Google releases a new Android version every year in late summer, opening a new chapter for the operating system every year. But this year it’s a bit different because for the first time three Android versions come together with Android 12, Android 12L and Android 13. Pixel users can accordingly choose between three operating systems. A brief overview of how to proceed.
Each Android version is only “new” for about six months, because after a good six months the first preview of the following version appears, which then goes through the phase of developer previews and betas in the following six months. Then the whole thing starts all over again. This annual rhythm has been maintained for a long time and gives users of Pixel smartphones the choice of two different operating systems for a good six months.
Two operating systems to choose
from Users can choose between the stable version of the current operating system or the more experimental, but new and supposedly better version. If you want to use the stable version, you don’t have to do anything. If you want to use the preview or beta, you have to take care of the download and installation yourself or use the Beta Channel, depending on the phase. But this year there are three Android versions in which the whole thing looks a little different.
There are currently three operating systems
We are currently in the strange phase for Android habits that there are three versions. As of today, Android 12 is available as a stable operating system, Android 12L as a beta and Android 13 as a developer preview. So Pixel users can actually choose between three versions: Android 12 requires no intervention, Android 12L the Beta Channel and Android 13 the manual download.
Big updates are
expected in the next few days: Android 12 will receive the security update and probably a pixel feature drop. Android 12L will appear as the final version or release candidate and will subsequently open the beta channel for Android 13. Android 13 will appear as the second developer preview. It is quite possible that all of this will happen in the following days. Android 12 update on Monday, Android 12L on Tuesday and Android 13 on Wednesday.
It will be interesting to see how Google will implement this organizationally for Pixel users: Android 12L is not primarily aimed at classic smartphones, but it will still be offered. So far it is not known whether Google will explicitly offer Android 12L as an update or whether the majority of users will remain on Android 12. If the latter is the case, users who are keen to experiment will have to decide whether they want to put Android 12L through its paces or use Android 13.
The plan might even depend on the version name: will it be Android 12L or Android 12.1? Both names are in circulation but would make a big difference. Android 12.1 would certainly be rolled out, similar to Android 8.1 or 7.1. An L maybe less. We’ll probably be a bit smarter by the end of next week, but the next few days will be very interesting for users of current Pixel smartphones.