Android 12 finally out of beta, rolls out soon for Google Pixel smartphones

Android 12 is finally here in all its stable glory

What you need to know

• Google announced the official stable rollout of Android 12
• The update comes with a host of new features for the platform, including dynamic theming, updated widgets, and enhanced privacy settings.
• Google Pixel smartphones will be the first to receive Android 12, with other OEMs following.

After months of developer previews and beta releases, Google has finally launched the stable build of Android 12 to the Android Open Source Project.

Pixel owners that didn't participate in the beta program will soon have access to a massive visual overhaul for Android, with the new Material You design language and dynamic theming. With this, your system colors and accents can change based on your wallpaper for a more cohesive look across the OS.

This new Material You theming also applies to apps, with Google updating its suite of applications to take advantage of the new look. Widgets are also getting new looks with more shapes and designs.

Besides the visual overhaul, privacy is also a big focus with Android 12. The update includes the new Privacy Dashboard which shows you the apps that have access to certain data like location or the mic, including when these peripherals are being used. There are also new indicators when the camera and mic are in use, and users now have the option to revoke system-wide access to either.

Other enhancements include improvements to gaming with features like "Play as you download," better performance for notifications, new media transcoding tools, and plenty of changes under-the-hood.

As usual, Android 12 will roll out first on Google devices like the Pixel 5a all the way down to the Pixel 3. Some of the best Android phones from other OEMs like Samsung, Xiaomi, OPPO, and others that participated in the beta are also expected to receive Android 12 relatively soon, although availability depends largely on the manufacturer.

Pixel owners should receive a notification for the update when it becomes available in the next few weeks, but you can always manually check by navigating to Settings > About phone > System updates. That goes for anyone already on the beta release.

Try Android 12 today

Google Pixel 5a

$449 at Google

Energizer Pixel

The Google Pixel 5a is an affordable smartphone with amazing battery life that doesn't seem to quit. It comes with a pair of great cameras, 5G connectivity, and will be among the first to get Google's newest software updates, including Android 12.