Android 12 is finally here after months of beta testing. The new Material You UI design, scrolling screenshots, and quick Wi-Fi switching are all included in the update. Here’s how to see what’s new on your Android device if you’re itching to see what’s new.
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Which phones support Android 12?
Android has the advantage of supporting a wide range of smartphones. Unlike Apple’s ecosystem, you don’t have to stick with a single brand when using Android; instead, you can pick and choose as you please, allowing you to try new types of smartphones whenever you want.
Unfortunately, that universality doesn’t seem to apply to software launches; Google is giving its Pixel smartphones first dibs on Android 12. What a case of nepotism.
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Of course, the Android 12 update isn’t available to all Pixels. The original Pixel and Pixel XL, as well as the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, no longer have software support from Google. Along with flagships from Samsung and OnePlus, those phones have been granted permission to join the non-Android 12 club (until those phones inevitably get Android 12, of course).
The following is the official Android 12 Pixel list:
- Pixel 3
- Pixel 3 XL
- Pixel 3A
- Pixel 3A XL
- Pixel 4
- Pixel 4 XL
- Pixel 4A
- Pixel 4A 5G
- Pixel 5
- Pixel 5A
- Pixel 6
- Pixel 6 Pro
Other eligible Android devices will receive the Android 12 update in the coming months, according to Google, but no official timeline has been provided.
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How to install Android 12 on your phone
Open your phone’s Settings app, go to System > System update, and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install Android 12. With your compatible Pixel—or, eventually, your compatible Android phone—open your phone’s Settings app, go to System > System update, and follow the on-screen instructions to download and install Android 12. If you don’t see the update, your phone is most likely not yet eligible for it.