Android 12L: Google's Feature Drop for Large Screen Devices

Android 12L: Enhanced Experience for Larger Screens

Today, Google unveiled a preview of Android 12L. While it might appear as a completely new Android iteration, Google characterizes it as “a specialized feature release designed to enhance Android 12 specifically for larger displays.”

Optimized User Interface for Tablets and Foldables

The core objective is to deliver an improved user experience to individuals utilizing tablets, foldable devices, and Chrome OS laptops – essentially, any device featuring a screen exceeding 600 dp.

A developer preview of Android 12L is currently accessible for developers eager to experiment. Alongside this, a new Android 12L emulator and integrated support within Android Studio have been released.

Although 12L also extends to phones, according to Google, the primary emphasis remains on other device categories. Beta program enrollment for Pixel devices will commence later during the preview period.

A Feature Drop, Not a Fork

Google designates this release as both a “feature drop” and a “feature update.” This indicates that, unlike Apple’s divergence with iOS and iPadOS, we aren’t witnessing a complete branching of Android. Instead, it represents an update tailored for larger-screen devices, introducing enhanced multitasking capabilities and a refined user interface. Android 12L is also designed to improve the visual presentation of applications on these devices by default.

Image Credits: Google

Specifically, Google has refined the appearance of notifications, quick settings, the lock screen, the overview screen, and the home screen on larger displays. System applications within Android 12L have also undergone optimization.

New Multitasking Features

The most notable addition is likely the new multitasking features, featuring a taskbar that bears a resemblance to iPadOS. While Android previously supported split-screen functionality on tablets, Google highlights that it is now more easily accessible. Activating split-screen mode is now as simple as dragging and dropping an icon from the taskbar onto the screen.

Furthermore, every application on Android is now enabled for split-screen support, eliminating the previous requirement for developers to explicitly opt-in.

Image Credits: Google

Release Timeline and Future Developments

Google intends to officially release 12L early in the coming year, coinciding with “the next generation of Android 12 tablets and foldable devices.” Expect further announcements regarding Android tablets and foldables at MWC.

Developer Tools and Play Store Updates

Alongside Android 12L, Google announced new features within OS and Play designed to assist developers in better supporting these devices. These include updates to Material Design guidelines for large-screen devices, as well as enhancements to Jetpack Compose to simplify development and ensure applications can readily adapt to diverse screen orientations and sizes. Android Studio is also receiving a resizable emulator for comprehensive testing and a new visual linting tool to identify and address UI issues.

Regarding Google Play, the platform will now evaluate apps against its large-screen app quality standards, factoring the results into search rankings. “For applications that lack optimization for larger screens, we will begin displaying a warning to users on the app’s Play Store listing page,” Google stated.