Android 12 is coming: you can expect all this (native theme system!)

A new year comes with a new Android version for us Androidworld fans. The first new functions that we may see in this new version can be found in this article.

Update January 29: Android 12 will probably get an integrated theme system with which you can give apps a different color, among other things. We have adapted and republished this article.

When is Android 12 coming?

We can quickly get a glimpse of what Android 12 has in store for us. Last year, the first Android 11 Developer Preview was released in February. The Developer Preview is a test version intended for app developers. With this test version, they can make their apps suitable for the new Android version.

After the preview versions, the beta versions will follow with which users can get started. Below you will find an overview of the dates on which Google released the test versions of Android 11 last year.

Below you will find an overview of the dates on which Google released the stable versions in previous years.

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What new features can we expect?

Of course we are all looking forward to the new functions in Android 12 and a number of them have now been leaked. We list them for you.

1. App pairing

With the App pairing feature, you can launch two apps at the same time on a split screen. This allows you to use your favorite apps more effectively by multitasking. Many smartphone manufacturers already provide this function with their software shell and Google will probably take over this in Android 12. You can see how these app pairs can work here.

2. Double-tap

Google worked on a new feature called double-tap for the Pixel phones in Android 11, using the code name “Columbus”. With this function, you can tap the back of the phone one or more times to activate a specific function. Examples are the Google Assistant, taking a screenshot or snoozing the alarm. Apple has already announced a similar feature in iOS 14. Apple calls it ‘Tap on Back’ and it works on iPhones with iOS 14.

Unfortunately, this feature did not make it to the stable version but we may be able to see it working in Android 12. 9to5Google has again encountered the codename ‘Columbus’. Columbus is a reference to Columbus and his famous double-tap from the movie Zombieland. Do you want to get started with double-tap on your phone now? There’s an app for that.

3. Theme system

Google is increasingly giving personalization of Android a place in the foreground. For example, with Android 10, Google introduced a special dark mode to reduce eye fatigue, and a little later we saw the Pixel Theme app for customizing the icons, font and more. For Android 12, Google is working on a much more deeply integrated theme system, with which apps can be given a different color, at least if they support it.

According to 9to5Google, Android 12 will get a native theme system, which allows you to select a primary color and an accent color. These colors will then be displayed all over the Android system, such as the background color of notifications and the Quick settings. It could look like this:

The colors to choose from will vary from brand to brand and possibly even model to model, as each smartphone manufacturer likely has their own color sets. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an option to create your own unique color scheme or install a color scheme from the Play Store.

What makes Android 12’s theme system so special is that your chosen primary theme colors and accent colors are also accessible to app developers. That means developers can better customize their Android apps to adopt your chosen theme on your phone. This was already possible on an Android phone with the Substratum tool, but that still requires some work as you can see here. There is a big difference between the two. With Substratum, give individual apps a specific look, while Android 12 only offers the theme colors you select to apps as part of the Android API.

In addition to the separate apps and the Android system, Android 12 could also automatically adjust the theme colors to your current background. Once you change this background, Android will be able to seamlessly switch to new colors similar to the color palette of the new wallpaper.

Will these features come in the stable version of Android 12?

It is still unclear whether these functions will be made available in the stable version of Android 12. If they do, we’ll also have to wait and see if they come to all phones running Android 12 or if they’ll be a Pixel exclusive. Anyway, we can see the first images of Android 12 in a few weeks, when Google releases the first Developer Preview. What would you like to see in Android 12? Let us know in the comments.