Google's Android 13 release date surprises Pixel owners – here's what's new
The Android 13 update is now available to download on the Pixel 4, 5 and 6 phones
➡️ The Shortcut Skinny
🤖 Google’s Android 13 release date is earlier than anyone had expected
📱 The Android 13 update is compatible with the Pixel 4, 5, 6 series of devices
🔜 Coming soon: Samsung, OnePlus, Asus, Moto, etc at ‘a later date’
🆕 Adds theme personalization, extra security and cross-device support
Google launched its Android 13 update earlier than anyone had expected, with the new version of its operating system now available on Pixel smartphones launched within the last three years. It’s just in time to steal the iPhone 14 release date hype that’s likely to peak next month at Apple’s next launch event.
Specifically, Google announced that Android 13 is compatible with the Pixel 4, Pixel 5, and Pixel 6 series of phones (including the new Pixel 6a). What about Samsung and OnePlus phones? I have an answer for you – but it’s a vague one.
At the end of his blog post, Sameer Samat, who is Google’s VP of Product Management for Android & Google Play, mentioned that other devices are getting the update “later this year,” including phones and tablets from Samsung, OnePlus, Motorola, Sony, Asus, HMD (Nokia).
As noted in my in-progress Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 review and also my ongoing OnePlus 10T review, the recent phones launched with Android 12 onboard, and they may be among the last flagships with the almost-year-old Android operating system.
Some key Android 13 features
We saw some Android 13 features demonstrated during Google IO 2022, when the Google Pixel 7 release date and the Google Pixel Watch release date got announced for October 2022 and fall 2022 respectively (I suspect they’ll land at the same time). There will also also be a Pixel 7 Pro launched this year.
Google is changing Android to offer more personalization (even more than it usually does vs Apple), along with better security measures and a new bedtime mode.
💁♀️ Material You enables you to customize non-Google apps to match your phone’s wallpaper theme and colors
🌐 Set your preferred languages for individual apps (said to be most requested)
📋 Copy and paste content across Android phones and tablets (like Apple’s Continuty feature)
🤹♂️ New Multi-tasking UI on tablets with Android 13
💬 Stream chat messages between your phone and Chromebook (why no app for PC and Mac, Google?)
😴 Bedtime mode with wallpaper dimming and a dark theme
Now, if Google could just figure out how to properly match Apple’s iMessage with a competent chat app of its own in Android 13, we’d be set.
Check out the Samsung Odyssey Ark price and the next PS5 restock (no, it’s not the awaited Walmart PS5 restock, but it’s the next best thing).