Before the first Android 12 developer preview landed last week, a leak suggested that the upcoming version could have a major redesign with colors based on the active wallpaper. And while the initial Android 12 version does not look too much different from its predecessor, there are quite a few changes hidden beneath the surface, such as a redesigned lock screen and notification screen, as well as UI elements immersed in baby blue – initial evidence of advanced theme options. Thanks to some digging by ROM developer @ kdrag0n on Twitter, the leak seems to be correct.
kdrag0n managed to activate some hidden system features and turn around to turn on the background-based theme called ‘Monet’ (presumably in honor of the French impressionist painter Claude Monet). The developer shared some variations that fetch different colors of backgrounds, showing that both the notifications, the shadow background, and the quick setting tiles respond dynamically to backgrounds (compare the QS tiles in the screenshots above and below). The background color is also reflected in the system settings, where a lighter hue of the color makes up the background.
Some variations.
The theme is much more subtle on the lock screen, as notification backgrounds immersed in a light background-based color are the only sign. But when you pull down the notification screen, you immediately see the background-based wallpaper.
Above: Hidden theme activated on lock screen. Under: Current standard Android 12 experience.
The developer spoke to XDA and explained how they managed to activate the unfinished background theme behavior: “I activated the feature after setting up a system property. However, it had no effect because DP1 no does not contain system color palette. It works by applying RRO. Dynamics overlays based on color matching, so I flipped SystemUI to figure out how to create the overlays. Then I wrote a script to generate overlays based on Google’s official material design color palette. Monet started working as soon as the color palette was installed. “kdrag0n also added on Twitter that they are confident that Google is bringing more rounded corners to notifications, as seen in the leaks below.
The Android 12 design model that leaked before the first developer preview.
While Google has not yet implemented working color palette, it is so close to the pre-Android 12 models. Since these theme options have already been introduced, I would not be surprised if we see a brand new look once the beta is announced later this year.
For more information on the launch of Android 12, check out our announcements announcing what’s new. If you want to install the developer preview on your own device, you can find it in our Android 12 download guide.
