Even although we’re nonetheless ready for the official launch of Android 12, anticipated to drop someday subsequent week, a new leak has simply shed some gentle on a future Android replace that guarantees some large upgrades for foldable telephones.

Over the previous few years, Google has moved away from doing large mid-cycle Android updates, so the mere thought of a significant patch following the discharge of Android 12 is considerably uncommon. In reality, it’s not even clear what this upcoming Android replace will be referred to as or when it will likely be launched, so for now individuals are merely referring to the brand new construct as Android 12.1.

According to XDA Developers, which was offered a leaked construct of Android 12.1 from a supply, the replace packs in a bunch of latest options and upgrades designed particularly for foldable telephones (significantly large-format foldables just like the Galaxy Z Fold 3). XDA predicts that the discharge of Android 12.1 will probably coincide with the discharge of Google’s rumored foldable Pixel.

One of the largest modifications in Android 12.1 is the way in which Google has adjusted Android 12’s UI, with Google including a second pane to components just like the notification shade, the settings menu, lock display screen, and even the inventory Android launcher for gadgets with bigger than regular screens. The purpose of including a second panel is to offer extra on-screen data and to higher benefit from bigger format foldables, so you’ll be able to see notifications and your system’s fast settings on the similar time. And whereas Samsung’s One UI on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 already does one thing comparable for the Z Fold 3’s settings menu, it’s good to see Google engaged on wider help for future non-Samsung foldables.

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Another big change for Android 12.1 is the addition of a taskbar, similar to what you might get laptop or desktop. Now technically, there’s already code to support a taskbar hidden inside Android 12, but in Android 12.1, Google has expanded upon the taskbar by adding support for quickly switching between apps, dragging and dropping apps to launch a split-screen view, and the ability for the taskbar to seamlessly transform into Android 12’s app drawer depending on the situation.

The Android 12.1 taskbar is similar to the taskbar Samsung added to One UI for the Galaxy Z Fold 3, except that instead of being displayed vertically on the left or right side of the phone’s screen, Android 12.1 positions its taskbar horizontally across the bottom. I would actually prefer that as it more closely mimics desktop taskbars in macOS, Windows, and others. Unfortunately, it seems the Android 12.1 taskbar can currently only display five apps at a time, which seems unusually limited, so here’s hoping Google bumps up that number before Android 12.1’s official release.

When it comes to multitasking, it seems Google is borrowing another page from Samsung’s playbook by adding support for App Pairs, allowing you to launch two apps in split-screen with a single tap. But Google is differentiating from Samsung with its split-screen UI, which in Android 12.1 now features a more pronounced divider pane and potentially the ability to launch an app into split-screen view directly from your notification panel, though XDA says that last feature is still “being considered” and may not make the final release.

It seems Google is also looking to building upon new features in Android 12 in Android 12.1 with the addition of new boot animations, wider support for dynamic colors and theming, and a press and hold option that lets you customize how long you need to hold your phone’s power button before it summons the Google Assistant.

With Android 12.1, Google could also be aiming to offer higher help for foldable telephones, significantly large-screen foldables that aren’t made by Samsung. And whereas foldable telephones are nonetheless a considerably area of interest class of gadgets, with out correct software program help, fancy new {hardware} can solely go to date, so it’s actually encouraging to see Google add these new options in Android 12.1 as a substitute of ready till Android 13’s official launch subsequent yr.