Skip to main content

The most interesting changes we’ve found in Android 12

Android 11 may still be rolling out to many users, but it’s already time to start turning our attention toward Android 12. Google has just released the first Developer Preview of Android 12, it’s next-generation mobile operating system.

Of course, as is usually the case with the first Developer Preview, tweaks are almost entirely under the hood and developer-focused. We’re not really going to go into those here. Instead, we’re going to dig into out some of the interface and visual tweaks that Google has made — because there are at least a few to get excited about.

Recommended Videos

Google is likely to announce more about Android 12 at its yearly Google I/O developer conference, or whatever virtual event replaces it, which will coincide with the release of a proper Beta update to Android 12. In the meantime, here are all the Android 12 tweaks worth noting right now.

The notification shade

The notification shade is set to get a lot of attention in Android 12, but while there are a few tweaks to it in the first Developer Preview, it’s not necessarily radically different just yet. We expect it to change a little more in future versions, but for now, there are a few minor tweaks to how notifications look.

For example, profile pictures and app icons have been rearranged to be on the left side, as well as a little larger, and notifications in general seem to take up a little less space. We know developers will have fewer customization options for their notifications, and it’s clear Google wants to bring back consistency to the notification shade. There’s also a slight blur behind the notification shade, instead of the rest of the screen simply being dimmed.

New Safety & Emergency settings

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Settings menu now has a new section: Safety & Emergency. In this menu, you’ll be able to tweak settings for things like Emergency SOS settings, Car Crash Detection, Crisis alerts, and Wireless emergency alerts. Most of these actual settings have been around for a while, but the fact that they’re all tied together in this menu is new.

More control over media apps in the notification shade

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Android 11 allowed users to access their media controls straight from the Quick Settings section of the shade. Now, you can tweak the apps that have such access, which may be helpful for people who don’t want to be bombarded with media controls, or those who don’t want to use the stock media apps.

Easier sharing of Wi-Fi passwords

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Sharing secure Wi-Fi passwords is now a whole lot easier. You can now share Wi-Fi passwords straight through the Wi-Fi menu, by tapping on your network and hitting the Settings button. Then hit the Share button, and a QR code that a friend can scan will show up.

New toggle design (in some places)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Some of the toggles in Android 12 settings have been tweaked to have a bit more emphasis placed on them.

These toggles are only a little different, but they’re a bit bigger, have more styling, and could be a little more indicative of what they actually do. For example, the toggle for the Wi-Fi settings has been tweaked to have a little tick when it’s on, and a minus sign when it’s off.

Revamped screenshot editor

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The screenshot editor is now a whole lot more helpful. Now, you’ll have more options for adding text, plus various forms of drawn markup, without having to dig into settings or use a third-party image-editing tool.

You can even add emoji straight to a screenshot, making the experience a little more like editing an Instagram video, for example.

Christian de Looper
Christian de Looper is a long-time freelance writer who has covered every facet of the consumer tech and electric vehicle…
Vuzix upgrades M400 smart glasses to Android 13, boosting security
Vuzix M400 AR glasses sit on a dummy.

Vuzix has upgraded its flagship M400 enterprise smart glasses with Android 13, offering businesses a more secure, efficient way to manage their wearable tech.

The update ensures that users benefit from advanced security protocols and improved device management, making it easier for companies to deploy these smart glasses across large teams while maintaining the highest levels of security.

Read more
Motorola might be making a foldable unlike any we’ve seen before
A side view of the Motorola Razr Plus 2024, showing the phone half-folded.

What do tiny motors, shape-shifting metal, and powerful sensors all have in common? They're part of a potential Motorola foldable phone. Foldable phones are nothing new, but their design and capabilities have come a long way since the days of the original flip phone. And now, 91Mobiles spotted a patent filing from Motorola that suggests an interesting design unlike anything we've seen before.

According to 91mobiles, the patent is titled "Autonomous form factor control of a foldable mobile device."  Don't worry, you won't be tested on that. It basically boils down to a phone that can adjust its hinge position to help keep the user in the center of the frame, similar to Apple's Center Stage feature — except this is controlled through hardware, not software.

Read more
Android 16’s Priority Modes leaked, and I need them right now
Someone holding the Google Pixel 9 with the screen on.

On those days when you have a lot of work to do and not nearly enough time to do it, shutting out distractions is vital. Android's Do Not Disturb mode is already tremendously helpful in that respect, but it looks like a better version is coming in Android 16 called Priority modes.

Android Authority's Mishaal Rahman first spotted the change in the Android 15 QPR1 Beta 1. According to Rahman, the Priority Mode feature replaces the Do Not Disturb menu and brings with it UI elements and display settings straight from the Digital Wellbeing feature. He played around with the feature, but was unable to interact with it beyond that.

Read more