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Android 12 Beta 2 is now available, so we will tell you all the new features and how to upgrade to it.
The second beta of Android 12 is here, available for Pixel devices and soon for phones of other brands. Following the official update schedule, Google has released the second beta version of Android 12, after the announcement of the first version during the last Google I/O 2021. This second release arrives as an incremental update and introduces some improvements, new features, and bug fixes.
After the arrival of the second beta, there are now only two test versions left before the arrival of the release candidate, the last version before the deployment of the stable edition of Android 12, which should be released between August and September this year.
Smartphones compatible with Android 12 Beta 2
When launching the first beta of Android 12, Google claimed that a total of 22 devices from up to 11 brands would be compatible with the test version. However, the Google Pixel is still the first to receive the ability to install this release. But not all, as only models launched from 2019 are compatible:
- Pixel 3
- Pixel 3 XL
- Pixel 3a
- Pixel 3a XL
- Pixel 4
- Pixel 4 XL
- Pixel 4a
- Pixel 4a 5G
- Pixel 5
In the case of models from other manufacturers, we will have to wait for each brand to decide to release the update, whose installation can be done manually by following the steps in our guide.
How to download and upgrade to Android 12 Beta 2?
Those who already have the first beta of Android 12 installed on their phones will receive the update to the second version via OTA automatically.
On the other hand, those who want to try Android 12 for the first time will have to subscribe – for free – to the Android Beta program using the Google account associated with their device, and then download the update.
There is also the possibility of installing the Android 12 OTA manually by downloading it through Google’s developer page.
Android 12 Beta 2 brings new features
The first beta of Android 12 introduced the bulk of the new features that will be present in the final version of the release, such as the new Material You design, new animations, and other changes that we were able to test in its day.
This second beta introduces functional improvements and some other aesthetic changes. It also includes all the improvements of the June Android update, such as the Time-lapse mode in astrophotography, the ability to lock Google Photos folders with fingerprint, or the detection of traffic accidents in some countries.
Also included are many of the changes announced at the I/O that were not available until now, such as the new design of the notifications panel and quick settings. Below, we review the changes we have seen in the new version:
Privacy panel and microphone and camera indicators
Announced during the I/O, the privacy panel brings improvements such as indicators that show which applications are accessing permissions such as location, microphone, or camera.
On the other hand, from the settings, it will be possible to review the history of access to permissions and other sensitive parts of the system.
Quick microphone and camera settings
With the second beta of Android 12, two new switches are introduced in the system settings section, which allows you to disable apps’ access to these two sensors quickly. Developers will have at their disposal an API with which to check whether devices support this feature.
Clipboard reading notification
A notification will now show if an app has fetched content from the clipboard. This notification will not appear if the content has been copied from the application itself.
Revamped connectivity menu
The system connectivity settings have been revamped, aiming to offer a more intuitive experience.
New shutdown menu
If you long-press the power off button, you will see a new, completely revamped menu with the new menu, with larger buttons, in general, an aesthetic more in line with the rest of the elements of the operating system.
Renewed notifications and quick settings panel
The system’s notifications and quick settings panel have received one of the biggest facelifts in recent years. Now, the two parts are better differentiated, and the display animation has been updated to be more colorful and fluid.
In addition, two shortcuts to Google Pay and Google Home’s built-in device controls have been included, so that a long press on the off button is no longer necessary to access them.
Themes based on the color of the wallpaper
As announced at I/O, Android 12 introduces a theme engine capable of generating unique styles based on the main colors of the wallpaper set by the user. The first beta lacked this feature, but with the second version, not only is it available, but it is also enabled by default, and it is enough to change the wallpaper to see how the appearance of the operating system changes completely.
Quick Tap
Google has been testing this feature on the Pixel for over a year now, and now it is finally available: with Quick Tap, it is possible to perform various actions by double-tapping on the back of the mobile.
For example, it is possible to open the camera, invoke the Google Assistant, take a screenshot, or change songs.
Direct access to Google Pay on the lock screen
If you have a payment card associated with Google Pay on your Pixel, you will see a shortcut to the payment system directly on the lock screen, in the lower right corner.
A smoother animation to activate the “one-handed mode”
When it comes to activating the one-handed mode, the animation will now be more fluid. Just swipe down on the bottom navigation bar to activate the mode, and up to deactivate it.
