Android 12: Everything you need to know about the latest Android version

Do you want to know what the new operating system will be called? What are the new features? Which phones will receive the update? You can find these and other answers below.

Shortcut:

• Android 12: What will the new version be called?
• Android 12: First impressions
• Android 12: What are the main new features?
• Android 12: Release date and availability
• Android 12: Which smartphones will receive Android 12?
• Android 12: How to download and install Android 12 on your smartphone

What will Android 12 be called?

If you're a card-carrying fan of Google's OS, you'll be pleased to hear that the Android developer team has decided to bring back the naming convention of its OS versions by attaching them to dessert names. This hasn't happened since Android 10.

So, after Android 9 Pie, we are now on track with Android 12 Snow Cone, which corresponds to the letter S of the alphabet.

It's worth noting that Android 11 was internally referred to as "Red Velvet Cake", but was never officially given that designation. Having said that, the official version name that will be announced should just be "Android 12".

Android 12 Beta preview

Android 12 has been in development since February, when Google released the first developer preview of the OS. And following the release subsequent schedule, we have now arrived at the final phase, which means the operating system is now ready for distribution. But what does that mean for the end user?

In recent years, the release of the beta version has served to draw the attention of the application developer community to new features that Google might bring to the latest OS version. This way, the search giant allows developers to anticipate the upcoming changes and in addition, offers an opportunity for the Android team to receive real-time feedback on features of the new system. Doing so helps weed out any nasty bugs before a final release.

In turn, decreasing the chances of smartphone manufacturers having to roll out a sequence of updates after introducing the final OS version to their devices that are powered by Android.

In addition, it allows channels like NextPit to use the beta version of the operating system, test out its features and show how they work in reality. Check out what we think about the Android 12 Beta preview in the link below:

Why Android 12 has everything I expect from an operating system

What are the main new features of Android 12?

Android 12 is definitely one of the biggest mobile operating system overhauls in recent years, especially concerning the visual features of the User Interface (UI) which has since been given the name Material You. We were also privy to the introduction of the Privacy Panel, which changes the way Widgets for Android works in addition to offering a series of security improvements.

• Related: How to get the Android 12 look and feel on your phone right now

We discussed each of these features in detail in addition to many other aspects in a special article about the new features that are set to arrive on Android 12. Check it out in the link below:

Android 12: What's new in the upcoming operating system?

Android 12: Release date and availability

As previously reported by Google, the final version of Android 12 was released on October 4th. The update file will be sent to Pixel devices beginning October 19, when Google will also announce the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Details of the release schedule can be seen in the image below:

However, even after it has been made available officially, the final version should take some time to hit your smartphone's notification bar, as manufacturers have an update schedule that is independent of Google. Each smartphone manufacturer will move at its own pace. Do take note that the initial devices on the Android 12 update list will naturally be Google Pixel models.

Which smartphones will receive Android 12?

As mentioned above, the stable version of Android 12 will arrive on Pixel devices from October 19th onward. The other manufacturers have their own update schedule and it varies from company to company. In the linked article below, you can check the list of eligible and even confirmed smartphones that will receive the latest version of Android:

See the list of smartphones that should receive the Android 12 update

Considering Samsung's extensive update policy, we've created a special list that shows which of the manufacturer's models are eligible or have already been confirmed to receive Android 12 when it arrives. To view the list, click on the below link:

Know which Samsung smartphones will the Android 12 update

How to install the Android 12 on your smartphone

Updating your smartphone's operating system is performed automatically via an Over-the-Air (OTA) update. If this is not the case, please follow the instructions below. In order to check whether the update file is already available, follow these steps:

1. Launch your smartphone's Settings.
2. Navigate to System > Advanced.
3. Select System Updates. Wait for the operating system to search for any available updates.
4. If it discovers a new update, information regarding that update will appear on the device screen. Click on the Download and Install option.
5. After downloading and installing the new version, click Restart.
6. Upon restarting, your device will have been updated to Android 12.

These steps may vary from one smartphone to another, depending on the manufacturer. The tutorial above was developed based on stock Android.

We hope that you have found the information you were looking for about Android 12 above. This page will be updated frequently to bring you the most important news about the latest Android operating system version.