Which manufacturer updates its phone the fastest? (Android 12 version)

Google launched a stable version of Android 12 on October 4, 2021. The software came a month after its predecessor – Android 11 – which was launched in September of the previous year. At the time of writing, we’ve just passed the six-month anniversary of Android 12. Several smartphone OEMs have already updated their phones to the latest version of Android. But which one did it first? Well, that’s what we find out here.

The major Android update that arrives on time is an important measure of a brand’s efficiency. Delayed updates almost always turn off buyers, as they should. The speed and frequency of the update must be the reason for the important decision to buy your smartphone. To help you make that choice, we ranked all the major Android phone makers based on the time it took them to update their phones to Android 12.

Read more: Android 12 Review – It’s Really About You

Before we list the fastest OEMs to roll out the Android 12 update, we need to mention a few things about our ranking system:

• This article is based on information found in our Android 12 update tracker.
• We ranked OEMs completely when we first updated (excluding Beats and Initial Access programs). Some models and carrier variants may have to wait longer for updates.
• Updates come out at different times for different users in different regions, so guess the dates below.
• We did not include Google’s Pixel phones because they are always the first to receive the latest Android updates by default. If you want a phone that is guaranteed to be updated in a timely manner, a Google Pixel is your best bet.

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): Samsung Galaxy S21 series
• Date of first stable rollout: November 15, 2021
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 41 days

In terms of software updates, Samsung is undoubtedly the fastest in business this year. It offers the longest major OS upgrade on the market. A month after Google pushed the Pixel, the South Korean maker has launched the Android 12 update on its phone. By comparison, three months after the launch, Samsung has released its Android 11 update, so it’s great to see the company come up with more updates this time around.

Also read: Samsung One UI 4 hands-on – try out all the new features

The Galaxy S21 series received the first Android 12 update to Samsung’s portfolio, which also introduced Samsung’s One UI 4 skin. The next Samsung phones to watch Android 12 updates are Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 Samsung has been quick to update with its popular mid-range phones such as the Galaxy A51, Galaxy A52, and other recent software.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s ruling flagship, the Galaxy S22 series, has been launched with Android 12. However, it did launch version 4.1 of the One UI with some new features like some cosmetic changes and the ability to choose virtual RAM.

2. Oppo

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): Oppo Find X3 Pro
• Date of first stable rollout: December 1, 2021
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 57 days

Oppo was the second fastest OEM to update its phone with Android 12 this year. It was fairly quick to push Color OS 12 based on Android 12 in early December, which first landed for the flagship Find X3 Pro. The Find X2 series, Reno 6, and Reno 5 Pro were some of the first Oppo phones to receive the latest software that same month. So here’s a really tough effort from Oppo.

Later in January, Oppo began updating a bunch of other phones, including the A73, A74, F19 Pro, Reno 5Z and more. The company has released a Roadmap Details of all Oppo devices receiving Android 12 in the coming months.

3. OnePlus

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro
• Date of first stable rollout: December 7, 2021
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 63 days

OnePlus was next in line to update its phones with Android 12. The software received the flagship OnePlus 9 series on December 7, 2021. The update also introduces a newer version of Oxygen OS, called Oxygen OS 12. However, the rollout of OnePlus was not without its problems. The company was forced to release the Android 12 update from the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro just days after it was released. It quickly fixes bugs and resumes the update cycle in mid-December.

If you’re using the older OnePlus 8 series, you’ll have to wait a long time for the Android 12 update. It started on March 21st.

Significantly, OnePlus was faster than Samsung in rolling out the Android 11 update in 2020 but has lagged behind this year. Perhaps the brand’s now-junk plans to launch an integrated OS with Oppo interfered with its Android 12 rollout?

4. HMD

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): Nokia X20
• Date of first stable rollout: December 16, 2021
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 70 days

HMD wasn’t the best at pushing out prompt Android updates recently. In fact, the company admits that it did not do the best job of rolling out Android 11 on its devices. However, it was fourth in line to roll out its Android 12 update, which hit the Nokia X20 in December 2021.

In our rundown in early 2021, HMD was in 10th place for the speed of its Android 11 update, a significant drop from fourth place in 2020. This year’s return is expected to be a sign of improvement for the brand. However, so far only a few Nokia handsets have received the Android 12 update and the company has not yet shared an official list of devices that will receive it.

5. Vivo

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): Vivo X60 and Vivo X60 Pro
• Date of first stable rollout: December 22, 2021
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 76 days

This year, Vivo was a bit faster at the Android 12 party than its Android 11 rollout. Just like its stable Oppo, the BBK Group company began pushing Android 12-based FunTouch OS 12 in its X60 series in December. Overall, Vivo plans to upgrade 31 phones to Android 12 by April 2022. Other Vivo phones may also get the software, but the company has not released any details.

6. Sony

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): Sony Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III
• Date of first stable rollout: January 10, 2022
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 96 days

Sony was the sixth smartphone vendor to deliver a stable Android 12 update. The company landed in exactly the same place last year.

Sony hasn’t shared an Android 12 rollout roster, but most Xperia handsets launched with Android 10 or 11 onboard should get the update.

In January, the company started shipping Android 12 from Xperia 1 III and 5 III. However, the update was only released in a few markets. Later in March 2022, the Xperia 1 II and Xperia Pro picked up the update in Europe, Asia and the United States. Sony has confirmed on its Instagram account that the Xperia 10 II and 10 III will get Android 12 soon.

7. Xiaomi

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): Mi 11 Pro and Mi 11 Ultra
• Date of first stable rollout: January 18, 2022
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 104 days

Xiaomi was one of the first smartphone OEMs to release the Android 11 beta last year. The stable Android 11 update for devices like the MI 10 and 10 Pro comes around November. Sadly, this was not the case with Android 12. It took 104 days for the company’s phones to get the first taste of Android 12.

Xiaomi’s stable Android 12-based MIUI 13 build came in January, when it began launching software for the Mi 11 series. A few days later, several Redmi Note devices and Poco phones started getting updates. Xiaomi has confirmed a list of 18 devices in line to receive MIUI 13 in the first quarter of 2022. Most of these devices have already received the update or are about to receive it

8. Motorola

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): Moto G Pro
• Date of first stable rollout: February 9, 2022
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 125 days

Motorola took 144 days to roll out Android 11 on its phone. It was worse than the 98 days it took to build Android 10. This year, Moto Android has clocked 125 days up to 12. This is a slight improvement from last year but nothing to brag about.

The first Android 12 update for the Moto phone landed in the UK in February. Moto, now owned by a Chinese company, releases Android updates in Brazil ahead of other markets such as the United States and Europe. So if you have a Motorola phone and have heard of an Android 12 update for it, you may have to wait a while before it actually lands in your country.

That said, the company has a plan. It lists 30 devices ranging from high-end Edge and foldable phones to its G-Series handsets, which will get Android 12 treatment.

9. LG

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): LG Velvet
• Date of first stable rollout: March 22, 2022
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 162 days

LG has rolled out its smartphone business, but it’s nice to see that the company is still updating some phones to Android 12. Velvet is the first device to get Android 12 from LG, and the company has released a short list of phones that will receive updates in the course of Q2 2022. However, these updates may take a long time to come out of Korea.

10. Really

• First devices with stable Android 12 (s): Realme GT Master Edition
• Date of first stable rollout: March 22, 2022
• Days have passed since the official OS launch: 168 days

With the release of Android 12 we have come down to the slowest OEM on our list and cut Realme. The brand has made an incredibly slow switch to the new OS compared to last year, when it took 87 days to get Android 11. Even with connections to Oppo, OnePlus and Vivo, the company has only announced an Android 12 update schedule for January 2022. Even so, owning one is still beyond the reach of the average person and most Realme phones have not yet received the Android 12 update.

Only a handful of devices, including the Realme GT Master Edition, the Realme X7 Max, the GT Neo 2, the Realme 8, the Realme X7 Pro, and the Realme X50 Pro, still have the stable Android 12.

What about other OEM?

Honor has announced Magic UI 6.0 based on Android 12, but the company will only launch it in the second quarter of this year, starting with the Honor 50. Meanwhile, Huawei’s latest EMUI version is still based on Android 11, possibly an ongoing US trade dispute.

This is a wrap of our Android 12 rollout roundup. If you’re interested in seeing what’s coming with the next iteration of Android, check out our Android 13 coverage below.