Android 12 is out — so where is the Pixel update?

(Image credit: Google)

As had been rumored, Android 12 landed today (October 4). But not all is well in paradise, with many Pixel device owners left wondering where their update is. Later all, Android 12 has a huge swath of visual and privacy enhancements, and so information technology's a pretty major release.

Merely Google but pushed the new version to the Android Open Source Projection (AOSP), promising the Pixel update "in the coming weeks." As far I can recall, this is the first time that a Pixel/Nexus phone hasn't gotten the new Android version on Day Ane. And that's one of the master benefits to owning a Google phone: access to the latest Android version as presently as it's available.

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My guess is that Google needed more fourth dimension to work on fixing bugs in the Pixel release, thus the delay. Whatever the reason, your Pixel will not become Android 12 today unless you flash AOSP yourself. And that I do not recommend for whatever regular user.

AOSP is meant for developers and phone makers to create their own renditions of Android. It'south a very barebones experience, lacking basically every feature and refinement that makes Pixels appealing. There's no reason to install Android 12 via AOSP versus running the latest Android 12 beta.

I'm just as dislocated (and disappointed) equally you lot are. I've been excitedly checking my Pixel five for an update most of the mean solar day, simply to have Google dash my hopes for a new update. And to be fair, this is a pretty unprecedented move for the visitor — I don't call back anyone expected the Pixels to not become the update aslope push to open up source.

The mention of "coming weeks" gives me interruption, especially since that term is so nebulous. Rumors say that Google could denote the Pixel half dozen as soon as October nineteen. At that place's no way that phone will launch without Android 12, so I have to figure that Google will button Android 12 to currently supported Pixels sooner than that.

Some other tidbit is that Google appear an Android Dev Summit for October 27-28. That could be where we will learn about what happened with the Android 12 release. At least permit's promise we don't accept to wait the unabridged month to get our hands on the new update.

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Hashemite kingdom of jordan is the Phones Editor for Tom's Guide, covering all things phone-related. He'south written well-nigh phones for over five years and plans to go on for a long while to come. He loves goose egg more than relaxing in his dwelling with a book, game, or his latest personal writing project. Hashemite kingdom of jordan likes finding new things to swoop into, from books and games to new mechanical keyboard switches and fun keycap sets. Hashemite kingdom of jordan tends to lurk on social media, just you lot tin best achieve him on Twitter.