Google presented Android 12L as a variant of its mobile system specialized in devices with a large screen, new formats such as dual-screen / folding and of course electronic tablets. According to Google’s calendar, the first beta version of this version will be available this month, but Lenovo has gone ahead with a preview for developers to run on its Tab P12 Pro tablet.
The Android 12L announcement was as unexpected as interesting. The withdrawal of Google from the business of its own tablets, the clear focus of Android development towards smart phones and the interest in promoting Chrome OS, orphaned a good part of users who would perhaps buy more Android tablets if the software section were more interesting.
There are many models of Android tablets, true, but only Samsung in the high-end has been able to (and modestly) cope with the iPad. As for the low-end, Android dominates almost completely, but its interest does not go beyond a “big mobile” without communication functions.
Apple should be named here and the strategy of creating a dedicated operating system, iPadOS. Of course, it is based on the development of iOS, but it is perfectly optimized and adapted to the larger size and specific needs of a tablet and has specific characteristics for them. Android 12L aims to be the necessary development for Google to catch up.
Lenovo is offering a sneak peek of what to expect from a particular device for the Tab P12 Pro. It is intended for developers or the bravest users who want to try new things, although its previous phase advises against it for daily use. In any case it is a good model for development with its 12.6-inch OLED screen, the Snapdragon 870 SoC, 8 Gbytes of RAM and support for the Lenovo Precision Pen 3. Unfortunately, it is not yet available in all markets.
We assume that for the development of Android 12L Google will offer an emulator like the existing one for the standard Android and once the beta version is available a broader list of compatible devices where it can be installed.
Otherwise, welcome renewed interest from google by “the big screens.” Tablets for more signs. Otherwise, Apple will continue to sweep in a segment whose sales rose again strongly in 2020. As for Windows, much less than Android, nothing in the low range, very little in the average (Surface Go and little else) and more Above you have to go to the “2 in 1” where the Microsoft system does shine, but they are already more in the category of PCs.
