The Android operating system has come a very long way from its humble and awkward ancestry. Instead of the mobile platform existence an underdog, unprepared to serve ability users and those who demand a mobile device designed for business, Android is now perfectly adept at handling everything y'all throw at it and be the well-nigh personal Google Os ever.

There are areas where the platform could employ some polish–that's where Android 12 comes into play. The latest iteration of Google's mobile operating system brings new features and tweaks to various elements, as well equally improvements to privacy and even haptic feedback.

Let's find out what'south new to Android 12 and what features might take y'all champing at the fleck to upgrade your current version of the operating system. Read this Android 12 cheat sheet to get upwardly to speed on Google's latest OS. Nosotros'll update this resource periodically when in that location is new data about Android 12.

Come across: Android 12 cheat sheet: Everything you demand to know (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

What is Android 12?

Android 12 is the latest release of Google's mobile operating organization, and it is seamlessly integrated with Google's app ecosystem. That means, out of the box, Android pairs perfectly with the likes of Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Photos and just nearly any of the apps offered inside Google Workspaces, for business users.

Android also happens to be the most widely-used mobile operating system on the planet, with over 83% of global smartphones shipped with Android to date in 2021.

As with the later releases of Android, Google has washed abroad with the pastry nomenclature, and opted for a simple numerical naming convention–hence, Android 12.

Run into: Top Android security tips (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

What new features come up with Android 12?

As far as new features coming to Android 12, everything listed here is based on the developer preview and announcements from Google I/O 2021.

New features in the second beta release

The 2nd beta release is out for Android 12 and there are a few very important features to have been added into the mix. Those features include:

  • Privacy Dashboard: Any user looking to gain more information and control over privacy will notice this new feature a boon. The Privacy Dashboard allows users to view what information has been accessed on a device, as well as how oftentimes that data has been accessed. This new dashboard (which is accessed through Settings | Privacy | Privacy Dashboard) displays what apps and services have accessed your mic, camera, body sensors, Agenda and more.
  • Mic and Camera On/Off Toggles: Finally, users can manually disable (system-broad) both the microphone and camera. This is done from the Quick Settings tiles in the Notification Shade. Users volition as well be shown (via a pocket-size icon in the condition bar) when the camera or mic is beingness accessed. If a user believes either of these is existence used when they shouldn't be, all they have to do is pull down the Notification Shade and tap to disable either the Mic, the Camera or both.
  • Clipboard Read Notification: When an awarding accesses the system clipboard, users will now exist notified of this action. This volition make it possible for users to know if an app that isn't being used has accessed the clipboard. However, it should be noted that the system volition not warn the user if the clipboard contents were copied from the same app being used.
  • Material You Updates: When the beta ane release was made available, the UX received a massive update, which included Cloth You. However, there was one important feature left out of that update, which was the automated theming based on the selected home screen wallpaper. With beta ii, that is now included. When you alter the home screen wallpaper on Android 12, your system theme will automatically change, based on the color palette found inside the image used for the habitation screen.

For those interested in check out the Android beta, check out How to go the Android 12 beta.

New features in the Developer Preview two release

With the second release of the Android 12 Developer Preview on March 17, 2021, in that location are a few new features that have been added, such as:

  • Developers can now require authentication for deportment implemented from the lock screen
  • Android can now verify the integrity of an installed app and preclude a questionable app from displaying content via overlay alerts
  • New frameworks accept been released to make information technology possible for development teams to write apps for phones with rounded corners

New Android 12 features announced during Google I/O 2021

On May 18, 2021, during the Google I/O keynote, the post-obit features were announced:

  • The lock screen will be more playful with dynamic lighting
  • The notification shade will be more intuitive
  • Quick Settings has been redesigned to include Google Pay and Habitation Controls
  • Google Banana tin can exist invoked by long-pressing the ability push
  • CPU time has been reduced by 22%, making everything in Android faster
  • Privacy Dashboard will be an easy to use location to manage app permissions
  • An indicator will announced when an app is using the camera or the mic
  • Quick settings now include toggles to disable the mic and photographic camera systemwide
  • Android Private Compute Core, which powers the likes of Android Caption and doesn't share data with whatsoever other app or service

AVIF image support

One of most predictable features coming to Android 12 is AVIF paradigm support. This new paradigm format will profoundly improve the compression of images without compromising the quality of the images. That means larger images files can be transmitted, using less bandwidth. This isn't just a boon for users who similar to consume images throughout the day, information technology besides means developers can integrate even more visual elements into their apps, without causing bottlenecks, buffering, or information consumption issues. This new format uses the open source video codec AV1 which was first introduced in Android ten.

Compatible media transcoding

Google is adding a new transcoding layer to Android 12 that will make it possible for apps that don't currently back up the High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) video compression standard to take advantage of this much-improved video compression. This new standard is the successor to the widely-used Advanced Video Coding pinch format and offers 25-50% improve data compression at the same video quality level.

Like the addition of AVIF image support, HEVC will make it possible for developers to evangelize more video while using less bandwidth.

This compatibility layer, however, should only be considered a cease-gap for developers. Google is urging all developers to include HEVC support in their apps.

Third-political party app store support

Android developers are working to make information technology possible for users to safely install apps from third-party app stores, with some assurances that past doing so, their device security won't be compromised.

How the developers program on pulling this off is unknown, as of this moment. The why, however, has been made articulate. Google is planning this change as a upshot of recent concerns surrounding Android app development and the difficulties constitute with in-app payment systems for businesses that have been forced to move online, due to COVID-19.

However, it should be noted that in-app payments for apps found in the Google Play Store volition non change. Google has fabricated it very articulate that all apps with in-app payments must use Google Play's billing organisation.

SEE: Hiring kit: Android Programmer (TechRepublic Premium)

App Hibernation

This side by side new feature will have a significant impact on Android battery life. App Hibernation will effectively hide all apps that aren't currently in use. This means only those apps in utilise will drain your device battery. This characteristic volition besides clear your app cache automatically.

App Pairs

Android Split up Screen already allows you lot to use two apps at one time, merely with Android 12, a new feature, called App Pairs, will allow users to open two apps that are usually used together simultaneously. This feature will grouping two apps together every bit ane single "task."

With App Pairs, users will be able to pick ii recently opened apps and make them a pair. Once those apps are paired, users can and then easily switch between a unmarried app and a pair.

New theming system

The developers are also bringing a new theming system to Android 12. This arrangement will allow users to select a chief and accent color for apps, or let them to have their system theme be based on their current wallpaper.

Haptic audio effect

With Android 12, developers will be able to combine haptic feedback patterns with sound. This could not only benefit games, but the ability of users to place callers, based on haptic feedback, or include haptic feedback while listening to music.

Come across: Power checklist: Managing and troubleshooting Android devices (TechRepublic Premium)

Double-tap actions

Android 12 will bring double-tap actions to supported devices (at the moment, that is limited to Google Pixel phones). With this feature, y'all can configure actions for when you double-tap the back of your phone. Currently supported actions include:

  • Taking a screenshot
  • Playing and pausing media
  • Viewing recent apps
  • Opening the notification shade
  • Launching Google Assistant

1-handed ease

Until now, using a larger device with i mitt poses a challenge, especially for those with smaller digits. Android 12 will bring well-nigh a new One-Handed Mode. This new feature is similar to iPhone'southward Reachability feature. When this is enabled, it'll migrate the interface to the center of your brandish, putting everything within attain.

Some other more than one-handed friendly feature is called Silky Abode, which migrates about enable/disable toggles to the eye of the screen.

Less control for more media

Not every application that plays media should have access to the Quick Settings media command panel. With Android 12, users tin enable or disable individual app access to Quick Settings. This volition make for a much cleaner Quick Settings command console.

What enhancements are in Android 12?

At present nosotros'll take a look at some of the enhancements of previous features that are coming to Android 12.

Improved Wi-Fi sharing

Back in Android 10, Google made it quite easy to share a Wi-Fi connexion, using a QR code. That's all fine and practiced, when a user is standing adjacent to you so they can rapidly scan the code. With Android 12, the developers are going to accept advantage of Nearby Share, so users can send Wi-Fi configuration (SSID/password) via Bluetooth to nearby devices and so a recipient only has to exist within Bluetooth range.

The one caveat to this is that Bluetooth packets are fairly easy to intercept. Hopefully Google volition detect a way to encrypt Wi-Fi information that is shared via this method.

Improved updates

The Google developers are planning to make the Android Runtime a Mainline module in Android 12. What this does is allow Google to deliver more operating system component updates via the Google Play Store. This will have two effects:

  • Updates will be smaller and more frequent
  • Updates will be faster

Anyone that has experienced a lengthy security patch update will capeesh the importance of this comeback.

Better screenshot markup

Android 12 volition bring to the screenshot tool the ability to add text, Emoji and stickers, without having to rely on a third-party tool.

Gesture improvement and cleaner UI

The UI has been completely overhauled, every bit inspired by Material You lot. Google Pixel devices volition employ Color Extraction which ways the system will create a custom palette based on photos used as wallpaper. Every Android interface will be i-of-a-kind.

New Material Design power such that form could follow feeling with the ability to create personal design palettes that respond in real-time. Apps volition adapt comfortably and give users transformative control. Fabric You is a radical new way of theming Android. There'll be a mode for every mood, and will be able to travel beyond all of your connected devices.

SEE: All of TechRepublic'southward crook sheets and smart person's guides (TechRepublic)

Improvements in the Developer Preview 2 release

At that place are also a few improvements to exist constitute in the Android 12 Developer Preview two release, such as:

  • Picture-in-picture (PiP) control can exist handled by mode of a single tap on a PiP window to display the window controls; double-tapping a PiP window toggles betwixt the current and the maximum PiP size
  • Improvements to app bandwidth estimations
  • Developers will have a much easier fourth dimension producing blurs, color filters and miscellaneous effects
  • New APIs have been introduced to keep apps running on companion devices (such as smartwatches and fitness trackers)

What security features are in Android 12?

One of the biggest additions to Android'south security will affect the WebView engine that third-party apps use to view online content (exterior of the Chrome browser). WebView will be adopting Chrome's SameSite cookie setting which volition mitigate certain types of tracking. Google Assistant will also quickly help you fix compromised passwords.

Android Private Compute Core powers the likes of Android Caption and doesn't share information with any other app or service.

Privacy toggles

Another new security feature is Privacy toggles, which will allow users to apace plough off access to their device microphone and/or photographic camera. These toggles will be available within the Quick Settings menu in the notification shade. The toggles will read Block Camera and Mute Microphone.

Locked photos allow users to password protect specific folders in Photos. This volition get-go arrive on Google Pixel devices and volition later coil out to other supported devices.

How tin can developers first using Android 12?

On Feb 18, 2021, Google released the developer preview of Android 12. That release is aimed specifically at developers, so Google fabricated sure the apps are compatible with the new OS and features.

To get started, developers volition need to flash a device system image to one of the following Google Pixel devices:

  • Pixel iii/3 XL
  • Pixel 3a/3a XL
  • Pixel four/four Twoscore
  • Pixel 4a/4a 5G
  • Pixel 5

When will Android 12 be released?

The public beta of Android 12 was fabricated bachelor on May 18, 2021. On June nine, 2021, Google released the 2nd iteration of the Android 12 beta. On July 14, 2021, Google released the 3rd iteration of the Android 12 beta. On Aug. 11, 2021, Android 12 beta four was released. In September, Android 12 beta five was released. On Oct. 4, 2021, Android 12 source code was released, signaling a last release shortly.

The Android 12 Programmer Preview has been released and is available for the Google Pixel five, Pixel 4a 5G, Pixel 4a, Pixel iv, Pixel 4 Twoscore, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, and Pixel 3a Twoscore. You can download a Developer Preview 2 prototype and wink information technology to your device to test the preview release.

Editor'southward notation: This cheat sheet has been updated to reflect the Android 12 beta 4 release.

Android 12
Image: Jack Wallen