After a few month of the release of the Android 12 developer previews, Google now released the first beta of Android 12 at Google I/O 2021.
The Android 12 beta brings a Material You UI design that the Google says a “radical new way to think about design.”
Various new visual changes to the lock screen, quick settings panel and the settings menu and more you would see when you install the Android 12 on your system.
The Lock Screen will have a massive clock with no new notifications. The Quick Settings panel will now have big tiles and options like Extra Dim to make screen even darker. You can now just hold Power button to open Google Assistant.
Google also introduces a new private dashboard with a feature of “timeline of when apps accessed your camera, microphone, or device location” in a practice to make important permissions more manageable. However, the dashboard will be shown in the beta version.
iOS 14 playbookFeatures like features such as, new camera and microphone indicators are also directly took by Google. Also, the “Copied Clipboard” notification can be seen in the Clipboard.
Other Android 12 features include new approximate location permission that will provide only approximate, not precise location to any apps.
The list of Android 12 beta 1 supported devices include Pixel 3/XL, Pixel 3a/XL, Pixel 4/XL, Pixel 4a/5G, Pixel 5, OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro, ASUS ZenFone 8, Xiaomi Mi 11, Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, Mi 11i, and Mi 11 Pro, OPPO Find X3 Pro, iQOO 7 Legend, Realme GT (China only), Techno Camon 17, TCL 20 Pro 5G and ZTE Axon 30 5G Ultra.
This list will grow when OEMs join the Android 12 party. OnePlus has withdrawn the Android 12 beta update for the time being as people are reporting that their devices got bricked after the update’s installation.
If you have Pixel device, you can use Google Beta program to get the Android 12 beta. On your Beta page, you will find the Opt-in option under your Pixel device – join the beta by just clicking it.
You can use sideload the Android 12 beta build on your Google Pixel as alternative as well. However, the previous one is much easier.
If you are not using Pixel device, go to the Android 12 beta device website and get the Beta installed and then follow the steps listed on the program page of the manufacturer’s official page.
