We are waiting longer than usual in 2021 for the yearly release of the new version of Google’s Android software. Last year this time we could already get our hands on Android 11, but this year’s feature list is taking longer to build into a stable version of the mobile software. Through AOSP updates of the software it is now clear that the public build of Android 12 will be available on October 4th, with Google Pixel owners getting the update on the day.
Read: Why yes, Facebook has now added Stories to your Ray-Bans
This information comes via XDA editor-in-chief Mishaal Rahman, who works closely with AOSP (Android Open Source Project). This timing would make sense, as the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro is expected to launch in October. The new Google flagships will naturally launch with the new version of Android, and older Pixel owners will get the update directly from Google after the launch.
As always, Android users that don’t use Google’s Pixel devices will have to wait to get the update. Google will only send the final software to other Android smartphone manufacturers when it is fully public. It will then take them several months (if not more) to update their own software built on-top of Android. Some manufacturers are slower to roll out Android updates than others (ahem, Samsung), due to many more ‘features’ added to their own skins that aren’t part of the actual Android build. Companies that opt not to mess with Google’s vision of the software too much, like OnePlus and Motorola, get updates out to customers much quicker.
The new Android 12 is the biggest upgrade in several years. It has a whole new Material You UI, which automatically pulls accent colours from your light theme or wallpapers. It also has big quality-of-life changes to the notification shade and Quick Settings menu.
