Android 12 It marks a turning point in the evolution of the world's most widely used mobile operating system. In an ecosystem where continuous updates are key to staying relevant and secure, this version not only introduces a revolutionary visual design but also incorporates advanced customization, privacy, efficiency, accessibility, and smart tools that transform the way we use mobile devices.
Why is it so important to update to Android 12 today?
The life cycle of mobile operating systems is getting shorter and shorter. Older systems like those from Blackberry or Nokia have been relegated to the past precisely because they haven't evolved or adapted to new user needs. In contrast, Android has managed to reinvent itself with each release. With Android 12, this is the case. the biggest visual and functional leap in recent years, placing phones updated to this version at the forefront of the mobile experience.
Key new features and unique features of Android 12
Following you will find A comprehensive and expanded review of all the features, technical improvements, and details that make Android 12 a must-have update. For any user, from the most novice to the most advanced. Plus, you'll discover exclusive information compiled from the best expert sources and real-life experiences with the operating system.
Material Design You: Total customization arrives on Android
Material you It is much more than an aesthetic change: it is a new design philosophy in which Your personality and preferences are reflected in every corner of the systemUnlike Material Design, the system now dynamically adapts its colors, transitions, and iconography based on your wallpaper and settings.
- Dynamic Colors: The system extracts the main tones from the wallpaper and generates a custom palette that permeates menus, buttons, widgets and visual elements.
- Refreshed and modern widgets: with rounded corners, more customizable and visually adapted to the chosen theme.
- Adaptable iconography: Compatible app icons change color based on your background, achieving maximum visual harmony.
- New grids for apps: Now you can choose layouts like 4×5, 5×5 or whatever best suits your use.
- Accessible modifications: font and element size changes, and increased separation between components to improve the experience on devices with large screens.
Furthermore, the animations have been completely revised to provide fluidity and naturalness in every action: from unlocking to quick access to notifications and switching between applications.
What is "Monet"?
Monet is the engine behind Material You's color dynamics. It analyzes your wallpaper and automatically applies complementary colors, not only on the system but also in any app that leverages the new Android 12 API. This allows apps like Google Calendar, Gmail, or Google Photos to seamlessly integrate visually.
Models and brands compatible with Android 12
As happens with every release, Android 12 has begun rolling out to Google Pixel devices., and then gradually roll out to other manufacturers and models with better support. Below is an expanded and updated list of confirmed models and the compatibility status with other popular brands:
- Google Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, 4 XL, 4a, 4a 5G, 5 and 5a
- Asus Zenfone 8, Zenfone 8 Flip, Zenfone 7, ROG Phone 5, ROG Phone 5S, ROG Phone 3
- Black Shark 3, 3 Pro, 3S, 4, 4 Pro
- TCL 20 Pro 5G
- Xiaomi Mi 10, Mi 10 Lite 5G, Mi 10 Pro, Mi 10 Ultra, Mi 10i, Mi 10S, Mi 10T, Mi 10T Lite, Mi 10T Pro, Mi 11, Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11i, Mi 11 Pro, Mi Mix Fold, Mi Note 10 Lite
- ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G
- OnePlus: 7, 7 Pro, 7T, 7T Pro, 8, 8T, 8 Pro, 9, 9 Pro, 9R, Nord, Nord CE 5G, Nord2
- OPPO: Reno6, Reno5, K9, A95, A93, Ace2, Find X3 Pro, Find X3 Lite 5G, Find X3 Neo 5G, Find X2, Find X2 Pro, Find X2 Lite, Find 2G, A54 6G, A5 16G, A4, A5, A4S
- POCO: F2 Pro, F3, F3 GT, M2 Pro, M3 Pro 5G, X2, X3, X3 NFC, X3 Pro
- Redmi: 10X 4G, 10X 5G, 10X Pro, 9 Power, 9T, K30, K30 5G, K30 Ultra, K30i 5G, K30S Ultra, K40, K40 Gaming, K40 Pro, K40 Pro+, Note 10, Note 10 Pro, Note 10 Pro Max, Note 10S, Note 10T, Note 8 2021, Note 9, Note 9 5G, Note 9 Pro, Note 9 Pro 5G, Note 9 Pro Max, Note 9S, Note 9T
- Samsung Galaxy S20, S21, S21+, S21 Ultra
- Vivo: X70 Pro+, X70 Pro, X60, V60 Pro, V60, S21 Pro, Y72, Y5, Y2, Y20i, Y2021
Other manufacturers Realme, Motorola, and Sony have also announced update plans for newer handsets. Keep in mind that older, low-end, or phones with limited support may not receive the update.
Customization layers and differences by manufacturer
Android 12 introduces a common base, but each brand can apply its own customization layer (MIUI, One UI, OxygenOS, ColorOS, etc.) with modifications to aesthetics, features, and utilities. Please note:
- Some features exclusive to pure Android may not be present, or may appear under other names.
- Material You customization may be limited on non-Pixel models, but most manufacturers offer dynamic colors and updated widgets.
- Features such as the privacy panel, game mode, and extended captures are generally maintained without major changes.
Advanced Privacy: The most visual dashboard and smart controls
Android 12 marks a profound evolution in privacy and security, inspired by some iOS solutions but providing the user with greater control possibilities.
- Centralized Privacy Dashboard: Available in Settings > Privacy, this lets you visually view all the apps that have recently accessed sensitive permissions like camera, microphone, and location.
- Visual access indicators: When an app uses the microphone or camera, a notification appears in the top bar. This way, you'll instantly know if an app is abusing permissions.
- Global switches: You can now completely disable microphone and camera access for all apps using Quick Access.
- Approximate location permit: Choose whether you want to share your exact or approximate location with each app, useful for weather apps or to protect your privacy.
- Clipboard monitoring: You'll receive a notification if an app accesses clipboard content, preventing potential leaks of confidential information.
- Private Compute Core: an isolated environment that protects your biometric data, passwords, artificial intelligence, or sensitive functions, ensuring that nothing leaves the device without permission.
User experience: widgets, quick settings, and notification bar
Android 12 redesigns the entire interaction experience with the system, facilitating access to essential tools and improving the view of notifications, widgets and menus.
- Quick settings: Round icons are replaced by large rectangles with more information and touch accessibility, making them easier to use with one hand.
- Smart WiFi and Data Settings: They are now grouped under a single “Internet” button for easy network management.
- New notification provision: Greater visual clarity, quick actions, and the ability to snooze alerts directly from the notification.
- Persistent multimedia notifications: You can pin the player to the bar even when you stop the music, and it now visually matches the Material You theme.
- Direct interaction with notifications: reply, archive, or manage content without opening the app.
- Notification history: Quickly access old notices using the new dedicated section.
Modernized widgets and home screen
At last, the Widgets receive the biggest redesign in years:
- More color, shapes and styles: Developers can add their own responsive themes.
- Conversation Widgets: Put your favorite chats, calls, or contacts on your desktop for instant access.
- Redesigned selection menu: find and add widgets organized by categories.
Improved settings and simplified navigation
- New settings menu: cards and controls moved to the bottom of the screen for easier one-handed use.
- «Internet» Panel: unifies management of WiFi networks and mobile data in one place.
- Improved internal search engines: Quickly search for apps or settings from the app drawer or settings menu.
Smart features and new ways to interact
Android 12 adds Native features that until now were only seen in custom layers or third-party apps:
- Native one-handed mode: Swipe down the bottom bar to scroll down the entire interface and easily access top content.
- Game mode: Floating control bubble with recording, FPS optimization, and quick access to gamer options.
- App Pairs: Pin two apps to open them and share your screen without reconfiguring them every time you want to use split screen.
- Improved gesture navigation: Less swiping and more intuitive gestures, one-handed navigation, and new configurable gestures.
- Google Assistant from the power button: You no longer need to say "Ok Google"; just press and hold the button to activate the assistant or customize it.
- Extended screenshots: natively take multi-scroll screenshots by selecting the exact area you want to save.
- Share WiFi by QR or Nearby: Share your network without having to reveal your password, either by QR code or through Google's Nearby system.
Technological and technical improvements at the internal and multimedia level
- Support for new image and video formats: AVIF (much higher quality than JPG), HEVC and automatic video transcoding for maximum compatibility.
- Spatial Audio Support: for an immersive experience, recognized in premium headphones and compatible devices.
- Supports up to 24 audio channels and MPEG-H codec: professional quality in recording and playback.
- Performance class for apps: Developers can tailor their apps to the device's power, ensuring a seamless experience for everyone.
- System updates via Google Play (Mainline): More and more modules, including ART (Android Runtime), can be updated without waiting for the manufacturer.
- Improvements in efficiency and consumption: 22% reduction in CPU usage and 15% less processing on the main cores, which translates into better autonomy and faster response.
Enhanced security and threat protection
As devices age and stop receiving patches, the risk of vulnerabilities increases. Android 12 incorporates advanced mechanisms to extend security even on mobile phones that may run out of update support.
- Grouped Permissions Panel: View and manage permissions for all your apps from a single menu.
- Security modules via Play Store: Google can update critical components without relying on individual manufacturers.
- Safe Mode: Boot your device with only the essential apps to troubleshoot or clean malware.
- New firewall (restricted network mode): Restricts network access to unauthorized apps and protects against unwanted connections.
- SameSite Cookie Management in WebView: greater protection against trackers and web data exploitation.
Advanced options to get the most out of Android 12
- Configure history and notification management: Customize what types of notifications you want to receive and how to interact with them (reply, archive, snooze, etc.).
- Clear cache and cookies in apps: From Settings > Apps > Storage, you can free up space and delete trackers.
- Avoid spam calls: Activate the filter from the phone app to automatically reject numbers identified as spam.
- Smart Lock: Keep your phone unlocked only in trusted locations or near authorized devices.
Advanced battery management and energy features
- Reverse charge: Use your phone as a charging station for other compatible devices (headphones, another phone, watch).
- Check battery cycles: Use apps like AccuBattery, Kaspersky Battery Life, or Ampere to monitor the health of your battery and know when it's time to replace it.
- Saving mode and smart battery: allows Android to limit background app consumption and optimize resources based on your usage patterns.
- Turn off 5G to save battery: In critical situations you can turn off this connectivity if you are not using it to extend the autonomy.
Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls
- User control panel: see how much time you spend on each app, how many notifications you receive, and how many times you unlock your phone.
- Rest mode: Schedule periods in which notifications and access to certain apps are limited to disconnect and avoid digital fatigue.
- Parental control: set restrictions for minors, monitor applications and define usage schedules.
Extra tools and tricks for advanced users
- Developer mode: access advanced options such as forcing dark mode, USB debugging, or animation settings.
- Integrated screen recording: with options to capture audio from the system, microphone, or both, and display touches on the screen.
- Optimized Split Screen: Quickly launch two apps at once from the recents view and adjust the amount of space dedicated to each.
- Extract text or images from apps without opening them: Select snippets or photos from the recent view by tapping and holding.
- Fixed applications: lock an app in the foreground to lend your phone to someone without them accessing other areas.
Improvements in accessibility and adaptation
- Area magnifying glass: enlarges specific areas of the screen to improve viewing.
- Bold text and high contrast options: helps people with visual difficulties.
- Improved support for assistants and screen readers: Smooth navigation and optimized labels for TalkBack and similar apps.
About support duration and recommendations if you have Android 12
Official support for any version of Android has a finite lifespan. When the manufacturer or Google stops sending security updates, the device becomes more vulnerable to vulnerabilities. If your phone is still on Android 12 and no longer receiving patches, you have several options:
- Update the device to a newer version using official methods or alternative ROMs such as installing the Android 12 beta.
- Use your mobile phone only for non-critical tasks, such as a media player or camera, minimizing access to sensitive data.
- Take extreme security measures: Use trusted apps, keep your browser updated, and limit the installation of new apps.
How to download and install Android 12 if your phone is compatible?
- Check compatibility of your device in the settings or on the manufacturer's official website.
- Make a backup complete your data to avoid losses.
- Go to Settings > System > System update or search for the option with the internal search engine.
- Follow the instructions to download and install. Make sure you have enough battery and storage space.
- Once the update is installed, restart your device.
Release date and deployment cycle
Android 12 began rolling out to Pixel devices and subsequently reached other manufacturers according to each brand's schedule and strategies. There's no single "global" date for everyone; the process is gradual and depends on factors such as:
- Technical capabilities of each device.
- Testing and development of customization layers by the manufacturer.
- Market availability and geographic region.
If your mobile is on the compatible listIt's only a matter of time before you get the option to update, although some brands may take several months to complete the rollout for all their ranges.
Android 12 FAQ
- Do I lose my photos or data when I upgrade? Usually not, but it's always best to make a backup just in case.
- What happens if my model is not listed among the compatible ones? You can continue using your current version, but it's a good idea to consider upgrading or installing an alternative ROM if you're concerned about security.
- Are all features available on any brand? No, some Pixel exclusives may take a while to roll out to other models or may require manufacturer-specific apps or widgets.
- How can I tell if an app is secretly using my camera or microphone? Android 12 notifies you with a visual dot in the top bar when any app accesses these sensors.
Smarter navigation, connectivity, and sharing options
- AppSearch: Search for content within apps even without an internet connection thanks to the new local search API.
- Passpoint and Enhanced Connections: intelligent WiFi management and connections to nearby devices.
- New controls for NFC and payments: Even with the screen off, you can pay at compatible terminals.
- Quick function activation: Customize the quick settings panel for instant access to home automation, payments, recorder, and more.
Other notable functional changes
- Animated splash screens: Apps now have a more consistent and customizable startup animation.
- Rounded Corners API: better visual integration on devices with curved or special screens.
- RenderEffect API: allows you to efficiently apply blurs and color filters to interface elements.
- Picture in Picture Mode Optimization: New gestures and better control over floating windows for video and compatible apps.
Thanks to the accumulation of innovative functions, adaptive design, reinforced privacy and high compatibility, Android 12 is positioned as the most advanced and customizable version ever created by Google.Whether you're a Pixel user or a compatible manufacturer, the update offers a new way to interact with your phone that combines style, efficiency, and peace of mind.
Those who take advantage of all the new features, tricks and resources of Android 12 enjoy a secure, fluid, connected, intelligent and adaptable ecosystem to any scenario. Updating isn't just a matter of aesthetics: it's the most effective way to keep your digital life protected, efficient, and future-proof.