Android 12L just got folded into Android 12.1 — what that means for you

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Android 12L is now Android 12.1 — and its only launching on phones right now

android 12l announcement image
(Image credit: Google)

Android 12L, or Android 12.1 as it's now known, is now rolling out exclusively to Pixel phones. That's disappointing, since the tablet-specific upgrades that define this update won't be put to proper use for quite some time yet.

As seen on Google's The Keyword blog, and as reported by 9to5Google, this new version of Android 12 is coming to Pixel phones, going from the Pixel 5a all the way back through to the Pixel 3a, covering all main and a-series Pixels in between. It's not ready for the Google Pixel 6 yet though, as it and the Pixel 6 Pro will have their own 12.1 update later in March.

As for smartphones, the change list is very short and uninteresting in comparison. Sure, you can now change wallpapers faster just by long-tapping your home screen, there's a new fingerprint unlocking animation for the Pixel 6, and you can now toggle the size of the lock screen's clock, but that's not going to fundamentally change the way you use them, unlike the tablet upgrades.

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Richard Priday
Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.