It wouldn’t be a new Android release without a wave of new emoji, and that’s certainly true for Android 12. The Emojigraph team has identified over 389 new emoji in beta 1 of Google’s new OS, and some of the updates might be surprising.
Many of the Android 12 emoji changes are subtle ones, often geared toward practicality or adding depth. The syringe no longer has a blood-red liquid (presumably to encourage vaccination, like with Apple’s emoji), while the lotion character is a little more obvious. Others are more whimsical — check out the stylized sunset or fun-loving snowman.
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Google might have inadvertently rubbed a few people the wrong way, though. The “mobile phone” emoji that previously resembled an Android phone now looks like… well, an iPhone. This shift in phone emoji won’t really matter in practice, but it may frustrate Android 12 users hoping for more universal expressions.
There’s still a long time to go before Google releases the finished Android 12 and these new characters. Don’t be shocked if some emoji revert or get further tweaks. If the new roster holds, though, be ready for a new experience — no matter how much you want the blobs to return.
