As rumored, Android 12 was released today (October 4). However, not all is well in paradise and many Pixel device owners are wondering where the update is. After all, Android 12 is a pretty major release, with significant visual and privacy enhancements.

However, Google has only pushed the new version to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and has promised an update for the Pixel "in the coming weeks." As far as I can recall, this is the first time a Pixel/Nexus phone did not get a new Android version on day one. And this is one of the main advantages of owning a Google phone: access to the latest Android version as soon as it becomes available.

My guess is that Google needs more time to fix the bugs in the Pixel release, hence the delay. Whatever the reason, your Pixel will not get Android 12 today unless you flash AOSP yourself. And that is not recommended for regular users.

AOSP is for developers and handset makers to create their own Android; AOSP is a very bare-bones experience, essentially lacking all the features and sophistication that makes Pixels so appealing. installing Android 12 via AOSP There is no reason to do so and no reason to run the latest Android 12 beta.

I am as confused (and disappointed) as you are. I've been excitedly checking out the Pixel 5 update all day, only to have my hopes for a new update dashed by Google. And to be fair, this is a fairly unprecedented move for the company. I don't think anyone expected the Pixel to not get an update at the same time as the push to open source.

The mention of "in the coming weeks" makes me hesitate, especially since the term is so vague. Rumor has it that Google could announce the Pixel 6 as early as October 19; since there is no way that phone will launch without Android 12, one has to assume that Google will push Android 12 to the currently supported Pixel sooner than that. It has to be.

Another tidbit is that Google has announced that it will host the Android Dev Summit on October 27-28. There, you may be able to find out what happened with the release of Android 12. Let's at least hope we don't have to wait all month to get the new update.