If Google follows last year’s precedent, the first Android 12 Developer Preview should be released this month. Given this, a leak of Android 12 design models shows a radical visual overhaul of the Google operating system.
Last month, we reported that Google was working on an in-depth theme system for Android 12. These design concepts (from RKBDI), which leaked (via XDA) from Google briefings with OEM partners, show a pulled sand color similarly in wallpaper shades of hills and dunes.
We see that the accent of the sand used to color everything from the search bar to application icons and even widgets. Speaking of which, the first mockup below shows several widgets from “Conversation” to “Recent messages, missed calls or activity status”. Measuring 2 × 1, they display the sender’s profile image and message preview. The examples below are humorous themes with characters from Friends and populated from Facebook Messenger. Developers are likely to have to support changes at the system level. Overall, these widgets reveal how Google plans to take Android 11 to a focused operating system even further this year.
The third image shows a black stripe at the top (above the search field) that can be a new UI element to better inform users on how to exit views by dragging down. We also see that the Widgets screen is no longer just a series of carousels, but makes use of drop-down menus to be a more scrollable list.
Next, we take a look at the notification sheet that has an unfocused background, with everything – again – themed in a sand color. Notification cards are very rounded with increased corner curvature and application icons with better image views. Users are still looking to be able to expand alerts. In the meantime, the quick toggle up settings are very large.
When it comes to privacy, Google will alert users when the microphone or camera is active. There will be a green pill in the upper right corner of the status that reduces to a point. When touched on the notification sheet, more information is provided with links to settings. A new unified privacy settings page will allow users to “Disable camera”, “Mute microphone” and turn the location on / off at a high level. The last control is currently its own preferences page.
Given the initial nature of this Android 12 design leak, everything seen here is subject to change during the preview period. These models are only intended to convey to phone makers what the great pillars of Android 12 are.
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