Android 12 review

Availability and conclusion

There are new OS version updates that change a lot of things under the hood, there are those that change a lot of user-facing stuff, and then there are those that don't change much at all, focusing on small improvements here and there. Android 11 was definitely in that last camp. Still, Android 12 is very different, introducing one of the biggest user interface overhauls ever, and at the same time, adding a lot of small new features and improvements.

That's all fine and dandy, but focusing so much on looks means there's a big chance that owners of anything but Google's Pixels will never see most of what makes Android 12 great... ever. Samsung's first beta of its upcoming One UI 4 skin based on Android 12 looks almost entirely like One UI 3 based on Android 11. That said, the second beta seems to at least try to incorporate the new OS version's auto theming system, which we have to say is pretty surprising, considering Samsung's always preferred to go its own way, UI-wise.

With this in mind, it's anyone's guess what will happen with other heavy skins when they eventually get updated to Android 12 - will they jump on the auto theming train or pretend it doesn't exist? Early signs from OnePlus, Oppo, and Realme seem to surprisingly show some level of integration of this feature, and we're hoping by the time they release stable updates it will be fully working the way it is in Google's version. It would definitely be a shame for it not to get a wider release, because it's one of those simple ideas that work amazingly well in practice and improve the user experience.

Android 12, the way we described it in this review, is available for the Pixels Google still supports and will be found on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro from the day they are released. Other Android device makers will issue their updates in the coming weeks and months, and in fact, some have already announced timely rollouts, but as usual, if you don't have a Pixel, you may be missing out on a lot, if not most, of the features that we've presented.

And Pixels are far from ubiquitous, as Google's still only selling them in a handful of markets, so for most people, Android 12 "as Google intended it" will only serve as a distant showcase of what's possible. It won't be 'the update coming soon to your device' for most smartphones out there, and that's sad because it really is one of the most exciting and fun to use new Android versions in years.