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- Update official
Android 13 might be already out, but before it came, Android 12L. The first incremental update to Android in a long time, the update also marked Google's return to improving its software experience for large screens, which it has largely neglected in recent years. After all, with foldable phones becoming more popular, it makes sense to make Android decent to use on them. The new Galaxy Z Fold 4 notably launched with Android 12L. Now, the large-screen OS is appearing on Samsung's latest tablets, the Galaxy Tab S8 range.
Samsung has confirmed it's rolling out Android 12L to the Galaxy Tab S8, Tab S8+, and Tab S8 Ultra. It comes just days after a Samsung user tweeted about the update and being spotted by SamMobile. The update brings the tablets up to One UI 4.1.1, which happens to be the Android 12L-based firmware that's currently shipping with the Z Fold 4. The update comes with the August 2022 security patch and an extended changelog detailing several of the improvements coming with Android 12L. Many of them should be able to improve your multitasking experience on your large screen, such as the new taskbar and more accessible split-screen support.
For Samsung, Android 12L will likely remain exclusive to its tablets and its Z Fold foldables. The One UI 4.1.1 firmware on the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is based on Android 12 rather than 12L. Samsung is already hard at work with the upcoming One UI 5, based on Android 13, so it's likely that smartphones will jump straight from 12 to 13. The newest version of Android already has all the stuff that comes with 12L, so it's not a huge loss.
If you have a Galaxy Tab S8, you should keep an eye out for an update coming soon to your device.
UPDATE: 2022/09/01 09:00 EST BY WILL SATTELBERG
Update official
Just two days after we first heard about it rolling out, Samsung has officially announced that its Android 12L update is coming to the Galaxy Tab S8 series of devices. As expected, it includes a taskbar along the bottom of the display, making it easier to switch between apps than ever before while also allowing for it to disappear when not needed temporarily. Split screen is also better than ever, with support for up to three screens and the ability to move notifications directly into a split screen view.
These are all features we expected to see with Android 12L, and it's great to see it finally running on Samsung's latest high-end tablets. The company also says this update is coming to the Tab S7 series, Tab S7 FE, Tab S6 and S6 Lite, Tab Active3, and Tab A7.9. Unfortunately, there aren't any specific timeframes for when those devices might see new software. We've updated our coverage above with examples of Samsung's latest software enhancements.