Devices slated for Android 12, ColorOS 12 update:
- OPPO Reno 6 Series(Including the OPPO Reno6 5G that recently launched in Kenya)
- OPPO Reno 5 Series(Including the Reno5 F)
- OPPO Reno 4 Series
- OPPO Reno 3 Series
OPPO Reno6 5G Camera Review: Lives up To The Hype
Samsung OneUI 4
Samsung has opened up Android 12-based One UI 4 beta program for its flagship Galaxy S21 series. One UI 4 is set to heavily adopt Android 12’s Material You design and bring improved app icons and other features.
Samsung Devices slated for One UI 4, Android 12 update:
Other Galaxy devices in the update list include the S, A, N and Z Series:
S series: S10, S10+, S10e
Z Series: the Galaxy Z Fold 2, the Z Flip and 2019’s Galaxy Fold and the upcoming Foldables scheduled for August 11 Launch
Galaxy A series: A71, A72, A81, A82, A51, A52,
Galaxy Tablets: Tab S7+ 5G, Tab S7+, Tab S7 5G, Tab S7 5G, Tab S6 5G, Tab S6 5G, Tab S6, Tab S6 Lite and upcoming Tab S series.
Note Series: Note 20 Ultra, Note 20, Note 10+, Note 10
Realme UI 3
Realme is working on a Realme UI 3 with the beta available for Realme GT 5G users. Realme UI 3 borrows a lot of its features from Android 12 including new widget arrangement, new Gaming dashboard, improved privacy controls, wallpaper-based theming, among others.
Devices slated for Realme UI 3, Android 12 Update:
X series: X7 series, X50 series, X3 series
Realme 6 series, Realme 7 series, Realme 8 series
C series: Realme C12, realme C15
OnePlus OxygenOS 12
OnePlus is working on its Android 12 based OxygenOS 12 for its flagship devices. What we know so far about OxygenOS 12 is that it will have its own theme store,a new Always-On Display feature, a new optimized mode to deal with app throttling among other Android 12 features.
The yet to be launched OnePlus 9T and 9T Pro will probably ship with Android 12 already baked in.
Devices slated for OxygenOS 12 update:
OnePlus 9 Series: OnePlus 9 Pro, 9, and 9R
OnePlus 8 Series: OnePlus 8, 8T, 8, 8 Pro
Nord Series: Nord, Nord 5G, Nord 2 5G, Nord CE 5G, Nord N200 5G
Xiaomi MIUI
Xiaomi is already working on Android 12 beta for its flagship devices. It is unknown if MIUI 12.5 will be updated to MIUI 12.6 or 13. However, these devices are slated for the Android 12 update when it launches later this year:
- Mi 11 series: 11, 11 Pro, 11 Ultra, 11i, 11X, 11 lite
- Mi 10 Series: 10S, 10 Pro, 10 Ultra, 10T, 10T Pro
- Redmi: Redmi K40, Redmi Note 9, Redmi 10X, Redmi Note 9S, 9 Pro, 9 Pro Max, Note 9T, Redmi K30S Ultra, K30 Pro
- POCO series: POCO F3, POCO X2, POCO X3, POCO X3 NFC, POCO X3 Pro, POCO M3 Pro, POCO M3, POCO M2 Pro
- Blackshark series: Blackshark 3, Blackshark 3 Pro, Blackshark 3s, Blackshark 4, Blackshark 4 Pro
Nokia
Nokia is already in the Android 12 beta program with the X20 but other devices that may get the update include:
TECNO
TECNO is also included in the Android 12 beta program with the TECNO Camon 17 series. It is unknown if its flagship, the Phantom X will get Android 12.
vivo
vivo is currently beta testing Android 12 with the iQOO 7 Legend. It is expected to rollout FunTouch 12/OriginOS/iQOO UI 3 to select devices when Android 12 launches:
Devices eligible for Funtouch OS 12:
- vivo V series: vivo V19, vivo V20, vivo V21
- vivo Y series: vivo Y53s
- vivo Nex 3S 5G
- vivo X50 series and vivo X60 series
THIS ARTICLE ISN’T CONCLUSIVE AND WE’LL KEEP UPDATING WITH NEW INFORMATION SO KEEP REFRESHING.
