Android 12: Expected release date, features, rollout plan, and everything we know so far
Reportedly, the early Developer Previews will be limited to currently supported Pixel devices, which means that all Pixels after the Pixel 2 series will receive the update.
Feb 12, 2021 15:43:31 IST
The first preview releases of Android 12 are imminent. The Developer Previews of an operating system are not intended for the general public as they are buggy and unstable, however, they give the developers an idea into what the new iteration of the OS would offers, helping them tweak their applications accordingly. The developer preview will also allow enthusiasts who download it to play with the new APIs and other system changes, and provide feedback to make adjustments prior to the general rollout.
Google is expected to release Android 12 sometime this year, which means Developer Previews and betas will most likely be available for download soon. You may not have to wait that long to see what the upcoming mobile has in store for you, though: XDA Developers has posted what could be our first look at Android 12. The publication has come across an “alleged early draft” of a Google document summarizing changes for the OS, though, and it comes with a few screenshots, including one that shows an opaque notification panel with entries that have pronounced rounded corners.
The first Android 12 Developer Preview could land sometime soon if a recent app update is any indicator. The Android Beta Feedback app, which has been bundled with the Android preview and beta releases since Android 10 Q, just got an update at the Play Store. With last year s Beta program long over, there s probably only one reason Google would be pushing an update for the app: Android 12 is coming soon.
You don t need to be Nostradamus to make this particular prediction; just look at a calendar. Android Developer Previews usually land around this time. It used to happen in March, but last year Google pulled things forward to February, and that s a trend that could continue, based on today s evidence. But either way, a release was expected to happen in the next 4-6 weeks.