Google released Android Phone 12 on October 19, 2021 - the same day it announced the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro - after nearly six months of beta releases. The mobile operating system has received a visual overhaul, the largest since the adoption of Material Design in 2014. The company has also made sure to introduce a wide range of new user-facing features and less obvious but still significant changes. The version is a significant upgrade over the previous generations. While we've had a chance to peek at these features over the course of the beta program, we now have the stable version. This is a review of Android 12 from Android Authority.
Android 12 is only available for Google Pixel phones. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from the 2018 era are among the oldest devices compatible with Android 12. If you own a Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, or Pixel 5a, you can download Latest new version. Android 12 is also shipped pre-installed on Pixel 6 devices. While some phones from manufacturers including Asus, OnePlus, and Samsung have participated in the beta program, it is not yet clear exactly when these devices will receive Android 12 from the OEMs. .
For the most part, Android 12 should work fine on your device without major issues.
Android Authority has provided comprehensive coverage of Android 12 since it was first announced. You can find more information and resources in the following articles:
Android 12 update: When is it coming to your phone?
How to install Android 12; Step by step guide
Android 12L: Everything you need to know about Google's operating system for larger screens
About this Android 12 review: I've been using Android 12 on my Google Pixel 5 and Google Pixel 6 Pro for 14 days.
Material You is Google's all-new design language for 2021. The company has completely rethought the user interface, which is perhaps the biggest visual overhaul Android has ever gotten. Google says Android 12 is "the most personal operating system ever". The platform now includes dynamic and changing colors and new animations when touched. Google retooled many tools with a focus on people, and also made sure to include more accessibility tools to help the visually impaired.
Probably the first thing you'll notice is the change in color. Google has moved away from the bold primary colors that defined Android in the past. I replaced them with softer, more often semi-transparent pastels. However, the real trick was to automatically match system-wide colors (widgets, drop downs, animations, buttons, notifications, etc.) In theory, this is a good idea because you (ostensibly) like the colors in your chosen background. What does the truth look like?
You have more control than you think. Once you select a wallpaper, there are several options for color schemes that end up with your phone under the Wallpaper & Style menu. The system automatically creates three or four sets of matching colors that will punctuate across the user interface as well as single, bolder shades that can appear instead. I love the flexibility and choice, and the color combinations are nearly endless if not always attractive.
This automatic customization feature is limited to Pixel phones and will not be available from other manufacturers.
Is this the greatest design revolution ever to hit smartphones? not necessarily. But it does open up new ways to customize the look and feel of your phone. This may be possible for some people. Moreover, the UI colors will change every time you change your wallpaper and that can keep things fresh. On the flip side, some users may find that new color schemes are faded or not to their liking. Furthermore, not all apps will support the automatic color feature. For example, you can set app icons to adopt the general color of the rest of the user interface. Third-party apps that do not enable this feature will retain their original color and design, thus defeating the monolithic appearance.
New skins make another noticeable visual change in Android 12. It's hard to miss. The switch in the quick settings menu, for example, has new profiles and volumes. It's bulky now, making it easy to tap quickly, although this comes at the cost of how many fits per screen. As always, you can modify which switches are placed in the drop shadow. I like that more information can be shown inside each toggle.
Android 12 is only available for Google Pixel phones. The Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from the 2018 era are among the oldest devices compatible with Android 12. If you own a Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, Pixel 4 XL, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 5, or Pixel 5a, you can download Latest new version. Android 12 is also shipped pre-installed on Pixel 6 devices. While some phones from manufacturers including Asus, OnePlus, and Samsung have participated in the beta program, it is not yet clear exactly when these devices will receive Android 12 from the OEMs. .
For the most part, Android 12 should work fine on your device without major issues.
Android Authority has provided comprehensive coverage of Android 12 since it was first announced. You can find more information and resources in the following articles:
Android 12 update: When is it coming to your phone?
How to install Android 12; Step by step guide
Android 12L: Everything you need to know about Google's operating system for larger screens
About this Android 12 review: I've been using Android 12 on my Google Pixel 5 and Google Pixel 6 Pro for 14 days.
Material You is Google's all-new design language for 2021. The company has completely rethought the user interface, which is perhaps the biggest visual overhaul Android has ever gotten. Google says Android 12 is "the most personal operating system ever". The platform now includes dynamic and changing colors and new animations when touched. Google retooled many tools with a focus on people, and also made sure to include more accessibility tools to help the visually impaired.
Probably the first thing you'll notice is the change in color. Google has moved away from the bold primary colors that defined Android in the past. I replaced them with softer, more often semi-transparent pastels. However, the real trick was to automatically match system-wide colors (widgets, drop downs, animations, buttons, notifications, etc.) In theory, this is a good idea because you (ostensibly) like the colors in your chosen background. What does the truth look like?
You have more control than you think. Once you select a wallpaper, there are several options for color schemes that end up with your phone under the Wallpaper & Style menu. The system automatically creates three or four sets of matching colors that will punctuate across the user interface as well as single, bolder shades that can appear instead. I love the flexibility and choice, and the color combinations are nearly endless if not always attractive.
This automatic customization feature is limited to Pixel phones and will not be available from other manufacturers.
Is this the greatest design revolution ever to hit smartphones? not necessarily. But it does open up new ways to customize the look and feel of your phone. This may be possible for some people. Moreover, the UI colors will change every time you change your wallpaper and that can keep things fresh. On the flip side, some users may find that new color schemes are faded or not to their liking. Furthermore, not all apps will support the automatic color feature. For example, you can set app icons to adopt the general color of the rest of the user interface. Third-party apps that do not enable this feature will retain their original color and design, thus defeating the monolithic appearance.
New skins make another noticeable visual change in Android 12. It's hard to miss. The switch in the quick settings menu, for example, has new profiles and volumes. It's bulky now, making it easy to tap quickly, although this comes at the cost of how many fits per screen. As always, you can modify which switches are placed in the drop shadow. I like that more information can be shown inside each toggle.
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