Thanks to the efforts of the enthusiast XDA Developers, we know that Android 12.1 will be announced after the release of Android 12. And it will be the first time since 2017, since the release of Android 8.1, that Google has released an interim version. Moreover, there is a forecast that the release will take place this year, and it was unclear why the company might need such an early release of the updated firmware.
But it seems that now it is clear why Google will release Android 12.1 soon. And the reason is the release of a folding device. And not even one, but two. The code name of one of them is Jumbojack. Recall that this correlates with earlier information that the company will release its complex device by the end of 2021, which should receive an OLED panel with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
The fact that Google will release a foldable smartphone was revealed earlier in the beta versions of Android 12. So, in the depths of the second Developer Preview, a hidden taskbar was revealed; which could be designed for a complex device, and a number of chips were discovered that involve the transition to an internal display (flexible panel).
Right now, it's not entirely clear what features Android 12.1 will have. It is hoped that some traces and clues will be found in the firmware code of the twelfth iteration.
Google has been releasing beta versions of the new Android 12 operating system for a long time; but the official premiere of the stable version of the OS has not yet taken place. According to the latest data, the company has already released the fifth and last "beta"; and a fully finished build will be available in a few weeks.
Although there is no official data yet, the well-known portal XDA-Developers announced the premiere of the new stable Android on October 4. The Android 12 OS source code will be hosted in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
It is possible that the final release date will still change - Google itself has not published any announcements. But, judging by previous releases, the company was even a little late with the release of stable Android 12; probably due to difficulties with the organization of the work process in the conditions of the pandemic.
Unlike some previous versions, the new Android has been seriously redesigned. Both the interface and the security system of smartphones will change. As you know, the beta version of Android 12 is already available for Pixel smartphones from Google itself; as well as some models from top brands including Xiaomi, Realme, Oppo, OnePlus, Asus and Samsung.
