EMUI 12 - Huawei Android smartphones will get an update!

Huawei has officially turned its back on Android offered by Google. The last smartphones with access to Google services work under Android 10 from 2019 with the EMUI 11 overlay. The manufacturer has not offered an update to Android 11 and is not currently working on the beta version of Android 12.

Instead of the popular operating system from Google, the Chinese are developing a proprietary solution that uses the open-source Android code.

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HarmonyOS 2.0 is currently gaining a lot of popularity in China, where access to Google services is not used. Outside of the home market, Huawei still does not offer updates to HarmonyOS 2.0 for devices that have been launched with Android.

It turns out that a new version of EMUI should soon hit the market, which is designed specifically for devices with access to Google services. The software will bring on board several novelties known from HarmonyOS 2.0.

Huawei keeps its promises - the manufacturer has promised that it will continue to support Android devices after the release of HarmonyOS.

EMUI 12 will introduce major visual changes that will make the Android operating system similar to HarmonyOS. The whole thing may resemble the operating system used in Apple iPhone smartphones.

The manufacturer also anticipated better integration with its own ecosystem. After the update, we will use the ability to connect to MatePad tablets and MateBook computers. After the update, we will be able to easily browse the files stored on the phone directly from our computer screen.

We don't know the exact release schedule or technical details, but it's unlikely that the new overlay will be based on Android 12.

UPDATE 01/09/2021

What news can owners of Huawei smartphones with Android and access to Google services count on?

The new EMUI 12 overlay, which was presented unexpectedly a few days ago, will probably be the last development update for Huawei smartphones with access to Google services.

First of all, EMUI 12 is designed to make older Huawei smartphones similar to the latest models running HarmonyOS 2.0. This means that we can expect a new user interface with redesigned animations. You will also be able to change the size and thickness of the system font. The manufacturer focused on more rounded corners and gradients in black, blue and white.

According to our predictions, we will gain access to the Device Plus section from the control panel, which will allow you to quickly start working with MatePad/MateBook tablets and computers.

Just like in newer versions of Android, EMUI 12 has a separate notification center from the quick access panel.

The latest version of the EMUI overlay also introduces a distributed file system that will allow access to photos and documents directly from our computer.

Huawei still has not released a roadmap for updating smartphones to the EMUI 12 overlay.

UPDATE 03/09/2021

Older Huawei models with quarterly EMUI updates

Huawei, apart from the premiere of EMUI 12, provided information on further updates for smartphones with access to Google services. Apart from probably the last development update - to EMUI 12 - owners of older Huawei flagships can still count on security patch updates.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer changed the frequency of their release. For example, Huawei Mate 20 and Huawei Mate 20 Pro smartphones will receive new security patches once a quarter. Until now, new software with patches appeared once a month.

UPDATE 07/09/2021

We got to know the release date of EMUI 12. When will the update start?

According to the latest news from the web, we will wait a little longer to introduce the update process to EMUI 12. According to Chinese reports, the software will be made available at the HDC Together 2021 conference, which will take place on October 22-24, 2021. Huawei is to present HarmonyOS 3.0 and present a detailed plan for updating smartphones to EMUI 12.

Currently, there is already one device on the market with EMUI 12 on board. This is the Russian variant of the Huawei nova 8 smartphone.

We still don't know what Huawei's attitude to EMUI 12 looks like. This is probably the last release based on the official version of Android with access to Google services (on smartphones that were launched with Google services ). After the end of support for smartphones such as the Huawei P30 or Huawei P30 Pro, Huawei will stop supporting EMUI and move entirely to HarmonyOS.

UPDATED September 10, 2021

We followed the official website dedicated to EMUI 12 - what does it mean?

Huawei decided to share the official website dedicated to the new version of the EMUI 12 overlay.

The website presents the appearance of the EMUI 12 user interface. The manufacturer emphasizes the modified system applications and the considerable possibilities of adjusting the appearance of the software to the user's needs.

Huawei emphasizes that EMUI 12 was designed "according to your senses". According to the designers, the new design is minimalist. The site praises the consistency of the user interface and its appearance.

One of the major novelties in EMUI 12 is the ability to freely personalize the size, thickness and typeface of the font within the entire user interface.

Huawei also highlights new, enhanced syncing capabilities between its devices.

Unfortunately, the site doesn't reveal any specific information about EMUI 12. There's no release date, update roadmap, and a list of compatible devices. We are still waiting for this information.

UPDATED September 13, 2021

Huawei has sent invitations to a press conference specifically for European markets. The event will take place on October 21, 2021 in Vienna. The latest rumors indicate that the Chinese may present smartphones from the Huawei P50 family in the version for the old continent. It turns out that the models sold in Europe can work under the control of Android with the EMUI 12 overlay.

The new software is due to be released in October, which confirms our theory.

At the event, we should also get to know the list of devices compatible with the EMUI 12 overlay and the initial update roadmap.

UPDATED November 12, 2021

Huawei has started beta testing of the new version of the Android overlay. EMUI 12 will soon hit the flagship devices of the Chinese manufacturer.

At this point, it is worth emphasizing that EMUI 12 is an operating system prepared for European consumers. This software will go to smartphones sold in Europe instead of HarmonyOS 2.0.

Two months after the premiere of the EMUI 12 beta tests, the software goes to popular smartphones. Below you will find a list of compatible devices:

To install EMUI 12, download the Huawei Friendly User Test application from the manufacturer's website. According to the German site, registration for the beta test will be open until November 21, 2021 at 07:00. The manufacturer recommends making a full backup before installing the beta software. Also, keep in mind that the software can be highly unstable.

At the moment, we do not know when EMUI 12 will go to the above-mentioned smartphones as a stable update.

UPDATED November 30, 2021

Huawei continues the process of updating its older smartphones to the EMUI 12 overlay. We already know that the software is currently intended for European models. Smartphones sold in China are updated to Harmony OS.

A day before the beginning of December, Huawei started the process of updating its smartphones to the new software version with security patches dated December 1, 2021.

The latest information shows that the EMUI 12 beta program in Europe is proceeding as planned. The stable version of the software is to be made available for smartphones in the first half of 2022.

Meanwhile, regardless of the EMUI version, smartphones covered by cyclical security updates will soon receive new firmware.

December EMUI security patches fix 2 critical vulnerabilities, 15 high-risk bugs and 38 low-level bugs.

UPDATE 12/23/2021

The Chinese continue the process of updating selected smartphones to EMUI 12. Huawei has just started rolling out the first version of EMUI 12 Beta for flagship smartphones from 2019. We are talking about models from the Mate 20 family. Huawei Mate 20 and Huawei Mate 20 Pro owners can now download test software that introduces a wide range of news, fixes and optimizations. Currently, the operating system is available in East Asian markets.

Firmware with EMUI 12 for Mate 20 family models received build number 12.0.0.123. The update weighs approximately 1.93 GB.

The operating system is released in batches. It will take a few days to reach full availability.

EMUI 12 is probably the last development update for smartphones from the Huawei Mate 20 family.

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