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Android 12 Beta 1 rolls out to over 25 smartphones; risks with installing on OnePlus and Xiaomi devices ↺

OnePlus and Xiaomi owners should be aware that flashing Android 12 Beta 1 could brick your device. (Image source: Google)
OnePlus and Xiaomi owners should be aware that flashing Android 12 Beta 1 could brick your device. (Image source: Google)
Numerous Android OEMs have released the first Android 12 Beta to their devices, following its announcement earlier this week. However, it is worth holding off installing Android 12 beta on a few devices, as there is a risk that the update could brick your handset.
Android Smartphone Software

Not all is rosy in the land of Android 12, currently. Google rolled out the Beta 1 to Pixel smartphones on Tuesday, for which every Pixel from the Pixel 3 onwards is eligible. Other manufacturers have followed suit, including ASUS, OnePlus and Xiaomi. So far, Android 12 Beta 1 has been made available to the following devices:

  • ASUS ZenFone 8
  • Google Pixel 3
  • Google Pixel 3 XL
  • Google Pixel 3a
  • Google Pixel 3a XL
  • Google Pixel 4
  • Google Pixel 4 XL
  • Google Pixel 4a
  • Google Pixel 4a 5G
  • Google Pixel 5
  • Nokia X20
  • OnePlus 9
  • OnePlus 9 Pro
  • Oppo Find X3 Pro
  • Realme C3
  • Realme GT
  • Realme Narzo 10A
  • Sharp AQUOS (not released yet)
  • TCL 20 Pro 5G
  • Tecno Camon 17
  • Vivo iQOO 7 Legend
  • Xiaomi Mi 11
  • Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra
  • Xiaomi Mi 11i
  • Xiaomi Mi 11X Pro
  • ZTE Axon 30 Ultra 5G

However, it has not gone to plan for OnePlus and Xiaomi. According to Max Weinbach, Android 12 Beta 1 has caused significant problems for his OnePlus 9 Pro and Mi 11. While he has since got the beta booting on his OnePlus 9 Pro, OnePlus has removed the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro's Android 12 download links for the time being. Weinbach added that Android 12 Beta 1 bricked his Mi 11, but download links for it, the Mi 11 Ultra and Mi 11X Pro/Mi 11i remain active.

Conversely, 9to5Google claims that the first Android 12 beta has 'no glaring issues' on Pixel devices. The website goes as far as stating' it's hard to give a compelling reason why you shouldn't...update your daily driver'. Google Pay works, for example, but mapping the Google Assistant button to the power button breaks the power menu. Google does not enable this feature by default, mind you.

Overall, we would recommend proceeding with caution when installing Android 12 Beta 1 on all but Pixel smartphones. You can read more about installing the first Android 12 beta on the Android Developer portal.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2021 05 > Android 12 Beta 1 rolls out to over 25 smartphones; risks with installing on OnePlus and Xiaomi devices
Alex Alderson, 2021-05-20 (Update: 2021-05-24)