Android 12 is coming this year, and it seems like it will offer quite a few UI changes, as part of the ‘Material NEXT’ design. This information comes from XDA Developers, and it goes in line with UI mockups that the site published recently.
Google’s ‘Material NEXT’ design will bring quite a few UI changes to Android 12
Back then, the source assumed that many of those UI changes may be a part of a new, rumored theming system, but, it seems like there’s more to it than that. Google may be preparing some major changes in general, as part of ‘Material NEXT’ design.
The source was able to uncover that Google has internally dubbed some of its notification UI changes as the start of the “road to Material NEXT”. This suggests the next step for Google’s Material Design.
Do note that ‘Material NEXT’ probably won’t be the name Google will use, though. This is just what the company is using internally. Google may surprise us, though, we’ll see.
This new design will bring many changes, both visual ones, and to the animations as well. Google is expected to be tweaking the UI of the pattern lock, while the company will shift quite a few UI elements around. New AOD/lock screen transitions are also expected.
Additional lock screen options are coming, along with a theming system
Additional lock screen clock options may also be coming in Android 12. XDA Developers note that the company has been working on that since Android 10, but it never arrived.
The major change that users will probably notice is in the notification panel. A good portion of those changes will be a part of the company’s new theming system, though, which will allow Android 12 to pull colors from your wallpaper in order to theme the device.
Google is also experimenting with the “letterbox” feature. This seems to be a new way to put apps into a frame/window. Such windows will have adjustable, rounded corners, and configurable background colors.
These are, of course, only some changes that are coming with Android 12. The very first developer preview for Google’s upcoming Android OS is expected to arrive in the near future. Well, if the company plans to stick to its release cycle.