Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Android 12 with Material You launches today, hits Pixel phones in coming weeks

By

Google today made the final release of Android 12 source code available after a long beta-testing period, but it’s important to note that it still won’t roll out to the Pixels or other devices just yet. The new update will land first on older Pixels in the coming weeks, though it’ll look best on the Google Pixel 6 when that releases later this month. This update comes with a large design overhaul known as Material You, and a bundle of privacy and security tweaks.

Android 12 teaser images
Google

The biggest change is the company’s new Material You design language. When the update rolls out, Pixel owners will find that their phone’s interface will become a lot more attuned to their wallpaper choices thanks to Google’s dynamic color theming system. These colors will apply to parts of the user interface, from the notification center and lock screen to even icons on the home screen and inside of apps that have been updated to support it. The company has also debuted new widgets to match Apple’s after letting Android’s widget system stagnate for a while. Several parts of the interface have also been redesigned to be larger and bubblier than they were on Android 11.

Recommended Videos

Responding to complaints made in previous years about a slow uptake of new design changes, Google has also revamped most of its Android apps — from consumer-focused ones like Messages, Duo and Photos to the Google Workspace Apps — to make use of the new Material You interface. On a hardware level, Google has designed the Pixel 6 to showcase Material You, both with its choice of colors and its two-toned, mostly pastel-colored design language. The release of Android 12 also means that the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro release date is imminent. In fact, we’ve already seen it in the wild, with Google showcasing it in its NYC flagship store, and there have also been rather comprehensive leaks, so no real surprises are expected here.

If you’re not a Pixel owner, Android 12 will come a little less quick and change a little less drastically. Google calls out Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Tecno, Vivo, and Xiaomi as ones to watch. Samsung has debuted One UI 4.o as a beta for a selection of its Galaxy phones, with the changes being focused more on the new privacy and security features Google’s added rather than the new design. You’ll still get some of the larger icons and broad design changes, but none of the dynamic color that Google positions as the selling point for Android 12.  Oppo has also debuted Color OS 12, and while the operating system does feature a redesign, it’s not quite the same as what Google’s offering. OnePlus has also confirmed that it will still release Oxygen OS 12 despite the ongoing integration with Color OS 12.

Google has noted that Material You will be exclusive to Pixels at the start, with some reports saying that Android 12.1 will be what brings Material You over to non-Pixel phones. In the meantime, if you do have a Pixel 3, 3Xl, 3a, 4a Xl, 4, 4Xl, 4a, 4a 5G, 5, or 5a, you can download Android 12 with Material You when it’s available for your device.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Michael Allison
Michael Allison
Mobile News Writer
A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…
A new Google Pixel Tablet is coming, but it’s not what you think
Google Pixel Tablet on its charging dock.

It's been almost a year since the Google Pixel Tablet went up for preorder, leading many Android tablet fans to wonder when the inevitable Pixel Tablet 2 will arrive. A new rumor suggests that Google could release a new Pixel Tablet as early as next month, but it's probably not what you were expecting or hoping for.

According to @MysteryLupin on X (formerly Twitter), Google is planning to "relaunch" the Pixel Tablet without the charging/speaker dock included in the box. As you'll likely recall, the speaker dock is the Pixel Tablet's standout feature. You can use the Pixel Tablet on its own as a traditional Android tablet when you want, and when you're done, you throw it on the dock to transform it into a smart display. The idea of Google selling the Pixel Tablet without its claim to fame is an interesting one.

Read more
5 phones you should buy instead of the Google Pixel 8
A person holding the Google Pixel 8, showing the back of the phone.

The Google Pixel 8 is a well-received Android-based smartphone. However, there are reasons why you might not choose it and opt for something else. Perhaps its 6.2-inch display does not meet your requirements, or its camera system does not match your expectations. It could also be possible that you would prefer a phone released in 2024 instead of one launched late last year.

If you’re not interested in buying the Google Pixel 8, several alternative phones may be more suitable for your needs. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S24 has the same-sized display as the Pixel 8 but with better internals. Alternatively, you could consider the OnePlus 12R, which offers a bigger display and better internals at a lower price. And that's just scratching the surface.

Read more
This Google Pixel 8a leak just spoiled everything about the phone
A person holding the Google Pixel 8, showing the back of the phone.

Previous leaked render of the Google Pixel 8a. Smart Prix

We are, in theory, only just over a month away from an official unveiling of Google's newest midrange smartphone, the Google Pixel 8a. However, it seems you won't have to wait until Google I/O 2024 to find out what Google has planned, as a leaker has just revealed everything we need to know about the latest entry in the Pixel roster.

Read more