The upcoming release of Android 12 has many Android fans excited because it is a big change for Google's mobile OS. But we already have our eyes on the next one, which may come much sooner than Android 13.

Courtesy of XDA Developers, we have screenshots of a leaked internal build of Android 12.1. This build appears to offer better use of screen real estate on foldable phones, including a taskbar (like the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 3 has).

Android had a tablet-specific UI back in the days of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, but Google gradually removed it for its own reasons. Since then, Android tablets have not fared much better, and the iPad has virtually no competition. Samsung appears to be the last survivor in this product category.

However, since foldable tablets seem to be growing in popularity, Google may have decided that now is the time for Android to have a large screen UI again. It may also have something to do with the rumored Pixel Fold. Google likes to build native support into form factors that it has a direct interest in, like the notch support in Android 9 Pie and the ugly look of the Pixel 3 XL that came out the same year.

XDA believes that Android 12.1 (if Google will eventually call it that) could be announced at the same time as the Pixel Fold. Another notable point about this update is that Google plans to open source the Monet theming engine (which underpins Android 12's Material You theming).

I expect Android 12 to be announced next week or the week after and the Pixel 6 shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, I agree with XDA about this Android 12.1 rumor. I don't see Android 12.1 coming out before the end of the year, especially if the Pixel Fold doesn't launch until late 2021, and Google seems to be going all out on the Pixel line this year, making sure that Android itself is up to the task of backing up these new models. seems to be confirming this.