With Google officially launching Android 12 on Pixel phones on Tuesday, the company is touting several new features coming to the operating system. The new Material You customization options are the biggest change, but there are also improved privacy and security settings, quality of life changes like the ability to see when your phone's camera and microphone are in use, and more.
Android 12 is here! Here’s what’s NEW!
Google first introduced Material You to the world in May. The new feature uses advanced color-extraction algorithms to match your phone’s user interface (your lock screen, notifications, widgets and more) to your wallpaper. Google apps like Gmail, YouTube Music and Drive are also getting new icons. Right now, Google says Material You is only available on Pixel phones, but it’s coming to other devices soon.
Privacy also seems to be a big theme of the Android 12 update. There’s now a new Privacy Dashboard that gives you more control over what data your apps can use. It tells you if apps have accessed your location, camera, or microphone in the last 24 hours, and lets you change permissions. You can also choose whether Android 12 gives apps your approximate location or your precise location.
Google has also made an effort to make Android more accessible in the latest version. It's added a window magnifier that lets you zoom in on parts of your screen while maintaining context with the rest of the display. Other new options include additional dimmer backlighting for evening scrolling, and bold text and grayscale. They should play nicely with the new accessibility features Google introduced in September, Camera Switches and Project Activate, which make it easier to navigate the operating system without your hands or voice.