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Samsung is gearing up to launch its next rugged smartphone, the Galaxy XCover 6 Pro. Meanwhile, its latest model, the Galaxy XCover 5, has started receiving the Android 12 update. Launched with Android 11 in March 2021, this is the first major Android OS update for the phone.
The new Android version for the Galaxy XCover 5 comes along with Samsung’s One UI 4.1 custom skin. It also bundles the May 2022 Android security patch, which fixes over 80 vulnerabilities. But we are more interested in the plethora of goodies that are part and parcel of Android 12 and One UI 4.1.
Once you have installed the new software package, you will notice subtle UI changes throughout the system. Samsung has added a Color Palette feature to let you customize the system UI with unique colors based on your wallpaper. Every time you change the wallpaper, you can also change the colors of all UI elements for a consistent look across the device.
New privacy features include a privacy Dashboard and quick settings to revoke camera or microphone access for all apps. Your phone will also actively indicate camera and microphone usage by any app. The Korean firm has also improved its first-party apps for a better user experience.
Other highlights of Android 12-based One UI 4.1 include new and improved homescreen widgets, improved Dark Mode, improved Bixby Routines, additional accessibility options, new camera and editing features, a cleaner sharing menu, and improved AR Emoji.
Android 12 is now live for the Galaxy XCover 5
The Android 12 update for the Galaxy XCover 5 is currently rolling out to users in Europe. The OTA (over the air) rollout is already live in pretty much every European country where the phone was sold. The remaining few should also join the party soon. The updated firmware version for the rugged handset is G525FXXU5BVE5. The new Android version for the device should also soon make its way into other markets, including the US.
If you’re using the Galaxy XCover 5 and haven’t yet received Android 12, watch out for a notification in the coming days. You can also manually check for updates from the Settings app. Go to the Software update section and tap on Download and install. If an OTA update is available, you will be prompted to download it. If there’s no update available, check again a few days later or wait for the notification. Since it’s a major update, we advise you to connect your phone to a stable Wi-FI network before downloading the OTA package.