Google hasn’t made it official when it will release the stable Android 12. The next iteration of Android OS is expected to debut with the Google Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, which also doesn’t have a tentative launch time frame. However, the stable Android 12 release is only a matter of time as the build has reached platform stability for weeks now. It was the Android 12 beta 4 that achieved that, with Google asking developers to starts testing their app compatibility. What that means is going forward, there will be no changes while all APIs have been confirmed.
That indicates the stable Android 12 is already on its way. However, Google has released the final Android 12 beta 5 to its Pixel phones, while some OEMs are already doing that. The latest version is the usual final build for bug fixes and system improvement. Hence, don’t expect any changes from Beta 4 or lower. With that, we believe the stable version could start making it to Pixel phones in the weeks.
Google has confirmed the release to be in “weeks ahead.” Unfortunately, that’s broad as no particular date has been picked here, but the wait couldn’t be more than we have waited. If everything goes smoothly, we expect to see the stable Android 12 update start seeding to Pixel owners at month-end or early next month. Once that gets underway, it will be time for OEMs to start tailoring it on top of their Android skin before pushing it out. Of course, Xiaomi has started doing that already, and will once again be on the front foot of stable Android 12 deployment.
The Android 12 material you design is the most visible change we have seen in Android. It brings a new look and improved animation. Interestingly, wallpapers adapt to the color of your theme while there have been some privacy enhancements. There’s a dedicated privacy dashboard and indicators alerting you when an app is using your microphone or camera.
