Android 12 is set to be one of the biggest updates to the platform in memory — if not on a pure feature basis (though it probably is), then definitely when it comes to the overall look and interface. While I would argue that Android has hardly stagnated as much as iOS in that sense, it has become very familiar. But, as the old saying goes, "familiarity breeds contempt," and last year, many of our readers were upset to see Android 11 refrain from big visual changes. Well, you got what you asked for, and I hope you like it. For the record, I do.
When we did our first hands-on for Android 12 with Developer Preview 1, most of the big visual changes were either not present yet or still hidden. That's still actually true right now when it comes to things like the new "One UI" dynamic theming system and several other anticipated visual changes, but I think there's enough there now to build a real impression of what Android 12 will be like.
To start, this new Material You look (praise Duarte) feels like an appropriate continuation of the "Silky Home" changes thatrolled out before, further building on the "older" Material design we all know and love, but with a Samsung-twist, all while better accommodating the larger displays that have become more common with time. That means bigger padding, bigger UI elements, bigger buttons, bigger headers, and bigger... everything, really.
In my rooting and ROMing Android youth, I used to think increased visual density was ideal. That meant I would crank my DPI down to the lowest tolerable setting,furtheraugmented with things likeAOKP's per-app dip/tablet mode, which allowed you to force certain apps to adopt the very densest layout. In short, I liked to see as much as possible at once. But over the years, my attitude has relaxed[editor's note: and vision gotten worse]. While I still keep things on the dense side when working in productivity-oriented platforms like my laptop or desktop, I don't like having to tap tiny 3 px targets on my screen or sorting through massive icon-cluttered menus in the hopes I can recognize a few key pixels. It's just too messy, and seeing more at once honestly just wasted my time even if itfeltlike it should be more productive.
Android's visual identity is leaning in that same direction bit by bit, literally and physically expanding with time. While that might mean scrolling further in some menus and fewer notifications visible at once, it's all still there, just presented in smaller bites that are easier to parse, and we'll come to appreciate it on our ever-larger phone displays.
