Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
TL;DR
- Android lead Dave Burke says that the Android 12 beta program is so popular it’s setting records.
- Burke says the beta is the “most downloaded/installed beta ever.”
- The new look and customization features are likely big reasons for the excitement.
Google has a long history of offering beta programs for the newest Android releases. With the launch of Pixel phones in 2016, the company now even has a dedicated suite of testing hardware with willing users all over the world ready to test things out for free.
Interestingly, in the history of all those Android beta releases, nothing can compare to the current run of the Android 12 beta. According to Android VP of Engineering Dave Burke, this is “by far” the most popular beta yet.
Burke announced the news on Twitter yesterday after the launch of the second beta for Android 12.
Android 12’s beta is by far our most downloaded/installed beta ever. Speaking of which, Beta 2 is available today: https://t.co/VR8CtXKWkZ
— Dave Burke (@davey_burke) June 9, 2021
Unfortunately, Burke didn’t give any numbers for this claim. As such, it’s tricky to tell just how significant this milestone is.
Related: Android 12 release date: When can you expect it to launch?
It can’t be a coincidence, though, that the Android 12 beta features the most significant design changes for Android in years. The previous two Android versions have been pretty much identical in design. You’d need to go back three or even four years before you’d find an Android version that looks drastically different from what we have with Android 11. As such, it’s no wonder people are so excited about the new look of Android 12.
Want to give the Android 12 beta a shot? Follow our guide to make it happen.
