Android 12 Now Available on Pixel 3 and Newer

The free update is available starting Tuesday

By
Joshua Hawkins
Josh Hawkins
Joshua Hawkins
Freelance Technology Reporter
  • Full Sail University

Josh Hawkins is a freelance writer for Lifewire that loves writing about the latest tech and gadgets that help make people’s lives easier. As an avid gamer and VR enthusiast, he also enjoys diving deep into the technology that helps bring those kinds of experiences to life.

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Updated on October 20, 2021 11:39AM EDT
Fact checked by
Rich Scherr
Rich Scherr
Fact checked by Rich Scherr
  • University of Maryland Baltimore County
Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire.
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Google on Tuesday released the full version of Android 12 for Pixel phones, outside of the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro.

The updated operating system, which includes Google’s Material You customization settings, as well as updates to the privacy and security options Android offers, is now available for Pixel 3 and newer Pixel devices. The full list of supported devices includes the Pixel 3 and 3A, Pixel 4 and 4A, as well as the Pixel 4A 5G, and Pixel 5 and 5A (and the upcoming Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro, of course).

Android 12 running on Google Pixel phones

Google

Google says that Android 12 is its most personal operating system yet, offering unique options with Material You and the various widgets available for its first-party applications. Android 12 has been available on the Android Open Source Project for a few weeks now, and this marks the first time it has become available for any fully released phones. 

The new features in Android 12 include the Privacy Dashboard, microphone and camera toggles, as well as other security options that help outline the operating system’s strengths. All of these features also will be available on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro when they ship next week, giving new and older Pixel phones more enhanced features to make use of.

With Android 12 now available on Pixel phones, users can expect it to release on other devices sometime later this year. For now, though, you’ll need to wait for official news from Samsung and other manufacturers about their respective updates.

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