Android 12 is still a very new version of the platform, but Samsung is launching the update for its Galaxy devices less than a month after Google’s own Pixel phones. More devices will be updated in the coming months, and Samsung has confirmed a preliminary list of devices that will be updated.
This article will be constantly updated with new devices as the rollout begins.
What’s new in Android 12 on Samsung Galaxy devices?
Android 12 is one of the platform’s biggest updates ever on a visual level, but most of these design changes are completely exclusive to Google Pixel devices. However, Samsung has brought some changes to the device in One UI 4.0.
Like Pixels, Android 12 on Samsung devices forces all widgets to have rounded corners and also adopts a new design language for some of these widgets. Some of Samsung’s stock apps have also been updated with a new design language, and Android 12’s Dynamic Color feature works like a charm. The feature can pull colors from your wallpaper and apply them to system accents and many apps.
There are also numerous privacy enhancements in Android 12 with new indicators that visibly show when the microphone or camera is in use, even if it is in the background. Users can choose to give apps only an approximate location instead of an exact one, and there is a Privacy Dashboard in the settings to easily show which apps are using sensitive permissions.
Samsung devices confirmed to get Android 12
Which devices get Android 12? The list of Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets that will eventually be updated is quite long, and generally includes all devices released within the last two years and flagships that go even further back. So far, Samsung has confirmed the following devices for updates to Android 12.
Devices that have recently been added to Samsung’s official list are in bold.
Galaxy S:
The list starts with Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series, which has already seen its update roll out to device owners in the US, on mobile companies and in other regions around the world. Samsung will further update the entire Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S10 series to Android 12 in the first few months of 2022.
Samsung opened the Galaxy S20 for its Android 12 update in beta in November 2021, with the devices scheduled to be updated in January and February 2022. In December, the beta expanded to Galaxy S10 devices.
After a brief hiccup in the rollout, Samsung resumed the wide rollout of Android 12 for the Galaxy S21 series around Christmas and opened the locks a few days later for the entire Galaxy S20 series as well as the older Galaxy S10 series. These devices were not expected to get Android 12 until early 2022, but the US models including carrier variants only saw the update in January and February. The Galaxy S10 5G followed just a few days later when it arrived in some parts of Europe, and the Galaxy S10 Lite saw its update in early January, more than a month before the Galaxy S10 5G schedule saw its Android 12 update extended to United States and Korea around January 17th. The Galaxy S20 FE’s update arrived in the US in early January, along with an ever-widening rollout for carrier variants of the rest of the S20 series. The Galaxy S10 series saw its Android 12 update in the US around January 19th and in Canada about a week later on January 28th.
- Galaxy S21 – Available now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S21 + – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S21 Ultra – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S20 – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S20 + – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S20 Ultra – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S20 FE – Available now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S10 – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S10e – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S10 + – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy S10 5G – Roll out now
- Galaxy S10 Lite – Rolling out now
Galaxy Note:
Samsung’s Galaxy Note series, which certainly seems to disappear forever, will only see 5 devices updated to Android 12. It includes both Galaxy Note 20 devices as well as the Galaxy Note 10 series. The Galaxy Note 20 series has been in beta for some time, and in December 2021, Samsung expanded support for the Galaxy Note 10 series.
In late December, Samsung launched the stable form of Android 12 for Galaxy Note 20 owners in some regions, with the update expanding to other regions over time. From January, the update rolled out widely, including on major U.S. carriers for both devices. The Galaxy Note 10 series also saw its update debut in December, more than a month ahead of schedule. It took about a month for that update to land in the US, starting with the unlocked Galaxy Note 10+. The Galaxy Note 10 followed closely behind, including extending the update to Canada.
- Galaxy Note 20 – Available now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy Note 20 Ultra – Available now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy Note 10 – Rolling out now
- Available in the US on carrier models and unlocked
- Galaxy Note 10+ – Rolling out now
- Available in the US on carrier models and unlocked
- Galaxy Note 10 5G – Roll out now
Galaxy Foldables:
Samsung’s foldable range is growing, and the entire portfolio is eligible for the update to Android 12 and One UI 4.0. Samsung already has an active beta program for the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Flip 3 from November, where the update is scheduled to roll out before the end of the year. Samsung has also offered beta updates for the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Z Flip series.
In December 2021, Samsung began rolling out stable updates to Android 12 for both the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 in certain regions, where availability is constantly expanding. Later this month, Samsung launched the rollout of Android 12 for the Galaxy Z Flip and Flip 5G as well as the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Initially, these rollouts appear to be limited to parts of Europe. The original Galaxy Fold joined the party just before the new year, while the Chinese Galaxy W22 picked up its Android 12 update around January 6th. The original Galaxy Folds 5G variant also started getting its update around January 11, while Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Flip 5G saw their Android 12 updates hit the US in late January. In mid-February, the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s update arrived in the US, starting with T-Mobile and Sprint. A day later, it expanded to Verizon.
- Galaxy Z Fold 3 – Available now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy Z Fold 2 – Roll out now
- Available in the United States; Verizon, T-Mobile and unlocked
- Galaxy Fold – Roll out now
- Available in the US on some carrier models
- Galaxy Fold 5G – Rolling out now
- Galaxy W22 – Now rolling out in China
- Galaxy Z Flip 3 – Available now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy Z Flip 5G – Roll out now
- Galaxy Z Flip – Roll out now
Galaxy A:
As the company expands its work with updates, Samsung brings Android 12 to a huge list of its popular Galaxy A series. So far, Samsung has confirmed that the update will come to 15 Galaxy A devices, most of which have been confirmed as of November 16th.
The first two Galaxy A devices with Android 12 were the Galaxy A72 and Galaxy A52, both of which were updated during the first week of January in Russia. Around January 11, the Galaxy A52s saw its update in Korea. On January 14, the Galaxy A42 5G saw its update roll out in Poland, and we’ve also heard that it’s hitting devices on Verizon Wireless in the US.
Around January 17, the Galaxy A52 5G began to see its Android 12 update roll out, with Samsung launching the update in parts of Europe.
- Galaxy A82 5G – Rolling out now
- Galaxy A72 – Rolling out now
- Galaxy A52 – Rolling out now
- Galaxy A52 5G – rolling out
- Galaxy A52s 5G – Rolling out now
- Galaxy A42 5G – rolling out
- Available in the US on Verizon and Comcast, also internationally
- Galaxy A32 5G – Rolling out now
- Galaxy A71 5G – Roll out now
- Galaxy A51 5G – Roll out now
- Galaxy A51 – Roll out now
- Galaxy A21
- Galaxy A12
- Galaxy A02s
- Galaxy A01
- Galaxy A11
Galaxy Tab:
In the Android world, tablets are not a big deal and it is quite difficult to find one with good support. However, Samsung stands by most of its Android tablets, with Android 12 coming to 8 tablets over the next few months.
In late December 2021, well ahead of the expected schedule, Samsung began rolling out Android 12 to the Galaxy Tab S7 and S7 + in some regions. In January, the update began to expand to the United States on select models. In March, the Galaxy Tab S6 series began downloading its update.
- Galaxy Tab S7 – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy Tab S7 + – Roll out now
- Available in the US and internationally
- Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G
- Galaxy Tab S6 Lite – Roll out now
- Galaxy Tab S6 – Roll out now
- Galaxy Tab Active 3 – Roll out now
- Galaxy Tab A7 (2020)
- Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
Other Samsung Galaxy devices with Android 12:
- Galaxy M62 – Roll out now
- Galaxy M31 – Roll out now
When will my Samsung device get Android 12?
Not long after launching its rollout for the Galaxy S21, Samsung also confirmed an official timeline for when to expect Android 12 updates on various other Galaxy smartphones.
Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are the next in line, with Samsung planning a launch in December this year. In particular, we’ve seen several beta updates to these devices since the app first opened, so Samsung is clearly close to that launch.
The timeline, released via the Samsung Members app, sees most of Samsung’s smartphone being updated to Android 12 in January and February next year, with previous generation flagships like the Galaxy S20 series and Galaxy S10 series updated in these months. An interesting oddity is that Samsung says that the standard Galaxy S20 will not be updated until February, with the rest of the series coming in January.
Also note on this schedule is that Samsung is currently planning to roll out Android 12 in the next 8 months, with some Galaxy A devices not being updated until August next year. Of course, there is always a chance that things can accelerate if developments go well.
Keep in mind that these dates may vary by region, provider, or various other factors. This list is also based on Samsung official US schedule, but other devices get Android 12.
Samsung’s official Android 12 schedule
December 2021
- Galaxy S21 (Complete)
- Galaxy S21 + (Complete)
- Galaxy S21 Ultra (Complete)
- Galaxy Z Fold 3 (Complete)
- Galaxy Z Flip 3 (Complete)
January 2022
- Galaxy Z Fold 2 (Started in December)
- Galaxy Z Flip (Started in December)
- Galaxy Z Flip 5G (Started in December)
- Galaxy S20 + / S20 Ultra / S20 FE (Started in December)
- Galaxy Note 20 / Ultra (Started in December)
- Galaxy Note 10/10 + / 10 + 5G (Started in December)
- Galaxy Fold (Started in December)
February 2022
- Galaxy A52 5G (Started in January)
- Galaxy S20 (Started in December)
- Galaxy S10 5G (Started in December)
- Galaxy S10 (Started in December)
- Galaxy S10e (Started in December)
- Galaxy S10 + (Started in December)
- Galaxy S10 Lite (Started in January)
- Galaxy Tab S7 (Started in December)
- Galaxy Tab S7 + (Started in December)
- Galaxy Tab S7 + 5G
March 2022
April 2022
- Galaxy A51 5G
- Galaxy A51
- Galaxy A71 5G
- Galaxy Tab S7 FE 5G
- Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
May 2022
- Galaxy Tab S6
- Galaxy Tab Active 3
- Galaxy Tab A7 (2020)
- Galaxy A42 5G
- Galaxy A32 5G
June 2022
- Galaxy Tab A7 Lite
- Galaxy XCover Pro
- July 2022
- Galaxy A21
- Galaxy A12
August 2022
- Galaxy A02s
- Galaxy A01
- Galaxy A11
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